- Petals of Wisdom: Thoughts for
November 2001
Collected by
Thich Nu Chan Nguyen
1
“And how, monks, is a bad man
possessed of bad states of mind? As to this,
monks, is a bad man is lacking in faith, he has no shame, no fear of blame, he has heard
little, he is lazy, he is of muddled mindfulness, he is weak in wisdom – it is thus,
monks, that a bad man is possessed of bad states of mind.”
(The Collection
of the Middle Length Sayings III, p. 71)
2
“And how, monks, does a bad man consort with bad men? As to this, monks, those recluses and brahmans who
are lacking in faith, have no shame, no fear of blame, who have heard little, who are
lazy, of muddled mindfulness, weak in wisdom – these are the friends and companions
of that bad man. It is thus, monks, that a bad man consorts with bad men.”
(The Collection
of the Middle Length Sayings III, p. 71)
3
“Monks, a bad
man is one who has heard much. He reflects thus: “I am one who has heard much, but
these other monks have not heard much.” Because of his having heard much he exalts
himself and disparages the others. This too monks, is dhamma of a bad man.”
(The Collection
of the Middle Length Sayings III, p. 91)
4
“And again,
monks, a good man reflects thus: “It is not through one’s hearing much that
things of greed, things of aversion, things of confusion go to destruction. For even if
one has not heard much, one may still fare along in complete accordance with dhamma,
may fare along correctly, may be a farer according to dhamma, and therefore be one
to be honoured and commended.” He, having made the course itself the main thing,
neither exalts himself for his having heard much nor disparages others. This too, monks,
is dhamma of a good man.”
(The Collection
of the Middle Length Sayings III, p. 91)
-
- 5
-
- “They who (in thought) belabour this:
That man
- has me abused, has hurt, has worsted me,
- has me despoiled: in these wrath’s
not allayed.”
- (The Collection of the Middle Length
Sayings III, p. 198)
-
- 6
- “They who do not belabour this: That
man
- has me abused, has hurt, has worsted me,
- has me despoiled: in them is wrath
allayed.”
- (The Collection of the Middle Length
Sayings III, p. 198)
-
- 7
- “Nay, not by wrath are wrathful moods
allayed here (and) at any time,
- but by not-wrath are they allayed: this is
a (ageless) endless rule.”
- (The Collection of the Middle Length
Sayings III, p. 199)
-
- 8
- “If one find friend with whom to fare
- Rapt in the will-abiding, apt,
- surmounting dangers one and all,
- with joy fare with his mindfully.
- Finding none apt with whom to fare,
- none in the will-abiding rapt,
- as rajah quits the conquered realm,
- fare lonely as bull-elephant in
elephant-jungle.
- Better the faring of one alone
- than companionship with the foolish;
- fare lonely, unconcerned, working no evil,
- as bull-elephant in elephant-jungle.”
- (The Collection of the Middle Length
Sayings III, p. 199)
9
- “The past should not be followed
after, the future not desired.
- What is past is got rid of and the future
has not come.
- But whoever has vision now here, now
there, of a present thing,
- Knowing that it is immovable, unshakable,
let him cultivate it.
- Swelter at the task this everyday. Who
knows whether he will die tomorrow?
- There is no bargaining with the great
hosts of Death.
- Thus abiding ardently, unwearied day and
night,
- He indeed is “Auspicious”
called, described as a sage at peace.”
- (The Collection of the Middle Length
Sayings III, p. 233)
10
“Deeds are one’s own, Brahman
youth, beings are heirs to deeds, deeds are matrix, deeds are kin, deeds are arbiters.
Deed divides beings, that is to say by
lowness and excellence.”
(The Collection
of the Middle Length Sayings III, p. 249)
11
- “Whoever, moral in habit, gives to
those of moral habit
- A gift
rightfully acquired, the mind well pleased,
- Firmly believing in the rich fruit of
kamma –
- I assert this gift to be of abundant
fruit.”
- (The Collection of the Middle Length
Sayings III, p. 305)
12
- “Whoever, without attachment, gives
to those without attachment
- A gift
rightfully acquired, the mind well pleased,
- Firmly believing in the rich fruit of
kamma –
- I assert this gift to be of abundant
fruit.”
- (The Collection of the Middle Length
Sayings III, p. 305)
13
“For him who clings there is
wavering; for him who clings not there is no wavering; if there is no wavering, there is
impassibility; if there is impassibility there is no yearning; if there is no yearning,
there is no coming and going; if there is no coming and going, there is no deceasing and
uprising, if there is no deceasing and uprising; there is no ‘here’ itself nor
‘yonder’ nor ‘in between the two.’ This is itself the end of anguish.”
(The Collection
of the Middle Length Sayings III, p. 318)
14
“And which, monks, is the person who
is a tormentor of others, intent on the practice of tormenting others? In this case,
monks, some person is a cattle-butcher, or pig-killer, fowler, deer-stalker, hunter,
fisherman, thief, executioner, jailer, or (one of) those others who follow a bloody
calling. This is the person, monks, who is called a tormentor of others, intent on the
practice of tormenting others.”
(The Collection
of the Middle Length Sayings II, p. 8)
15
- “Health is the highest gain, nibbana
the highest bliss;
- And of Ways, the Eightfold leads to
deathlessness, to security.”
- (The
Collection of the Middle Length Sayings II, p. 188)