- Petals of Wisdom: Thoughts for
June 2000
Collected by
Ti.nh Tue^.
These verses of Wisdom are
taken from The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories, translated by Daw Mya Tin.
Sarnath: Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, 1990.
1
All mental
phenomena have mind as their fore-runner; they have mind as their chief; they are
mind-made. If one speaks or acts with an evil mind, suffering (dukkha) follows him
just as the wheel follows the hoof-print of the ox that draws the cart. (Dhammapada,
v 1)
2
All mental
phenomena have mind as their fore-runner; they have mind as their chief; they are
mind-made. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness (sukha) follows him
like a shadow that never leaves him. (Dhammapada, v 2)
3
Just as rain
penetrates a badly-roofed house, so also, passion (raaga) penetrates a mind not
cultivated in Tranquillity and Insight Development (Samatha and Vipassanaa).
(Dhammapada, v 13)
4
Just as rain cannot
penetrate a well-roofed house, so also, passion (raaga) cannot penetrate a mind
well-cultivated in Tranquillity and Insight Development (Samatha and Vipassanaa).
(Dhammapada, v 14)
5
Here he grieves,
hereafter he grieves; the evil-doer grieves in both existences. He grieves and he suffers
anguish when he sees the depravity of his own deeds. (Dhammapada, v 15)
6
Here he rejoices,
hereafter he rejoices; one who performs meritorious deeds rejoices in both existences. He
rejoices and greatly rejoices when he sees the purity of his own deeds. (Dhammapada,
v 16)
7
The foolish and the
ignorant give themselves over to negligence; whereas the wise treasures mindfulness as a
precious jewel. (Dhammapada, v 26)
8
Therefore, one
should not be negligent, nor be addicted to sensual pleasures; for he who is established
in mindfulness, through cultivation of Tranquillity and Insight Development Practice,
experiences supreme happiness (i.e., realizes Nibbaana). (Dhammapada, v 27)
9
Mindful amongst the
negligent, highly vigilant amongst the drowsy, the man of wisdom advances like a
race-horse, leaving the jade behind. (Dhammapada, v 29).
10
The mind is very
difficult to see, very delicate and subtle; it moves and lands wherever it pleases. The
wise one should guard his mind, for a guarded mind brings happiness. (Dhammapada, v
36)
11
Before long, alas
this body, deprived of consciousness, will lie on the earth, discarded like a useless log.
(Dhammapada, v 41)
12
One should not
consider the faults of others, nor their doing or not doing good or bad deeds. One should
only consider whether one has done or not done good or bad deeds. (Dhammapada, v 50)
13
Just as a beautiful
flower, lacking in scent, cannot give the wearer the benefit of its scent, so also, the
well-preached words of the Buddha cannot benefit one who does not practise the Dhamma. (Dhammapada,
v 51).
14
Just as a flower,
beautiful as well as fragrant, will give the wearer the benefit of its scent, so also, the
well-preached words of the Buddha will benefit one who practises the Dhamma. (Dhammapada,
v 52)
15
As from a
collection of flowers many a garland can be made by an expert florist, so also, much good
can be done (with wealth, out of faith and generosity,) by one subject to birth and death.
(Dhammapada, v 53)
16
The scent of
flowers cannot go against the wind; nor the scent of sandalwood, nor of rhododendron (tagara),
nor of jasmin (mallikaa); only the reputation of good people can go against the
wind. The reputation of the virtuous ones (sappurisa) is wafted abroad in all
directions. (Dhammapada, v 54).