Train Your Mind: Buddha’s Timeless Wisdom from the Dhammapada
Click Here to Watch the Spiritual Teaching Video
I recently came across the Dhammapada, a collection of the Buddha’s teachings in verse form, likely transcribed and passed down by his followers.
I have always been fascinated by the life and teachings of Buddha, and upon coming across this particular work, decided to share it so others may enjoy and benefit from its wisdom.
This post includes the first ‘chapter’ called the Twin Verses, and is from The Dhammapada, as translated by Allan Bomhard. I also am reading and referencing Eknath Easwaran’s The Dhammapada, which provides a different flavor and perspective to these sacred words.
Regardless, I hope you enjoy the teaching, and would love to hear your thoughts on either the chapter, book, Buddha, or anything spiritual for that matter.
That is how we can all help each other awaken and experience our true reality.
1. All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they have mind as their chief; they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with evil intentions, suffering will follow, just as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that pull it along.
2. All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they have mind as their chief; they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with pure intentions, happiness will follow, like a shadow that never leaves one’s side.
3. “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me” — those who dwell on such thoughts will never become free from hatred.
4. “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me” — those who do not dwell on such thoughts will truly become free from hatred.
5. Returning hatred with hatred will never bring hatred to an end in this world; only by replacing hatred with love will hatred come to an end. This is an ancient and eternal law.
6. People do not understand that quarrelsome behavior leads only to self-destruction; for those who realize this, quarrels quickly come to an end.
7. Just as a strong wind uproots a weak tree, so, whoever lives strictly for pleasure, who exercises no restraint over the senses, who eats to excess, who is lazy, who is inactive, such a one is easily overpowered by Māra — the Tempter, the Evil One.
8. Just as the wind cannot blow away a rocky mountain, so, whoever does not live strictly for pleasure, who exercises restraint over the senses, who does not eat to excess, who is full of faith, who disciplines the will, such a one is not overpowered by Māra.
9. Though one may put on the saffron-colored robe, if one has not removed impurities from the mind, if one is lacking in self-discipline and truthfulness, then such a one is not worthy of wearing the saffron-colored robe.
10. Whoever has purified the mind, who is firmly established in moral behavior, who possesses self-discipline and truthfulness, that one is indeed worthy of wearing the saffron-colored robe.
11. Those who imagine trivial things to be important or important things to be trivial are blinded by such wrong views and will never realize what is truly essential to living the Holy Life.
12. Those who have correctly understood what is trivial and what is important are not blinded by wrong views and have realized what is truly essential to living the Holy Life.
13. Just as rain seeps through an ill-thatched roof, so does lust seep through an ill-trained mind.
14. Just as rain cannot seep through a well-thatched roof, so can lust not seep through a well-trained mind.
15. Perceiving the results of past wrong actions, those who have done evil suffer — those who have done evil are afflicted; indeed, they suffer here and now, even after death they suffer — they suffer in both places.
16. Perceiving the results of past wholesome actions, those who have done good deeds rejoice, they rejoice exceedingly; indeed, they rejoice here and now, even after death they rejoice — they rejoice in both places.
17. Those who have done evil suffer here and now, even after death they suffer — the evildoers suffer in both places. Realizing the results of the wrong they have done, the evildoers suffer; and still more suffering awaits them in the next life.
18. Those who have done good are happy here and now, even after death they are happy — those who have done good are happy in both places. Realizing the results of the good they have done, they are happy; and still more happiness awaits them in the next life.
19. Though one may be well-versed in the scriptures and be able to recite them from beginning to end, if one does not put into practice their teachings, then such a heedless one may be likened to a cowherd who counts someone else’s cattle — that one will gain none of the benefits of living the Holy Life.
20. Though one may know little of the scriptures, if one nonetheless puts into practice their teachings, forsaking lust, hatred, and false views, truly knowing, with a disciplined mind, clinging to nothing either in this life or the next, then that one will surely gain the benefits of living the Holy Life.
