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Buddha’sDhammapada - 2

Complete Dhammapadda: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Compiled By: Prem Paul

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Everyone fears punishment and death. Everyone loves life as you do…

Therefore do not kill or cause to kill.

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Speak quietly and gently to everyone and they too will be

gentle in their speech…

Harsh words hurt.

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Whose mind is serene and pure, whose senses are controlled and whose life is nonviolent…

Such a one is a true Brahmin, a true monk, even if he wears fine clothes.

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As a well-trained horse needs no whip, a well-trained mind needs no prodding to be

good…

Be like a well-trained horse, swift and spirited and go beyond sorrow through

faith, meditation and energetic practice of the Dharma.

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As an irrigator guides water to his fields, as an archer aims an arrow, as a carpenter carves wood…

the wise shapes their lives.

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Why is there laughter, why merriment, when this world is on fire? When you are living in

darkness…

why don’t you light a candle, why don’t you look

for life?

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A man who does not learn from life grows old like an ox: his body grows, but not his wisdom…

It is hard to learn to guide one-self

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Your own self is your master; who else could be…

With yourself well controlled, you gain a master very hard to find.

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Walk up! Don’t be lazy. Follow the Right path avoid the wrong…

You will be happy here as well as hereafter.

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As a vine overpowers a tree, evil overpowers the evildoer; trapping him in a situation only

his enemies would like him to be in.

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It is hard to obtain human birth, harder still to understand Dharma, but hardest

of all is to attain ‘Nirvana’.

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Cultivate patience. Do not oppress others or cause them pain. Do not find fault with others…

Be moderate in eating and sleeping, and meditate on the highest.

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Driven by fear, people run for security to mountains and forest, to sacred spots and shrines. But none of these can be a safe refuge…

because the fear is in your mind.

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Control breeds hatred, for the controlled live

in sorrow…

Let us not control or be controlled and live in

peace and joy.

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There is no fire like lust, no sickness like hatred, no sorrow like separateness. No disease is

worse than greed, no suffering worse than selfish passion and no joy like peace…

Know this, and seek ‘Nirvana’ as the highest joy.

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Health is the best gift. Contentment the best wealth. Trust the best relationship…

Drink the nectar in meditation and become free from fear and sin.

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It is good to meet the wise, even better to live with them...

But avoid the company of the immature if you want joy.

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Don’t run after pleasure.

Meditation should be your first priority.

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Don’t get selfishly attached to anything, for trying to hold on to it

will bring you pain…

When you have neither likes nor dislikes, you will be free.

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Craving brings pain; craving brings fear…

Don’t yield to craving and you will be free from pain and fear.

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Conquer anger through gentleness, unkindness through kindness, greed

through generosity and falsehood by truth…

Be truthful; do not yield to anger. Give freely, even if you have but little.

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There is an old saying: “People will blame you if you say too much; they will blame you if you say too little; they will

blame you if you say just enough…

No one in this world escapes blame.

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Train your tongue to speak kindly. Use your mind for doing good.

Train your mind in love…

The wise who are disciplined in body, speech and mind are well disciplined indeed.

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Like a withered leaf you are waiting for the death to come. After death you are

about to go on a long journey, but you are so unprepared…

Light the lamp within; strive hard to attain wisdom. Become pure and innocent and live in

the world of light.

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Your life has come to an end, after death you have no place to rest on a long journey and you

are so unprepared…

Light the lamp within and strive hard to attain wisdom. Become pure and innocent and you

will be free from birth and death.