The Dhammapada

All things are preceded by the mind, surpassed by the mind, created by the mind. If one speaks or acts with a corrupted mind, Then suffering follows, As a track follows a wheel.

All things are preceded by the mind, surpassed by the mind, created by the mind. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, Then happiness follows, As a shadow that never leaves.

"They abused me, they hurt me, they insulted me, they robbed me!" Dwell on such resentments and you live trapped in hate.

"They abused me, they hurt me, they insulted me, they robbed me!" Abandon such resentments and you live freely in love.

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. Only by understanding is hatred appeased. Only by love will there be peace. This is an eternal truth.

Easy to forget that death comes for all. The wise ones who realize this settle their quarrels; attain peace.

If one focuses on beauty, lacks sense-restraint, does not know the right amount when eating, is lazy, and lacks energy, Māra subdues such a person just as the wind subdues a weak tree.

If one does not focus on beauty, has good sense-restraint, knows the right amount when eating, has faith, and has persistent energy, Māra does not subdue such a person just as the wind does not subdue a stone mountain.

An impure person who dons a monastic robe without true self-control is not worthy of the monastic robe.

One who has expelled all impurity, is focused on moral conduct, and is committed to true self-control is worthy of the monastic robe.

One who thinks the non-essential is essential and who sees the essential as non-essential does not arrive at the essence; their conduct is based on incorrect attitudes.

One who knows the essential as essential and the non-essential as non-essential arrives at the essence; their conduct is based on correct attitudes.

Just as rain penetrates a poorly sealed house, in the same way, passion penetrates an undeveloped mind.

Just as rain does not penetrate a well-sealed house, in the same way, passion does not penetrate a well-developed mind.

One sorrows here, one sorrows afterwards, an evildoer sorrows both times. One sorrows and agonizes after seeing one's own defiled actions.

One rejoices here, one rejoices afterwards, one who has made merit rejoices both times. One rejoices and exults after seeing one's own pure actions.

Tormented here, tormented afterwards, an evildoer is tormented both times. One is tormented by the thought "I have done evil," And one is tormented even more when one has arrived at a bad destiny.

One delights here, one delights afterwards, one who has made merit delights both times. One is delighted by the thought "I have made merit," And one delights even more when one has arrived at a good destiny.

A negligent person who says much that is beneficial but does not act accordingly is like a cowherd who counts other people's cows, and is not part of the contemplative life.

Even if they say little that is beneficial, one who lives according to the Dhamma, having abandoned passion, hatred, and delusion, with accurate understanding and a well-liberated mind, not grasping either here or beyond, is part of the contemplative life.