The Twin Verses
1. All that we are is the result of what we have
thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.
If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him,
as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
2. All that we are is the result of what we have
thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.
If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows
him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me,"— in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will
never cease.
4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me," — in those who do not harbour such thoughts
hatred will cease.
5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time:
hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.
6. The world does not know that we must all come
to an end here — but those who know it, their quarrels cease
at once.
7. He who lives looking for pleasures only, his
senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mara
(the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws
down a weak tree.
8. He who lives without looking for pleasures, his
senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong,
him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind
throws down a rocky mountain.
9. He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without
having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and
truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.
10. But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is
well grounded in all virtues, and regards also temperance and
truth, he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.
11. They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth
in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.
12. They who know truth in truth, and untruth in
untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.
13. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house,
passion will break through an unreflecting mind.
14. As rain does not break through a well-thatched
house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.
15. The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns
in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he
sees the evil of his own work.
16. The virtuous man delights in this world, and
he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and
rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.
17. The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he
suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks
of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil
path.
18. The virtuous man is happy in this world, and
he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when
he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when
going on the good path.
19. The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a
large portion (of the law), but is not a doer of it, has no share
in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of
others.
20. The follower of the law, even if he can recite
only a small portion (of the law), but, having forsaken passion
and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity
of mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come,
has indeed a share in the priesthood.
source: Dhamapada. Chapter I. The Twin
Verses.