Category: Eastern Mysticism

Attānameva paṭhamaṃ
patirūpe nivesaye
athaññamanusāseyya
na kilisseyya paṇḍito.

One should first establish oneself
in what is proper and only then
try to instruct others. Doing this,
the wise one will not be criticized.

Dhammapada 12.158
Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika

“Yathā ahaṃ tathā ete;
yathā ete tathā ahaṃ.”
Attānaṃ upamaṃ katvā,
na haneyya na ghātaye.

“As I am, so are others;
as others are, so am I.”
Having thus identified self and others,
harm no one nor have them harmed.

Sutta Nipāta 3.710
Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pāṇā,
sabbe bhūtā ca kevalā,
sabbe bhadrāni passantu.
Mā kañci pāpamāgamā.

May all creatures, all living things,
all beings one and all,
experience good fortune only.
May they not fall into harm.

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.67
Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika

Sukhā virāgatā loke
kāmānaṃ samatikkamo
asmimānassa yo vinayo
etaṃ ve paramaṃ sukhaṃ.

Freedom from lust is happiness in the world,
the going beyond all sensual desires.
But the crushing out of the conceit “I am”–
this is the highest happiness.

Udāna 2.11
Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika

Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe,
chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati,
evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate,
nibbattatī dukkhamidaṃ punappunaṃ.

Just as a tree, though cut down,
sprouts up again if its roots remain uncut and firm,
even so, until the craving that lies dormant is rooted out,
suffering springs up again and again.

Dhammapada 24.338
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni,
yo daṇḍena na hiṃsati
attano sukhamesāno,
pecca so labhate sukhaṃ.

One who, while oneself seeking happiness,
does not oppress with violence other beings
who also desire happiness,
will find happiness hereafter.

Dhammapada 10.132
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Uṭṭhānako analaso,
Āpadāsu na vedhati,
Acchinnavutti medhāvī,
Tādiso labhate yasaṃ.

Who is energetic and not indolent,
In misfortune unshaken,
Flawless in manner and intelligent,
Such a one to honour may attain.

Dīgha Nikāya 3.273
Everyman’s Ethics: Four Discourses by the Buddha (WH 14), translated by Narada Thera

Yo imasmiṃ dhammavinaye
Appamatto vihassati!
Pahāya jātisaṃsāraṃ dukkhassantaṃ karissatī.

Who so untiringly pursues the Dhamma and the Discipline
Shall go beyond the round of births and make an end of suffering.

Dīgha Nikāya 2.185
Last Days of the Buddha: The Maha-parinibbana Sutta (revised edition), translated from Pāli by Sister Vajira & Francis Story

Dadato puññaṃ pavaḍḍhati;
Saṃyamato veraṃ na cīyati;
Kusalo ca jahāti pāpakaṃ,
Rāgadosamohakkhayā sanibbuto.

Who gives, one’s virtues shall increase;
Who is self-curbed, no hatred bears;
Who so is skilled in virtue, evil shuns,
And by the rooting out of lust and hate
And all delusion, comes to be at peace.

Dīgha Nikāya 2.197
Last Days of the Buddha: The Maha-parinibbana Sutta (revised edition), translated from Pāli by Sister Vajira & Francis Story

Saṅgāhako mittakaro,
Vadaññū vītamaccharo,
Netā vinetā anunetā,
Tādiso labhate yasaṃ.

Who is hospitable, and friendly,
Liberal and unselfish,
A guide, an instructor, a leader,
Such a one to honour may attain.

Dīgha Nikāya 3.273
Everyman’s Ethics: Four Discourses by the Buddha (WH 14), translated by Narada Thera

Na tena ariyo hoti yena pāṇāni hiṃsati.
Ahiṃsā sabbapāṇānaṃ
“ariyo”ti pavuccati.

One is not noble who injures living beings.
One is called “noble” because
one is harmless towards all living beings.

Dhammapada 19.270
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Life is very precious,
Zazen makes you worthwhile.

-The Zen Mind 2020
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Evaṃ bho purisa jānāhi:
pāpadhammā asaññatā.
Mā taṃ lobho adhammo ca
ciraṃ dukkhāya randhayuṃ.

Know this, O good one:
evil things are difficult to control.
Let not greed and wickedness
drag you to protracted misery.

Dhammapada 18.248
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Yo pāṇamatipāteti, musāvādañca bhāsati,
loke adinnamādiyati,
paradārañca gacchati,
surāmerayapānañca yo naro anuyuñjati —
idhevameso lokasmiṃ, mūlaṃ khaṇati attano.

One who destroys life, utters lies,
takes what is not given,
goes to another man’s wife,
and is addicted to intoxicating drinks —
such a man digs up one’s own root even in this world.

Dhammapada 18.246, 18.247
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Hirīmatā ca dujjīvaṃ
niccaṃ sucigavesinā,
alīnenāppagabbhena,
suddhājīvena passatā.

Difficult is life for the modest one
who always seeks purity,
is detached and unassuming,
clean in life, and discerning.

Dhammapada 18.245
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Ayasāva malaṃ samuṭṭhitaṃ
tatuṭṭhāya tameva khādati,
evaṃ atidhonacārinaṃ
sāni kammāni nayanti duggatiṃ.

Just as rust arising from iron
eats away the base from which it arises,
even so, their own deeds
lead transgressors to states of woe.

Dhammapada 18.240
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Acchecchi vaṭṭaṃ,
byagā nirāsaṃ.
Visukkhā saritā na sandati.
Chinnaṃ vaṭṭaṃ na vattati.
Esevanto dukkhassā.

One has broken the cycle,
attained freedom from desire.
The dried-up stream no longer flows.
The cycle, broken, no longer turns.
This, just this, is the end of misery.

Udāna 7.62

So karohi dīpamattano!
Khippaṃ vāyama paṇḍito bhava!
Niddhantamalo anaṅgaṇo,
na punaṃ jātijaraṃ upehisi.

Make an island unto yourself!
Strive hard and become wise!
Rid of impurities and cleansed of stain,
you shall not come again to birth and decay.

Dhammapada 18.238
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Akkodhena jine kodhaṃ;
asādhuṃ sādhunā jine;
jine kadariyaṃ dānena;
saccenālikavādinaṃ.

Overcome the angry by non-anger;
overcome the wicked by goodness;
overcome the miser by generosity;
overcome the liar by truth.

Dhammapada 17.223
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Kodhaṃ jahe vippajaheyya mānaṃ,
saṃyojanaṃ sabbamatikkameyya.
Taṃ nāmarūpasmimasajjamānaṃ
akiñcanaṃ nānupatanti dukkhā.

One should give up anger, renounce pride,
and overcome all fetters.
Suffering never befalls one
who clings not to mind and body and is detached.

Dhammapada 17.221
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Dhamme ca ye ariyapavedite ratā
anuttarā te vacasā, manasā kammunā ca.
Te santisoraccasamādhisaṇṭhitā,
sutassa paññāya ca sāramajjhagū.

Those who are devoted to the Dhamma made known by the Noble Ones
are unsurpassed in speech, thought and action.
They are established in peace, gentleness and concentration,
and have reached the essence of learning and wisdom.

Sutta Nipāta 3.332
The Discourse Collection: Selected Texts from the Sutta Nipāta, translated by John D. Ireland

Imesu kira sajjanti,
Eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā;
Viggayha naṃ vivadanti
Janā ekaṅgadassino.

Some recluses and brahmins, so called,
Are deeply attached to their own views;
People who only see one side of things
Engage in quarrels and disputes.

Udāna 6.54
The Udāna and the Itivuttaka, trans. John D. Ireland

Attā hi attano nātho;
ko hi nātho paro siyā?
Attanā hi sudantena,
nāthaṃ labhati dullabhaṃ.

One truly is the protector of oneself;
who else could the protector be?
With oneself fully controlled,
one gains a mastery that is hard to gain.

Dhammapada 12.160
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Mettañca sabbalokasmi,
mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ:
Uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañca,
asambādhaṃ averamasapattaṃ.

With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a limitless heart:
Above, below, & all around,
unobstructed, without hostility or hate.

Sutta Nipāta 1.150
Translated from Pāli by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Attānaṃ ce tathā kayirā;
yathāññamanusāsati,
sudanto vata dametha.
Attā hi kira duddamo.

One should do what one teaches others to do;
if one would train others,
one should be well controlled oneself.
Difficult, indeed, is self-control.

Dhammapada 12.159
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pāli by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Kalyāṇamitto yo bhikkhu, sappatisso sagāravo;
Karaṃ mittānaṃ vacanaṃ, sampajāno patissato;
Pāpuṇe anupubbena, sabbasaṃyojanakkhayaṃ.

When a bhikkhu has good friends, and is reverential and respectful;
Doing what one’s friends advise, clearly comprehending and mindful;
One may progressively attain the destruction of all fetters.

Itivuttaka 1.17
The Udāna and the Itivuttaka, trans. John D. Ireland