Look at this dressed-up lump, covered with wounds, joined together, sickly, full of many thoughts, which has no strength, no hold!
—The Dhammapada
As the bee takes the essence of a flower and flies away without destroying its beauty and perfume, so let the sage wander in this life.
—The Dhammapada
But those who, when the law has been well preached to them, follow the law, will pass across the dominion of death, however difficult to overcome.
—The Dhammapada
Let a fool month after month eat his food (like an ascetic) with the tip of a blade of Kusa grass, yet he is not worth the sixteenth particle of those who have well weighed the law.
—The Dhammapada
Do not have evil-doers for friends, do not have low people for friends: have virtuous people for friends, have for friends the best of men.
—The Dhammapada
Topics: Friends and Friendship
He who is without thirst and without affection, who understands the words and their interpretation, who knows the order of letters (those which are before and which are after), he has received his last body, he is called the great sage, the great man.
—The Dhammapada
The Bhikshu, full of delight, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha will reach the quiet place (Nirvana), cessation of natural desires, and happiness.
—The Dhammapada
Few cross the river of time and are able to reach non-being. Most of them run up and down only on this side of the river. But those who when they know the law follow the path of the law, they shall reach the other shore and go beyond the realm of death.
—The Dhammapada
Topics: Dying, Death
Restraint in the eye is good, good is restraint in the ear, in the nose restraint is good, good is restraint in the tongue.
—The Dhammapada
And when the evil deed, after it has become known, brings sorrow to the fool, then it destroys his bright lot, nay, it cleaves his head.
—The Dhammapada
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.
—The Dhammapada
Forests are delightful; where the world finds no delight, there the passionless will find delight, for they look not for pleasures.
—The Dhammapada
As long as the evil deed done does not bear fruit, the fool thinks it is like honey; but when it ripens, then the fool suffers grief.
—The Dhammapada
As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its colour or scent, so let a sage dwell in his village.
—The Dhammapada
Those who are ever watchful, who study day and night, and who strive after Nirvana, their passions will come to an end.
—The Dhammapada
There is no path through the air, a man is not a Samana by outward acts. No creatures are eternal; but the awakened (Buddha) are never shaken.
—The Dhammapada
Such a one who does his duty is tolerant like the earth, like Indra’s bolt; he is like a lake without mud; no new births are in store for him.
—The Dhammapada
He whom no desire with its snares and poisons can lead astray, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless?
—The Dhammapada
He who, though dressed in fine apparel, exercises tranquillity, is quiet, subdued, restrained, chaste, and has ceased to find fault with all other beings, he indeed is a Brahmana, an ascetic (sramana), a friar (bhikshu).
—The Dhammapada
Whatever place a faithful, virtuous, celebrated, and wealthy man chooses, there he is respected.
—The Dhammapada
For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.
—The Dhammapada
Topics: Hatred, Hate
This world is dark, few only can see here; a few only go to heaven, like birds escaped from the net.
—The Dhammapada
Like someone pointing to treasure is the wise person who sees your faults and points them out. Associate with such a sage.
—The Dhammapada
The swans go on the path of the sun, they go through the ether by means of their miraculous power; the wise are led out of this world, when they have conquered Mara and his train.
—The Dhammapada
He who is above good and evil, who is chaste, who with knowledge passes through the world, he indeed is called a Bhikshu.
—The Dhammapada
Him I call indeed a Brahmana from whom anger and hatred, pride and envy have dropt like a mustard seed from the point of a needle.
—The Dhammapada
The foolish man who scorns the rule of the venerable (Arahat), of the elect (Ariya), of the virtuous, and follows false doctrine, he bears fruit to his own destruction, like the fruits of the Katthaka reed.
—The Dhammapada
Follow not after vanity, nor after the enjoyment of love and lust! He who is earnest and meditative, obtains ample joy.
—The Dhammapada
Like a well-trained horse when touched by the whip, be ye active and lively, and by faith, by virtue, by energy, by meditation, by discernment of the law you will overcome this great pain (of reproof), perfect in knowledge and in behaviour, and never forgetful.
—The Dhammapada
The traveller has reached the end of the journey! In the freedom of the Infinite he is free from all sorrows, the fetters that bound him are thrown away, and the burning fever of life is no more.
—The Dhammapada
Topics: Freedom
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
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