Theos-Talk Archives (January 2007 Message tt00018)

Friends,

Take a look at the first chapter of the "Dhammapada", perhaps the 
best-known of Buddhist scriptures ( "Theosophy Company", Los 
Angeles ) 

Carlos. 


oooooooooooooooooooooooo


THE TWIN VERSES

    ALL that we are is the result of what we have thought: all that 
we are is  founded on our thoughts and formed of our thoughts. If a 
man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain pursues him, as the 
wheel of the wagon follows the hoof of the ox that draws it.(1)
 
    All that we are is the result of what we have thought: all that 
we are is founded on our thoughts and formed of our thoughts. If a 
man speaks or acts with a pure thought happiness pursue him like his 
own shadow that never leaves him. (2)

    "He reviled me, he beat me and conquered  and then plundered 
me," who express such thoughts tie their mind with the intention of 
retaliation. In them hatred will not cease. (3)

    "He reviled me, he beat me and conquered and then plundered me," 
who do not express such thoughts, in them hatred will cease. (4)

     In this world never is enmity appeased by hatred; enmity is 
ever appeased by Love. This is the Law Eternal.* (5)

     The many who know not this also forget that in this world we 
shall one day die. They do not restrain themselves. But those who 
recognize the Law end their quarrels soon. (6)

     Whoso lives pursuing pleasures, his senses unrestrained, 
immoderate in eating, indolent, devitalized—him verily doth Mara 
uproot as a gale a weak tree. (7)

    Who so lives disciplining himself, unmindful of pleasures, his 
senses restrained, moderate in eating, full of faith and dauntless 
energy (Virya)—him verily Mara doth not overturn as a gale doth not 
overturn a rocky mountain. (8) 

    He may display it on himself but he has not merited the yellow 
robe who is not free from depravities, who disregards temperance and 
truth. (9)

    He indeed has merited the yellow robe who has purged away 
depravities and is well grounded in virtues, who is regardful of 
temperance and truth. (10)

    Those who live in the pleasure-ground of fancy see truth in the 
unreal and untruth in the real. They never arrive at truth.(11)

     Those who abide in the world of right thought see truth in the 
real and untruth in the unreal. They arrive at truth.(12) 

     Rains pour into an ill-thatched house; desires pour into an ill-
trained mind.  (13)

     Rains wet not a well-thatched house; desires enter not the 
disciplined mind. (14)

    The evil doer suffers in this world and he grieves in the next; 
he mourns in both. Afflicted he grieves in the visualization of his 
sinful deeds. (15)

    The virtuous rejoices in this world and he rejoices in the next; 
he rejoices in both. He rejoices, rejoices exceedingly in the 
visualization of his pure deeds.(16)

    The evil doer laments here, he laments hereafter. "Evil have I 
done," he soliloquizes. Greater his torment when he is in the place 
of evil. (17)

    The righteous man is happy here, he is happy hereafter. "I have 
done well," he soliloquizes. Greater is his delight in the blissful 
place. (18)

    He who quotes the Sacred texts but is lazy and will not apply, 
he is like a cowherd counting the cows of others. He shares not the 
blessings of the Good Life. (19)

    He who forsakes lust, hatred and folly is possessed of true 
knowledge and a serene mind, craves nought of this world or of any 
other, applies to himself the teachings of the Sacred texts he 
recites, even though a few in number—such a one shares in the 
blessings of the Good Life.(20)

[ End of Chapter 01 ]


ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Read more at 

http://www.phx-ult-lodge.org/Dhammapada.htm