Petals of Wisdom: Thoughts for Nov 2000

Collected by Ti.nh Tue^.

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1

Not going naked, nor having matted hair, nor smearing oneself with mud, nor fasting, nor sleeping on bare ground, nor covering oneself with dust, nor striving by squatting can purify a being, who has not yet overcome doubt. (Dhammapada, v. 141)

 

2

A certain person is neither quick to anger nor does his anger last long. Thus a person is neither fierce nor venomous. Just as is that snake that is neither fierce nor venomous, so using this figure do I speak of this person. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, 116)

 

3

They, who in youth have neither led the Life of Purity, nor have acquired wealth, lie helplessly like arrows that have lost momintum. (Dhammapada, v. 156)

 

4

A monk bears heat, cold, hunger, thirst, contact of flies, mosquitoes, wind and sun and creeping things. He bears abusive, pain-causing ways of speech. He submits to painful bodily feelings, grievous, sharp, racking, distracting and discomforting, that drain the life away. Thus a monk is a bearer. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, 122)

 

5

If one knows that one is dear to oneself, one should protect oneself well. During any of the three watches (of life) the wise man should be on guard (against evil). (Dhammapada, v. 157)

 

6

The radiance of the moon, of the sun, of fire and of wisdom. These are the four. Of these four, monks, the radiance of wisdom is the chief. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, p. 142)

 

7

One should first establish oneself in what is proper; then only one should teach others. A wise man should not incur reproach. (Dhammapada, v. 158)

 

8

It is hard to find in the world those who can admit freedom from mental disease even for one foment, save only those in whom the Asavas are destroyed. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, p. 146)

 

9

One should act as one teaches others; only with oneself thoroughly tamed should one tame others. To tame oneself is, indeed, difficult. (Dhammapada, v. 159)

 

10

In this case a certain one reviles not, insults not, abuses not again him that reviles, insults and abuses. This is called "the patient mode of progress." (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, p. 157)

 

11

In whom, when favors fall upon him, or

When none are shown, the mind steadfast, intent,

Sways not at all, for earnest is his life,

Him of rapt thought, [of will] unfaltering,

Of fine perception, of the vision seer,

Rejoicing that to grasp is his no more:Ñ

Him let the people call in truth Good Man.

(The Book of the Kindred Saying II, 157; Samyutta-Nikaya II, 231)

 

12

Well, monk, in this case he who is wise, of great wisdom, thinks not with a view to harm either himself or another or both alike. So thinking he thinks with a view to the profit of self, of another, both of self and of another, to the profit of the whole world. Thus, monk, one is wise, of great wisdom. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, p. 186)

 

13

Indeed, misers do not go to the abode of the devas; fools do not praise charity; but the wise rejoice in charity and so gain happiness in the life hereafter. (Dhammapada, v. 177)

 

14

When reviled a monk reviled not again, when annoyed he annoys not again, he quarrels not again with him who quarrels. That is how he repels not. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, 229)

 

15

A certain person is one who abstains from taking life, from stealing, from doing wrong in sense-desires, from telling a lie, from using liquor fermented and distilled, causing negligence. This one is called "the worthy man." (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, 231)