By oneself indeed is evil
done and be oneself is one defiled; by oneself is evil not done and by oneself is one
purified. Purity and impurity depend entirely on oneself; no one can purify another. (Dhammapada,
v. 165).
2
Monks, when in a monk evil practice in body is
abandoned and good practice in body developed; when evil practice in speech … in
thought is abandoned and good practice in speech and thought developed, and when right
view is developed, that monk has no fears about the life to come, about death. (The
Book of the Gradual Saying II, p. 123)
3
It is easy to do things that are bad and
unbeneficial to oneself, but it is, indeed, most difficult to do things that are
beneficial and good. (Dhammapada, v. 163).
4
In this case a certain
person makes his bed and lodging in the lonely glades and solitude of a forest, and at the
same time thinks unworldly thoughts, thoughts not malicious, not harmful. Thus a person is
subdued both in body and in mind. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II, p.141)
5
Hard to gain is birth as man; hard is the life of
mortals; hard to get is the opportunity of hearing the Ariya Dhamma (Teaching of
the Buddhas); hard it is for a Buddha to appear. (Dhammapada, v. 182)
6
Truthful speech, speech not spiteful, mild speech
and mantra speech are the four right practices. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II,
p. 144)
7
Not to revile, not to do any harm, to practise
restraint according to the Fundamental Instructions for the bhikkhus, to be moderate in
taking food, to ewell in a secluded place, to devote oneself to higher concentration _
this is the Teaching of the Buddhas. (Dhammapada, v. 185)
8
Those recluses and brabmins who practise utter
purity in body, speech and thought, who live in utter purity are capable of knowledge and
insight, of the enlightenment which is unsurpassed. (The Book of the Gradual Saying II,
213)
9
Not by a shower of coins can sensual desires be
satiated; sensual desires give little pleasure and are fraught with evil consequences (dukkha).
Knowing this, the wise man, who is the disciple of the Buddha, does not find delight even
in the pleasures of the devas, but rejoices in the cessation of craving (Nibbana).
(Dhammapada, v. 186, 187)
10
The alms-giver, when come to deva-state,
surpasses the non-giver in five ways: in divine life-span, beauty, happiness, honour and
power. (The Book of the Gradual Saying III, 24)
11
It is hard to find the noblest of men; he is not
born everywhere nor in every clan. To whatever clan such a wise man is born, that clan
prospers. (Dhammapada, v. 193)
12
Where ageing brings no old ageÑ that state is not to be got to by recluse or godly man, by
deva, Mara or Brahma , nor by anyone in the world. Where sickening brings no
sickness… nor dying death… nor wasting destruction… nor ending brings the
endÑ that state is not to be got to by recluse or godly
man, by deva, Mara or Brahma , nor by anyone in the world. (The Book of the Gradual
Saying III, 45)
13
Indeed we live very happily, not hating anyone
among those who hate; among men who hate we live without hating anyone. (Dhammapada,
v. 197)
14
Rare in the world is a person who is grateful and
thankful. (The Book of the Gradual Saying III, 127)
15
Conquest begets enmity; the conquered live in
misery; the peaceful live happily having renounced conquest and defeat. (Dhammapada,
v. 201)