The Dharmapeda

I. The Twin Verses

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded
on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.

If a person speaks or acts from an evil thought, pain follows them,
as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded
on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.

If a person speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows
them, like a shadow that never leaves them.

"They abused me, they beat me, they defeated me, they robbed me"
--in those who harbor such thoughts hatred will never cease.

"They abused me, they beat me, they defeated me, they robbed me"
--in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease.

For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time, hatred ceases by
Love--this is an eternal Law...

Those who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth,
never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.

Those who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at
truth, and follow true desires.

II.


On Reason


Reasoning is the Path of Nirvana; thoughtlessness the path of death.
Those who Reason do not die; those who are thoughtless are as if
dead already.

Having understood this clearly, those who have progressed in Reason
delight in Reason, and rejoice in the Knowledge of the Elect. These
wise people, meditative, steady, always exerting strong powers,
attain to Nirvana, the highest happiness.

By Reason did Maghavan (Indra) rise to the lordship of the Gods.
People praise Reason, thoughtlessness is always condemned.

A bhikshu who delights in Reason, who looks with fear on
thoughtlessness, moves about like fire, burning all their fetters,
small or large.

A bhikshu who delights in Reason, who looks with fear on
thoughtlessness, cannot fall away from their pure state--they are
close to Nirvana.


III.

Thought


As a fletcher makes straight their arrow, a wise person makes
straight their trembling and unsteady thought, which is difficult
to guard, difficult to hold back.

As a fish taken from its watery home and thrown on the dry ground,
our thought trembles all over in order to escape the dominion of
mara, the tempter.

It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and
flighty, rushing wherever it leans; a tamed mind brings happiness...

Knowing that the mind is fragile like a jar, and making their
thought firm like a fortress, one should attack mara, the tempter,
with the weapon of Knowledge; one should watch it when conquered,
and should never forget. .