The Spiritual Heritage of India by Swami Prabhavananda

Author:Swami Prabhavananda [Prabhavananda, Swami]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, Eastern
ISBN: 9780874810356
Google: zupDCwE73O0C
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 1963-04-14T23:00:00+00:00

SELECTED PASSAGES FROM THE DHAMMAPĀDA

‘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 man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, 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 man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

‘ “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,”—in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.

‘“He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,”—in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

Tor hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love; this is an old rule.’1

‘If a man is earnest and exerts himself, if he is vigilant, if his deeds are pure, if he acts with consideration and restraint and lives according to law—then his glory will increase.

‘By rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and self-control, the wise man may make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm/2

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

‘Let the wise man guard his thoughts which are difficult to perceive, very artful; they rush wherever they list: thoughts well guarded bring happiness/3

‘Like a beautiful flower, full of colour, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly/4

‘Like a beautiful flower, full of colour and full of scent, are the fine and fruitful words of him who acts accordingly/5

‘If a fool be associated with a wise man even all his life, he will perceive the truth as little as a spoon perceives the taste of soup.

*If an intelligent man be associated for one minute only with a wise man, he will soon perceive the truth, as the tongue perceives the taste of soup/6

‘Well-makers lead the water (where they like); fletchers bend the arrow; carpenters bend a log of wood; wise people fashion themselves.7

‘The gods even envy him whose senses, like horses well broken in by the driver, have been subdued, who is free from pride, and free from appetites/8

‘Let no man think lightly of evil, saying in his heart, It will not come nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled; the fool becomes full of evil, even if he gather it little by little.

‘Let no man think lightly of good, saying in his heart, It will not come nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled; the wise man becomes full of good, even if he gather it little by little/9

‘Men who have not observed (religious) discipline, and have not gained (spiritual) wealth in their youth,

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