The Dhammapada
Chapter Twelve -- The Self
- If one holds oneself dear, one should
diligently watch oneself. Let the wise person keep
vigil during any of the three watches of the night.
- One should first establish oneself in what
is proper; then only should one instruct others.
Thus the wise person will not be reproached.
- One should do what one teaches others
to do; if one would train others, one should be
well-controlled oneself. Difficult, indeed is
self-control.
- One truly is the protector of oneself,
who else could the protector be? With oneself
fully controlled one gains a mastery
which is hard to gain.
- The evil a witless person does by oneself,
born of oneself and produced by oneself, grinds
one as a diamond grinds a hard gem.
- Just as a jungle creeper strangles the tree
on which it grows, even so a person who is exceedingly
depraved harms oneself as an enemy might wish.
- Easy to do are things that are bad and
harmful to oneself, but exceedingly difficult to
do are things that are good and beneficial.
- Whoever, on account of perverted views,
reviles the Teaching of the Arahats, the Noble
Ones of righteous life--that fool, like the
bamboo,
produces fruits only for self-destruction.
- By oneself is evil done, by oneself is
one defiled. By oneself is evil left undone, by
oneself is one purified. Purity and impurity depend
on oneself--no one can purify another.
- Let one not neglect one's own welfare for
the sake of another, however great. Clearly understanding
one's own welfare, let one be intent upon the good.
diligently watch oneself. Let the wise person keep
vigil during any of the three watches of the night.
is proper; then only should one instruct others.
Thus the wise person will not be reproached.
to do; if one would train others, one should be
well-controlled oneself. Difficult, indeed is
self-control.
who else could the protector be? With oneself
fully controlled one gains a mastery
which is hard to gain.
born of oneself and produced by oneself, grinds
one as a diamond grinds a hard gem.
on which it grows, even so a person who is exceedingly
depraved harms oneself as an enemy might wish.
harmful to oneself, but exceedingly difficult to
do are things that are good and beneficial.
reviles the Teaching of the Arahats, the Noble
Ones of righteous life--that fool, like the bamboo,
produces fruits only for self-destruction.
one defiled. By oneself is evil left undone, by
oneself is one purified. Purity and impurity depend
on oneself--no one can purify another.
the sake of another, however great. Clearly understanding
one's own welfare, let one be intent upon the good.
