THE BEST

  Dhp X   PTS: Dhp 129-145 Dandavagga: Violence translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita © 1996 Alternate translation: Thanissaro 129.  All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill. 130.  All tremble at violence; life is dear to all. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill. 131.  One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter. 132.  One who, while himself seeking happiness, does not oppress with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will find happiness hereafter. 133.  Speak not harshly to anyone, for those thus spoken to might retort. Indeed, angry speech hurts, and retaliation may overtake you. 134.  If like a broken gong, you silence yourself, you have approached Nibbana, for vindictiveness is...

  Dhp IX   PTS: Dhp 116-128 Papavagga: Evil translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita © 1996 Alternate translation: Thanissaro 116.  Hasten to do good; restrain your mind from evil. He who is slow in doing good, his mind delights in evil. 117.  Should a person commit evil, let him not do it again and again. Let him not find pleasure therein, for pain is the accumulation of evil. 118.  Should a person do good, let him do it again and again. Let him find pleasure therein, for blissful is the accumulation of good. 119.  It may be well with the evil-doer as long as the evil ripens not. But when it does ripen, then the evil-doer sees (the painful results of) his evil deeds. 120.  It may be ill with the doer of good as long as the good ripens not. But when it does ripen, then the doer of good sees (the pleasant results of) his good deeds. 121.  Think not lightly of evil, saying, "It will not come to me." Drop by drop is the water pot ...

  Dhp VIII   PTS: Dhp 100-115 Sahassavagga: The Thousands translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita © 1996 Alternate translation: Thanissaro 100.  Better than a thousand useless words is one useful word, hearing which one attains peace. 101.  Better than a thousand useless verses is one useful verse, hearing which one attains peace. 102.  Better than reciting a hundred meaningless verses is the reciting of one verse of Dhamma, hearing which one attains peace. 103.  Though one may conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle, yet he indeed is the noblest victor who conquers himself. 104-105.  Self-conquest is far better than the conquest of others. Not even a god, an angel, Mara, or Brahma can turn into defeat the victory of a person who is self-subdued and ever restrained in conduct.  [12] 106.  Though month after month for a hundred years one should offer sacrifices by the thousands, yet if only for a moment one shoul...

  Dhp VII   PTS: Dhp 90-99 Arahantavagga: The Arahant or Perfected One translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita © 1996 Alternate translation: Thanissaro 90.  The fever of passion exists not for him who has completed the journey, who is sorrowless and wholly set free and has broken all ties. 91.  The mindful ones exert themselves. They are not attached to any home; like swans that abandon the lake, they leave home after home behind. 92.  Those who do not accumulate and are wise regarding food, whose object is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom — their track cannot be traced, like that of birds in the air. 93.  He whose cankers are destroyed and who is not attached to food, whose object is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom — his path cannot be traced, like that of birds in the air. 94.  Even the gods hold dear the wise one, whose senses are subdued like horses well trained by a charioteer, whose pride is destroyed and who is free f...

  Dhp VI   PTS: Dhp 76-89 Panditavagga: The Wise translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita © 1996 Alternate translation: Thanissaro 76.  Should one find a man who points out faults and who reproves, let him follow such a wise and sagacious person as one would a guide to hidden treasure. It is always better, and never worse, to cultivate such an association. 77.  Let him admonish, instruct and shield one from wrong; he, indeed, is dear to the good and detestable to the evil. 78.  Do not associate with evil companions; do not seek the fellowship of the vile. Associate with the good friends; seek the fellowship of noblemen. 79.  He who drinks deep the Dhamma lives happily with a tranquil mind. The wise man ever delights in the Dhamma made known by the Noble One (the Buddha). 80.  Irrigators regulate the rivers; fletchers straighten the arrow shaft; carpenters shape the wood; the wise control themselves. 81.  Just as a solid rock is...

  Dhp V   PTS: Dhp 60-75 Balavagga: The Fool translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita © 1996 Alternate translation: Thanissaro 60.  Long is the night to the sleepless; long is the league to the weary. Long is worldly existence to fools who know not the Sublime Truth. 61.  Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let him resolutely pursue a solitary course; there is no fellowship with the fool. 62.  The fool worries, thinking, "I have sons, I have wealth." Indeed, when he himself is not his own, whence are sons, whence is wealth? 63.  A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent, but a fool who thinks himself wise is a fool indeed. 64.  Though all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he no more comprehends the Truth than a spoon tastes the flavor of the soup. 65.  Though only for a moment a discerning person associates with a wise man, quickly he comprehends the Truth, just as the t...