001

Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind one speaks or acts, suffering follows one like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

002

Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind wrought. If with a pure mind one speaks or acts, happiness follows one like one's never-departing shadow.

003

"He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me"--those who harbour such thoughts do not still their hatred.

004

"He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me"--those who do not harbour such thoughts still their hatred.

005

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world; by non-hatred alone is hatred appeased.

006

This is an Eternal Law.

007

There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die, but those who realize this settle their quarrels.

008

Just as a storm throws down a weak tree, so does Mara overpower the person who lives for the pursuit of pleasures, who is uncontrolled in one's senses, immoderate in eating, indolent and dissipated.

009

Just as a storm cannot throw down a rocky mountain, so Mara can never overpower the person who lives meditating on the impurities, who is controlled in one's senses, moderate in eating, and filled with faith and earnest effort.

010

Whoever being depraved, devoid of self-control and truthfulness, should don the monk's yellow robe, that person surely is not worthy of the robe.

011

But whoever is purged of depravity, well established in virtues and filled with self-control and truthfulness, that person indeed is worthy of the robe.

012

Those who mistake the unessential to be essential and the essential to be unessential dwelling in wrong thoughts, never arrive at the essential.

013

Those who know the essential to be essential and the unessential to be unessential, dwelling in right thoughts, arrive at the essential.

014

Just as the rain breaks through an ill- thatched house, even so passion penetrates an undeveloped mind.

015

Just as rain does not break through a well-thatched house, even so passion never penetrates a well-developed mind.

016

Evil-doers grieves here and hereafter; they grieve in both worlds. They lament and are afflicted, recollecting their own impure deeds.

017

Doers of good rejoice here and hereafter; they rejoice in both worlds. They rejoice and exult, recollecting their own pure deeds.

018

Evil-doers suffer here and hereafter; they suffer in both worlds. The thought, "Evil have I done," torments them, and they suffer even more when gone to realms of woe.

019

Doers of good delight here and hereafter; they delight in both worlds. The thought, "Good have I done," delights them, and they delight even more when gone to realms of bliss.

020

Much though one recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless person is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others--one does not partake of the blessings of a holy life.

021

Little though one recites the sacred texts, but puts the Teaching into practice, forsaking lust, hatred and delusion, with true wisdom and emancipated mind, clinging to nothing in this or any other world--one, indeed, partakes of the blessings of a holy life.