SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 108
The Mind Before the Moment
Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a quarter (a farthing); reverence shown to the righteous is better.
Dhammapada 108 · Chapter 8, The Thousands · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a….” In its chapter, this image points toward quality of understanding rather than quantity of words. Read goodness here as a trainable direction—choices that reduce harm and leave less residue of regret. Because this is a historic English translation, test the teaching in experience rather than treating its wording as a demand for belief.
Practice prompt
What intention is shaping your next action?