SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 112

The Work No One Else Can Do

And he who lives a hundred years, idle and weak, a life of one day is better if a man has attained firm strength.

Dhammapada 112 · Chapter 8, The Thousands · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “And he who lives a hundred years, idle and weak, a life of one day is….” In its chapter, this image points toward quality of understanding rather than quantity of words. Its value is practical when it changes how you meet one choice, relationship, or difficult feeling today. 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 choice would leave your mind clearer tonight?