SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 113

A Mind Well Directed

And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing beginning and end, a life of one day is better if a man sees beginning and end.

Dhammapada 113 · 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, not seeing beginning and end, a life of one….” 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

Where are you ready to take responsibility without blame?