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?