SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 115
Learning From Cause and Effect
And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the highest law, a life of one day is better if a man sees the highest law.
Dhammapada 115 · 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 the highest law, 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
Pause before one ordinary action and name the state of mind behind it.