ETHICS · DHAMMAPADA 120

The Direction of a Deed

Even a good man sees evil days, as long as his good deed has not ripened; but when his good deed has ripened, then does the good man see happy days.

Dhammapada 120 · Chapter 9, Evil · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “Even a good man sees evil days, as long as his good deed has not ripened.” In its chapter, this image points toward the cumulative direction of repeated choices. 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 good habit can receive one more drop today?