ETHICS · DHAMMAPADA 122
Before You Act
Let no man think lightly of good, saying in his heart, It will not come nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled; the wise man becomes full of good, even if he gather it little by little.
Dhammapada 122 · Chapter 9, Evil · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “Let no man think lightly of good, saying in his heart, It will not come nigh….” In its chapter, this image points toward the cumulative direction of repeated choices. It also makes practice relational: the people you listen to can strengthen or weaken your best intentions. 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 promise to yourself deserves to be kept?