ETHICS · DHAMMAPADA 123

Living Without Remorse

Let a man avoid evil deeds, as a merchant, if he has few companions and carries much wealth, avoids a dangerous road; as a man who loves life avoids poison.

Dhammapada 123 · Chapter 9, Evil · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “Let a man avoid evil deeds, as a merchant, if he has few companions and carries….” In its chapter, this image points toward the cumulative direction of repeated choices. The practical question is whether replaying injury protects you or keeps the injury active. Because this is a historic English translation, test the teaching in experience rather than treating its wording as a demand for belief.

Practice prompt

Choose the action you would be comfortable remembering tonight.