COMPASSION · DHAMMAPADA 130

Choosing Kindness

All men tremble at punishment, all men love life; remember that thou art like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.

Dhammapada 130 · Chapter 10, Punishment · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “All men tremble at punishment, all men love life.” In its chapter, this image points toward recognizing that other beings fear pain as we do. 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

What would non-harming look like in your next conversation?