SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 15
Beginning With Yourself
The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.
Dhammapada 15 · Chapter 1, The Twin-Verses · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next.” In its chapter, this image points toward intention and the way thought conditions action. 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 quality would you like to strengthen through repetition?