SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 163

Beginning With Yourself

Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.

Dhammapada 163 · Chapter 12, Self · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do.” In its chapter, this image points toward personal responsibility without self-condemnation. 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 quality would you like to strengthen through repetition?