SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 17
The Mind Before the Moment
The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.
Dhammapada 17 · Chapter 1, The Twin-Verses · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next.” In its chapter, this image points toward intention and the way thought conditions action. The path image makes wisdom active: direction matters, and the next step is more useful than an idealized destination. 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 intention is shaping your next action?