MINDFULNESS · DHAMMAPADA 183
An Island Within
Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.
Dhammapada 183 · Chapter 14, The Buddha (The Awakened) · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that is the….” In its chapter, this image points toward awakening as a lived discipline. It locates the turning point before outward action, in the quality of attention you repeatedly cultivate. Because this is a historic English translation, test the teaching in experience rather than treating its wording as a demand for belief.
Practice prompt
Notice three breaths without trying to improve them.