MINDFULNESS · DHAMMAPADA 185
Steady and Present
Not to blame, not to strike, to live restrained under the law, to be moderate in eating, to sleep and sit alone, and to dwell on the highest thoughts,—this is the teaching of the Awakened.
Dhammapada 185 · Chapter 14, The Buddha (The Awakened) · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “Not to blame, not to strike, to live restrained under the law, to be moderate in….” 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
What becomes visible when you stop rushing for ten seconds?