PATIENCE · DHAMMAPADA 234

The Courage Not to Strike Back

The wise who control their body, who control their tongue, the wise who control their mind, are indeed well controlled.

Dhammapada 234 · Chapter 17, Anger · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “The wise who control their body, who control their tongue, the wise who control their mind,….” In its chapter, this image points toward meeting anger without becoming anger. 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 anger in the body before turning it into speech.