ETHICS · DHAMMAPADA 239

The Weight of Small Choices

Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off the impurities of silver one by one, little by little, and from time to time.

Dhammapada 239 · Chapter 18, Impurity · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off….” In its chapter, this image points toward cleaning up conduct and intention. It also makes practice relational: the people you listen to can strengthen or weaken your best intentions. 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 choice today will leave no need for regret?