ETHICS · DHAMMAPADA 243
The Direction of a Deed
But there is a taint worse than all taints,—ignorance is the greatest taint. O mendicants! throw off that taint, and become taintless!
Dhammapada 243 · Chapter 18, Impurity · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “But there is a taint worse than all taints,—ignorance is the greatest taint.” In its chapter, this image points toward cleaning up conduct and intention. Its value is practical when it changes how you meet one choice, relationship, or difficult feeling today. 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 good habit can receive one more drop today?