ETHICS · DHAMMAPADA 251

The Direction of a Deed

There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed.

Dhammapada 251 · Chapter 18, Impurity · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like hatred, there is no snare….” In its chapter, this image points toward cleaning up conduct and intention. The practical question is whether replaying injury protects you or keeps the injury active. 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?