MINDFULNESS · DHAMMAPADA 30

The Strength of Awareness

By earnestness did Maghavan (Indra) rise to the lordship of the gods. People praise earnestness; thoughtlessness is always blamed.

Dhammapada 30 · Chapter 2, On Earnestness · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “By earnestness did Maghavan (Indra) rise to the lordship of the gods.” In its chapter, this image points toward careful attention as the ground of a wakeful life. 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

Let one sound remind you to return to the body.