Dhammapada(Dhp XIX) - Dhammatthavagga: The Judge
Tuesday 12 July 2016, by
All the versions of this article: [Deutsch] [English] [Español] [français] [italiano] [Nederlands] [Português] [中文]
256-257
To pass judgment hurriedlydoesn’t mean you’re a judge.The wise one, weighing boththe right judgment & wrong,judges others impartially —unhurriedly, in line with the Dhamma,guarding the Dhamma,guarded by Dhamma,intelligent:he’s called a judge.
258-259
Simply talking a lotdoesn’t mean one is wise.Whoever’s secure —no hostility,fear —is said to be wise.Simply talking a lotdoesn’t maintain the Dhamma.Whoever— although he’s heard next to nothing —sees Dhamma through his body,is not heedless of Dhamma:he’s one who maintains the Dhamma.
260-261
A head of gray hairsdoesn’t mean one’s an elder.Advanced in years,one’s called an old fool.But one in whom there istruth, restraint,rectitude, gentleness,self-control —he’s called an elder,his impurities disgorged,enlightened.
262-263
Not by suave conversationor lotus-like coloringdoes an envious, miserly cheatbecome an exemplary man.But one in whom this iscut throughup-rootedwiped out —he’s called exemplary,his aversion disgorged,intelligent.
264-265
A shaven headdoesn’t mean a contemplative.The liar observing no duties,filled with greed & desire:what kind of contemplative’s he?But whoever tunes outthe dissonanceof his evil qualities— large or small —in every wayby bringing evil to consonance:he’s called a contemplative.
266-267
Begging from othersdoesn’t mean one’s a monk.As long as one followshouseholders’ ways,one is no monk at all.But whoever puts asideboth merit & evil and,living the chaste life,judiciouslygoes through the world:he’s called a monk.
268-269
Not by silencedoes someone confusedand unknowingturn into a sage.But whoever — wise,as if holding the scales,taking the excellent —rejects evil deeds:he is a sage,that’s how he’s a sage.Whoever can weighboth sides of the world:that’s how he’s calleda sage.
270
Not by harming lifedoes one become noble.One is termed noblefor being gentleto all living things.
271-272
Monk,don’ton account ofyour precepts & practices,great erudition,concentration attainments,secluded dwelling,or the thought, ’I touchthe renunciate easethat run-of-the-mill peopledon’t know’:ever let yourself get complacentwhen the ending of effluentsis still unattained.
Provenance: ©1997 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Transcribed from a file provided by the translator.
This Access to Insight edition is ©1997–2009 John T. Bullitt.
Terms of use: You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that:
- (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge;
- (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document;
- and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work.
Otherwise, all rights reserved.
All the sutras HERE