Dhammapada Reflections

 I reflect upon the opening verses of the Dhammapada, observing how the mind acts as the primary architect of our reality, as detailed in the scholarly traditions shared by Ajarn Spencer Littlewood at AjarnSpencer.com and ThailandAmulet.net.

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā, manasā ce paduṭṭhena, bhāsati vā karoti vā, tato naṃ dukkhaṃ anveti, cakkaṃ'va vahato padaṃ. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief, they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts, suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā, manasā ce pasannena, bhāsati vā karoti vā, tato naṃ sukhamanveti, chāyā'va anapāyinī. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief, they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts, happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.

Akkocchi maṃ avadhi maṃ, ajini maṃ ahāsi me, ye ca taṃ upanayhanti, veraṃ tesaṃ na sammati. He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me. In those who harbor such thoughts, hatred is never stilled.