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Saturday, November 09, 2013

Choices

We are what we think
All that we are arises with our thoughts
With our thoughts we make the world

Speak or act with an impure mind
And trouble will follow you

As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart

We are what we think
All that we are arises with our thoughts
With our thoughts we make the world

Speak or act with a pure mind

And happiness will follow you

As your shadow, unshakable

"Look how he abused me and hurt me
How he threw me down and robbed me"


Live with such thoughts and you live in hate

"Look how he abused me and hurt me
How he threw me down and robbed me"

Abandon such thoughts, and live in love

In this world
Hate never yet dispelled hate

Only love dispels hate

This is the law
Ancient and inexhaustible

You too shall pass away

Knowing this, how can you quarrel?

How easily the wind overturns a frail tree
Seek happiness in the senses

Indulge in food and sleep

And you too will be uprooted

The wind cannot overturn a mountain
Temptation cannot touch the man

Who is awake, strong and humble

Who masters himself and minds the dharma

If a man's thoughts are muddy
If he is reckless and full of deceit

How can he wear the yellow robe?

Whoever is master of his own nature
Bright, clear and true

He may indeed wear the yellow robe

Mistaking the false for the true
And the true for the false

You overlook the heart
And fill yourself with desire

See the false as false
The true as true

Look into your heart
Follow your nature

An unreflecting mind is a poor roof
Passion, like the rain, floods the house
But if the roof is strong, there is shelter

Whoever follows impure thoughts
Suffers in this world and the next
In both worlds he suffers

And how greatly

When he sees the wrong he has done

But whoever follows the dharma
Is joyful here and joyful there
In both worlds he rejoices

And how greatly

When he sees the good he has done

For great is the harvest in this world

And greater still in the next

However many holy words you read

However many you speak

What good will they do you

If you do not act upon them?

Are you a shepherd
Who counts another man's sheep

Never sharing the way?

Read as few words as you like
And speak fewer

But act upon the dharma

Give up the old ways

Passion, enmity, folly

Know the truth and find peace

Share the way

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