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Theravāda — Pali Canon · Khuddaka Nikāya — The Minor Collection
Dhp 100–1158. The Thousands
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sahassavagga
📖363 words · ~1 min read
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Full translation (English)
– Minor Collection
Sayings of the Dhamma 100–115 8. The Thousands
Better than a thousandmeaningless sayingsis a single meaningful saying,hearing which brings you peace.Better than a thousandmeaningless versesis a single meaningful verse,hearing which brings you peace.Better than recitinga hundred meaningless versesis a single saying of Dhamma,hearing which brings you peace.The supreme conqueror isnot he who conquers a million men in battle,but he who conquers a single man:himself.It is surely better to conquer oneselfthan all those other folk.When a person has tamed themselves,always living restrained,no god nor centaur,nor Māra nor divinity,can undo the victoryof such a personage.Rather than a thousandfold sacrifice,every month for a full century,it’s better to honor for a single hourone who has developed themselves.That offering is betterthan the hundred year sacrifice.Rather than serve the sacred flamein the forest for a hundred years,it’s better to honor for a single houra personage who has developed themselves.That offering is betterthan the hundred year sacrifice.Whatever sacrifice or offering in the worlda seeker of merit may make for a year,none of it is worth a quarterof bowing to the sincere.For one in the habit of bowing,always honoring the elders,four blessings grow:lifespan, beauty, happiness, and strength.Better to live a single dayethical and absorbed in meditationthan to live a hundred yearsunethical and lacking immersion.Better to live a single daywise and absorbed in meditationthan to live a hundred yearswitless and lacking immersion.Better to live a single dayenergetic and strong,than to live a hundred yearslazy and lacking energy.Better to live a single dayseeing rise and fallthan to live a hundred yearsblind to rise and fall.Better to live a single dayseeing the state free of deaththan to live a hundred yearsblind to the state free of death.Better to live a single dayseeing the supreme teachingthan to live a hundred yearsblind to the supreme teaching.
Translation source: HT. Thích Minh ChâuLicense: CC0-1.0 (Sujato) · personal-use (Minh Châu)
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