As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a
Books: THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICSAs soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name When it once has
that name, (men) can know to rest in it When they know to rest in
it, they can be free from all risk of failure and error
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ANNOUNCEMENT
"For all may have, If they dare choose, a glorious life" --Herbert I have received many letters from people who are distressed by their fears To every such an one let me send this a... As a cowherd with his staff drives his cows into
As a cowherd with his staff drives his cows into the stable, so do Age and Death drive the life of men ... As a fish taken from his watery home and thrown
As a fish taken from his watery home and thrown on dry ground, our thought trembles all over in order to escape the dominion of Mara (the tempter) ... As a fletcher makes straight his arrow, a wise man
As a fletcher makes straight his arrow, a wise man makes straight his trembling and unsteady thought, which is difficult to guard, difficult to hold back ... As a grass-blade, if badly grasped, cuts the arm, badly-practised asceticism
As a grass-blade, if badly grasped, cuts the arm, badly-practised asceticism leads to hell ... As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind,
As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, wise people falter not amidst blame and praise ... As a tree, even though it has been cut down,
As a tree, even though it has been cut down, is firm so long as its root is safe, and grows again, thus, unless the feeders of thirst are destroyed, the pain (of life) will return again and again ... As long as the evil deed done does not bear
As long as the evil deed done does not bear fruit, the fool thinks it is like honey; but when it ripens, then the fool suffers grief ... As many kinds of wreaths can be made from a
As many kinds of wreaths can be made from a heap of flowers, so many good things may be achieved by a mortal when once he is born ... As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through
As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind ... As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion
As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind ... As soon as he has considered the origin and destruction
As soon as he has considered the origin and destruction of the elements (khandha) of the body, he finds happiness and joy which belong to those who know the immortal (Nirvana) ... As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a
As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name When it once has that name, (men) can know to rest in it When they know to rest in it, they can be free from all risk of failure and error ... As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower,
As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its colour or scent, so let a sage dwell in his village ... As the impurity which springs from the iron, when it
As the impurity which springs from the iron, when it springs from it, destroys it; thus do a transgressor's own works lead him to the evil path ... As the Vassika plant sheds its withered flowers, men should
As the Vassika plant sheds its withered flowers, men should shed passion and hatred, O ye Bhikshus! ... Bad conduct is the taint of woman, greediness the taint
Bad conduct is the taint of woman, greediness the taint of a benefactor; tainted are all evil ways in this world and in the next ... Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to
Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do ... BANISH ALL FEAR
It is on such considerations that I have come to hold that all real fear-FEELING should and may be banished from our life, and that what we call "normal fear" should be substituted in our language by "instinct" or by "reason," the element of fear... Be not thoughtless, watch your thoughts! Draw yourself out
Be not thoughtless, watch your thoughts! Draw yourself out of the evil way, like an elephant sunk in mud ... Because a man is rid of evil, therefore he is
Because a man is rid of evil, therefore he is called Brahmana; because he walks quietly, therefore he is called Samana; because he has sent away his own impurities, therefore he is called Pravragita (Pabbagita, a pilgrim) ... Before long, alas! this body will lie on the earth,
Before long, alas! this body will lie on the earth, despised, without understanding, like a useless log ... Better it would be to swallow a heated iron ball,
Better it would be to swallow a heated iron ball, like flaring fire, than that a bad unrestrained fellow should live on the charity of the land ... Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven,
Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven, better than lordship over all worlds, is the reward of the first step in holiness The Buddha (The Awakened) ...