Category Buddha Vacana

“The king asked: “Venerable Nagasena, which is greater, good or bad?” “Good is greater, Sire; bad is only small.” “In what way?” “Sire, someone acting badly is remorseful, saying: ‘An evil deed was done by me,‘ and thus evil does…

“The carpenter or his apprentice sees on his tool handle the wearing away caused by his fingers and thumb, but he does not necessarily know that so much has been worn away today, so much yesterday and so much at…

“The Buddha is like one who passes down the inheritance of the Dhamma. The good Dhamma is like that inheritance. The Sangha, which is like a group of children who are heirs of an inheritance, is heir to the inheritance…

“The Brahmin Sangarava said to the Lord: ” we Brahmins perform the sacrifice and encourage others to do so. Whoever does this creates great good that affects many people. But he who goes forth from home into homeless life helps…

“That which is not yours put it away. Putting it away will be to your welfare and happiness. And what is not yours? Body, feeling, perception, mental constructs and consciousness are not yours. So, put them away. Putting them away…

“That which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continuously both day and night. Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch, letting it go only to grab another, so too that which is called…

“Suppose a king or royal minister has never heard the music of a lute. But one day he does hear it and he says: “Good man, tell me what is that sound so enchanting, so delightful, so intoxicating, so ravishing,…

“Potaliya the wanderer came to visit the Lord, greeted him courteousiy, and sat down at one side, and as he did, the Lord said to him: “Potaliya, there are these four persons found in the world. What four? Concerning this,…

“Possessed of four qualities, one is understood as being a good person. What four? Concerning this, the good person does not speak of what is to the discredit of another, even when asked. What then when unasked? If, however, on…

“One may not be skilled in the habit of other‘s thoughts but at least one can make this resolve: “I will be skilled in the habit of my own thoughts.” This is how you should train yourself, and this is…