DHAMMAPADA - ON EARNESTNESS

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VIPASSANA MEDITATION ; DHAMMAPADA - CHAPTERS 1 AND 2 - TWIN VERSES and ON EARNESTNESS Inbox

Sher Agrawal
Hon'ble Shri Goenkaji, Namaskar and Jai Hind. I attended three of your course...
Jun 30 (20 hours ago)


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Jun 30 (20 hours ago)


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J S Agrawal
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2:36 am (2 hours ago)
Respected Jijaji, Namaskar. Thank you very much for the forward. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that you have completed three courses in VIPASSANA Meditation. Suggestions to Shri Goenkaji, given by you are good & may enhance the usefulness of the courses. There are no additions in your BLOG today. I missed them.
Rest is OK. Please convey my namaskar to dear Pushpa & love to dear kids. With regards, Sincerely yours, JS AGRAWAL

Sher Agrawal wrote:

Hon'ble Shri Goenkaji,

Namaskar and Jai Hind.

I attended three of your courses in Washington state and have benefitted from them. I would however like to make the following suggestions for your kind consideration and advice:-

1. The course should be shortened to seven days, e.g. from Satruday to Saturday. This will enable working people to complete the course within a week. As you know normally only two weeks holiday is given to people in USA and therefore ten days course for working people takes away the whole of the holiday. As of now I have seen, I attended three courses, one five years ago and two more recently and I found that either there were retired and older people or younger ones who were most probably no employed, etc.

2. In addition to the life story of Buddha and other stories which are enumerated in the evening one hour session, at least one chapter from DHAMMAPADA and other canons as stated by Buddha should also be read each evening which are most practical to follow and useful in every aspect of life. While I attended the three courses, I did not come in touch with the Dhammapada during the course, until recently when I was reading a book TATHAGATA that I started reading the laws as enumerated by Buddha in DHAMMAPADA and I find these laws most practical and a key to a happy life.

3. The wording of the Buddha as reproduced in Dhammapada are most important as if they are changed or spoken in the own words of the speaker it will take away its effectiveness and the real spirit, as may have been the case so far during these courses. I am reproducing below the two chapters from DHAMMAPADA which I find most enlightening and easy to follow.

Yours truly,

SHER SINGH AGRAWAL
SEATTLE, WA




Chapter 1 - The Twin-Verses
1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.
4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.
5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.
6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;—but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.
7. He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mara (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a weak tree.
8. He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.
9. He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.
10. But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and regards also temperance and truth, he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.
11. They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.
12. They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.
13. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.
14. As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.
15. The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.
16. The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.
17. The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.
18. The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.
19. The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion (of the law), but is not a doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of others.
20. The follower of the law, even if he can recite only a small portion (of the law), but, having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a share in the priesthood.



dhammapada online
Chapter 2 - On Earnestness
21. Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.
22. Those who are advanced in earnestness, having understood this clearly, delight in earnestness, and rejoice in the knowledge of the Ariyas (the elect).
23. These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers, attain to Nirvana, the highest happiness.
24. If an earnest person has roused himself, if he is not forgetful, if his deeds are pure, if he acts with consideration, if he restrains himself, and lives according to law,—then his glory will increase.
25. By rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, the wise man may make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.
26. Fools follow after vanity, men of evil wisdom. The wise man keeps earnestness as his best jewel.
27. Follow not after vanity, nor after the enjoyment of love and lust! He who is earnest and meditative, obtains ample joy.
28. When the learned man drives away vanity by earnestness, he, the wise, climbing the terraced heights of wisdom, looks down upon the fools, serene he looks upon the toiling crowd, as one that stands on a mountain looks down upon them that stand upon the plain.
29. Earnest among the thoughtless, awake among the sleepers, the wise man advances like a racer, leaving behind the hack.
30. By earnestness did Maghavan (Indra) rise to the lordship of the gods. People praise earnestness; thoughtlessness is always blamed.
31. A Bhikshu (mendicant) who delights in earnestness, who looks with fear on thoughtlessness, moves about like fire, burning all his fetters, small or large.
32. A Bhikshu (mendicant) who delights in reflection, who looks with fear on thoughtlessness, cannot fall away (from his perfect state)—he is close upon Nirvana.



SHER SINGH AGRAWAL
Please see my blog at
HTTP://agrasen.blogspot.com




J S AGRAWAL
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date 1 Jul 2007 10:02:29 -0000
subject Re :VIPASSANA MEDITATION ; DHAMMAPADA - CHAPTERS 1 AND 2 - TWIN VERSES and ON EARNESTNESS
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On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 08:24:53 -0700 "Sher Agrawal" wrote
- Hide quoted text -

Hon'ble Shri Goenkaji,

Namaskar and Jai Hind.

I attended three of your courses in Washington state and have benefitted from them. I would however like to make the following suggestions for your kind consideration and advice:-


1. The course should be shortened to seven days, e.g. from Satruday to Saturday. This will enable working people to complete the course within a week. As you know normally only two weeks holiday is given to people in USA and therefore ten days course for working people takes away the whole of the holiday. As of now I have seen, I attended three courses, one five years ago and two more recently and I found that either there were retired and older people or younger ones who were most probably no employed, etc.


2. In addition to the life story of Buddha and other stories which are enumerated in the evening one hour session, at least one chapter from DHAMMAPADA and other canons as stated by Buddha should also be read each evening which are most practical to follow and useful in every aspect of life. While I attended the three courses, I did not come in touch with the Dhammapada during the course, until recently when I was reading a book TATHAGATA that I started reading the laws as enumerated by Buddha in DHAMMAPADA and I find these laws most practical and a key to a happy life.


3. The wording of the Buddha as reproduced in Dhammapada are most important as if they are changed or spoken in the own words of the speaker it will take away its effectiveness and the real spirit, as may have been the case so far during these courses. I am reproducing below the two chapters from DHAMMAPADA which I find most enlightening and easy to follow.


Yours truly,

SHER SINGH AGRAWAL
SEATTLE, WA




Chapter 1 - The Twin-Verses


1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it
is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him,
as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it
is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows
him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who harbour such
thoughts hatred will never cease.

4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who do not
harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by
love, this is an old rule.

6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;—but those who know it,
their quarrels cease at once.

7. He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food,
idle, and weak, Mara (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a
weak tree.

8. He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his
food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind
throws down a rocky mountain.

9. He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who
disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.

10. But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and regards
also temperance and truth, he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.

11. They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but
follow vain desires.

12. They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at
truth, and follow true desires.

13. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting
mind.

14. As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a
well-reflecting mind.

15. The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He
mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.

16. The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in
both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.

17. The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both.
He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil
path.

18. The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in
both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when
going on the good path.

19. The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion (of the law), but is not a
doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of
others.

20. The follower of the law, even if he can recite only a small portion (of the law), but,
having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of
mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a share in the
priesthood.














Chapter 2 - On Earnestness

21. Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness
the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are
as if dead already.

22. Those who are advanced in earnestness, having understood this clearly, delight in
earnestness, and rejoice in the knowledge of the Ariyas (the elect).

23. These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers, attain to
Nirvana, the highest happiness.

24. If an earnest person has roused himself, if he is not forgetful, if his deeds are pure,
if he acts with consideration, if he restrains himself, and lives according to
law,—then his glory will increase.

25. By rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, the wise man may make for
himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.

26. Fools follow after vanity, men of evil wisdom. The wise man keeps earnestness as his
best jewel.

27. Follow not after vanity, nor after the enjoyment of love
and lust! He who is earnest and meditative, obtains ample joy.

28. When the learned man drives away vanity by earnestness, he, the wise, climbing the
terraced heights of wisdom, looks down upon the fools, serene he looks upon the toiling
crowd, as one that stands on a mountain looks down upon them that stand upon the plain.

29. Earnest among the thoughtless, awake among the sleepers, the wise man advances like a
racer, leaving behind the hack.

30. By earnestness did Maghavan (Indra) rise to the lordship of the gods. People praise
earnestness; thoughtlessness is always blamed.

31. A Bhikshu (mendicant) who delights in earnestness, who
looks with fear on thoughtlessness, moves about like fire, burning all his fetters, small or
large.

32. A Bhikshu (mendicant) who delights in reflection, who looks
with fear on thoughtlessness, cannot fall away (from his perfect state)—he is close upon Nirvana.

SHER SINGH AGRAWAL
Please see my blog at

HTTP://agrasen.blogspot.com