Zen in Ten: "Transform Anger with Kindness"
Dhammapada Verses 221-234: The Chapter About Anger
Hello Spark Zen Readers! This is the next post delineating the short verses in The Dhammapada, which is sometimes called the Buddhist Book of Proverbs. The Dhammapada is regarded as the most succinct expression of the Buddha's teachings found in the Pali canon. For your convenience, here are links to verses: 1-10, 11-20, 21-32, 33-43, 44-59, 60-75, 76-89, 90-99, 100-115, 116-128, 129-145, 146-156, 157-166, 167-178, 179-196, 197-208, and 209-220. This chapter is translated by Ajahn Munindo and is excerpted from A Dhammapada for Contemplation, published by Aruno Publications, 2017. Peace, Rev. Shoren Heather
Relinquish anger.
Let go of conceit.
Release yourself
from all that binds you.
The pure-hearted who cling
neither to body nor mind
do not fall prey to suffering.
I say that those who contain anger
as a charioteer controls
a speeding chariot
are fully in charge of their lives;
others are merely keeping
their hands on the reins.
Transform anger with kindness
and badness with that which is good,
meanness with generosity
and deceit with integrity.
These three ways
lead to the heavens:
asserting the truth,
not yielding to anger,
and giving, even if you have
only a little to share.
Awakened Ones do not cause harm.
They are rightly restrained
and they move to changelessness
where they grieve no more.
All pollution is cleared
from the minds of those
who are always vigilant,
training themselves day and night,
and whose lives are fully intent
upon liberation.
Since ancient times it has been the case
that those who speak too much are criticized,
as are those who speak too little
and those who don’t speak at all.
Everyone in this world is criticized.
There never was,
nor will there be,
nor is there now,
anybody who is only blamed
or wholly praised.
Those who live impeccably,
who are discerning,
intelligent and virtuous—
they are continually praised by the wise.
Who would cast blame on those
who in their being are like gold?
Even the gods praise them.
Beware of clumsy movement
and be aware in your bodily conduct.
Renounce all devious action
and cultivate that which is wholesome.
Beware of contrived utterance
and be aware in all that you say.
Renounce all cunning speech
and cultivate that which is wholesome.
Beware of devious thinking
and be aware of all that you dwell upon.
Renounce all unruly thought
and cultivate that which is wholesome.
Ably self-restrained
are the wise,
in action, in thought
and in speech.
Rise above, expand beyond self, towards Higher Self ❤️
These passages are beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.