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federicaSeeker of the clear blue sky...Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubtModerator
We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart. We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with a pure mind and happiness will follow you as your shadow, unshakable.
This is a widely used but unfortunately inaccurate translation.
Just clarifying....
1. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.
2. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.
Thanks @federica I think the translation you cite is one I trust and makes more sense to me than the alternative translation cited.
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federicaSeeker of the clear blue sky...Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubtModerator
edited August 2011
Yes, on scrutiny, they actually mean different things.
"We are what we think", is very much in the vein of "I think, therefore I am"... which is a contradiction on certain levels, especially when we consider the lesson of Self/Not-Self....
"Mind precedes all mental states" indicates that everything arises primarily in the Mind, and our perception and intention arise in the inattentive mind in a careless way. Being Mindful is the order of the day, and Right Speech/Action therefore follows....
"Bhikkhus, these two bright principles protect the world. What are the two? Shame and fear of wrongdoing. If, bhikkhus, these two bright principles did not protect the world, there would not be discerned respect for mother or maternal aunt or maternal uncle's wife or a teacher's wife or the wives of other honored persons, and the world would have fallen into promiscuity, as with goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, dogs, and jackals. But as these two bright principles protect the world, there is discerned respect for mother... and the wives of other honored persons."
Those in whom shame and fear of wrong Are not consistently found Have deviated from the bright root And are led back to birth and death.
But those in whom shame and fear of wrong Are consistently ever present, Peaceful, mature in the holy life, They put an end to renewal of being.
federicaSeeker of the clear blue sky...Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubtModerator
It's amazing, isn't it, that for all this talk of social unrest about the econiomic climate, unemployment, and financial discord, the one shop that never got broken into was waterstone's. A bookshop.
Clearly, those protesting about the social unrest, economic climate, unemployment and financial discord, were not after anything that would help them better themselves. However, nike trainers, flat-screen TV's electronic equipmwnt and accessories and bling, were obviously the in-thing to steal, vandalise or deprive honest people of....
It's amazing, isn't it, that for all this talk of social unrest about the econiomic climate, unemployment, and financial discord, the one shop that never got broken into was waterstone's. A bookshop.
Clearly, those protesting about the social unrest, economic climate, unemployment and financial discord, were not after anything that would help them better themselves. However, nike trainers, flat-screen TV's electronic equipmwnt and accessories and bling, were obviously the in-thing to steal, vandalise or deprive honest people of....
In my view, you hit the nail right on the head. It was just an excuse, for the most part, to loot.
It's amazing, isn't it, that for all this talk of social unrest about the econiomic climate, unemployment, and financial discord, the one shop that never got broken into was waterstone's. A bookshop.
Clearly, those protesting about the social unrest, economic climate, unemployment and financial discord, were not after anything that would help them better themselves. However, nike trainers, flat-screen TV's electronic equipmwnt and accessories and bling, were obviously the in-thing to steal, vandalise or deprive honest people of....
In my view, you hit the nail right on the head. It was just an excuse, for the most part, to loot.
Our easiest (and laziest) response is to condemn and, by doing so, to turn away from the dukkha which drives so many to anti- or a-social behaviour. I am reminded that, when a woman was brought to Jesus to be judged, he suggested that those who had never done anything wrong should throw the first stone. There is only a difference in degree between stealing a couple of paperclips from work and being part of a looting mob.
Additionally, we do try, here in the UK, to pretend that this is an unusual occurrence. We have even managed to forget that looting was a major problem during the Blitz: we prefer some sort of national myth a fair play and good behaviour.
Comments
This is a widely used but unfortunately inaccurate translation.
Just clarifying.... From here,
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.01.budd.html
is more reliable.
"We are what we think", is very much in the vein of "I think, therefore I am"... which is a contradiction on certain levels, especially when we consider the lesson of Self/Not-Self....
"Mind precedes all mental states" indicates that everything arises primarily in the Mind, and our perception and intention arise in the inattentive mind in a careless way. Being Mindful is the order of the day, and Right Speech/Action therefore follows....
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bps-essay_23.html
"Bhikkhus, these two bright principles protect the world. What are the two? Shame and fear of wrongdoing. If, bhikkhus, these two bright principles did not protect the world, there would not be discerned respect for mother or maternal aunt or maternal uncle's wife or a teacher's wife or the wives of other honored persons, and the world would have fallen into promiscuity, as with goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, dogs, and jackals. But as these two bright principles protect the world, there is discerned respect for mother... and the wives of other honored persons."
Those in whom shame and fear of wrong
Are not consistently found
Have deviated from the bright root
And are led back to birth and death.
But those in whom shame and fear of wrong
Are consistently ever present,
Peaceful, mature in the holy life,
They put an end to renewal of being.
Iti 42
"England riots: coalition row grows over 'kneejerk' response"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/aug/13/england-riots-coalition-response
.
A bookshop.
Clearly, those protesting about the social unrest, economic climate, unemployment and financial discord, were not after anything that would help them better themselves. However, nike trainers, flat-screen TV's electronic equipmwnt and accessories and bling, were obviously the in-thing to steal, vandalise or deprive honest people of....
Additionally, we do try, here in the UK, to pretend that this is an unusual occurrence. We have even managed to forget that looting was a major problem during the Blitz: we prefer some sort of national myth a fair play and good behaviour.