The Rod

All creatures seek happiness.

All tremble at the rod,
all fear death.
Treating others like oneself,
neither kill nor incite to kill.

All tremble at the rod,
All love life.
Treating others like oneself,
neither kill nor incite to kill.

Creatures love happiness,
so if you harm them with a stick
in search of your own happiness,
after death you won’t find happiness.

Creatures love happiness,
so if you don’t harm them with a stick
in search of your own happiness,
after death you will find happiness.

Dhammapada 129 ~ 132
(extracted from Suttacentral, translated by Ajahn Sujato)

Note: Extracted verses from The Rod is Dhp129 ~ 145

A Buddhist’s Journey
- Love all wings (31)
- Teachings to remember (44)
- The learning experience… (524)
“Bhikkhus, dwell with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as a refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge. ~ SN 22.43
“Enough, Vakkali! Why do you want to see this foul body? One who sees the Dhamma sees me; one who sees me sees the Dhamma. For in seeing the Dhamma,Vakkali, one sees me; and in seeing me, one sees the Dhamma.” ~ SN 22.87
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