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The Disciple of Dhamma

from The Dhammapada by Jason Espada

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19. The Disciple of Dhamma  
 
Force is not Dhamma,
who uses it, not righteous.
Only he is wise  .
who sees clearly before acting.

Nonviolence is Dhamma,  
who uses it, righteous.
He is Dhamma's guardian,  
he is wise and just.

Because he talks much  
a man is no pandit,  
but because he is loving,  
fearless, and serene.

Because he talks much
he does not know Dhamma,  
but because he acts well,
though his learning be little.

Because he has gray hair  
he is not an elder,  
many put on ripeness
and are not therefore wise.
 
Only he is an elder
who is truthful and virtuous,  
disciplined, nonviolent,
innocent, and wise.

The man who is envious,  
evil, avaricious,
by good looks and loud talk  
cannot change overnight.

Only he who roots out  
these three great evils  
can be said to be handsome,  
guiltless, and wise.

A liar with a shaven head  
does not make a monk.
How can a monk be  
restless and deceitful?

But the man in whom evil,  
small or big, has died out,  
he is the true monk,
subduer of his passions.  

He who begs for alms
is not the true bhikku,  
only he who follows
every word of Dhamma.

The man who is chaste,  
beyond good and evil,
who takes refuge in knowledge,  
is the true bhikku.

A fool will not be wise
by holding his tongue.
The man who thinks clearly,  
examines good and evil,

And ends by choosing good  
is the wise man.
He has weighed what is thought of  
as worthy to be weighed.

It is not by hurting creatures
that a man becomes excellent.
Only by nonviolence
is excellence achieved.
 
Not by discipline or vows,  
not by great learning,  
not by sleeping alone,
not by serene meditation,

Will I find Nirvana.
Work hard, 0 bhikku!  
O bhikku, do not rest
till all evils die out.

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from The Dhammapada, released October 15, 2017

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