Well-makers lead the water (wherever they like); fletchers bend the arrow; carpenters bend a log of wood; good people fashion themselves Old Age
He diminishes it and again diminishes it, till he arrives at doing nothing (on purpose) Having arrived at this point of non-action, there is nothing which he does not do
Rouse thyself by thyself, examine thyself by thyself, thus self- protected and attentive wilt thou live happily, O Bhikshu!
The sight of the elect (Arya) is good, to live with them is always happiness; if a man does not see fools, he will be truly happy
Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off the impurities of silver one by one, little by little, and from time to time
The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep (also) so as to elude men's knowledge As they were...
Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect; one ought to follow a good and wise man, as the moon follows the p...
That fetter wise people call strong which drags down, yields, but is difficult to undo; after having cut this at last, people leave the world, free from cares, and leaving desires...
May not the Way (or Tao) of Heaven be compared to the (method of) bending a bow? The (part of the bow) which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up (So Heaven) dimi...
Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a quarter (a farthing); reverence show...
If an occasion arises, friends are pleasant; enjoyment is pleasant, whatever be the cause; a good work is pleasant in the hour of death; the giving up of all grief is pleasant
Thus we may see, Who cleaves to fame Rejects what is more great; Who loves large stores Gives up the richer state
The channels run everywhere, the creeper (of passion) stands sprouting; if you see the creeper springing up, cut its root by means of knowledge
They who forbid when there is nothing to be forbidden, and forbid not when there is something to be forbidden, such men, embracing false doctrines, enter the evil path
Through zeal knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal knowledge is lost; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who calls nothing his own, whether it be before, behind, or between, who is poor, and free from the love of the world
If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great
The wise who control their body, who control their tongue, the wise who control their mind, are indeed well controlled Impurity
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, and he has appointed his three ducal ministers, though (a prince) were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large...
The gift of the law exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of the law exceeds all sweetness; the delight in the law exceeds all delights; the extinction of thirst overcomes all pain
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world is above good and evil, above the bondage of both, free from grief from sin, and from impurity
The brilliant chariots of kings are destroyed, the body also approaches destruction, but the virtue of good people never approaches destruction,--thus do the good say to the good
Meditate, O Bhikshu, and be not heedless! Do not direct thy thought to what gives pleasure that thou mayest not for thy heedlessness have to swallow the iron ball (in hell), and th...
Who thinks his great achievements poor Shall find his vigour long endure Of greatest fulness, deemed a void, Exhaustion ne'er shall stem the tide Do thou what's straight still croo...
He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith; he who is continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult Therefore the sage sees difficulty even in what...
But those who, when the law has been well preached to them, follow the law, will pass across the dominion of death, however difficult to overcome
Like a well-guarded frontier fort, with defences within and without, so let a man guard himself Not a moment should escape, for they who allow the right moment to pass, suffer pain...
Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into the clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world where death could not overcome (the mortal)...
The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on their body
The world gives according to their faith or according to their pleasure: if a man frets about the food and the drink given to others, he will find no rest either by day or by night