Those who regard
non-essence as essence
and see essence as non-,
don’t get to the essence,
ranging about in wrong resolves.
But those who know
essence as essence,
and non-essence as non-,
get to the essence,
ranging about in right resolves.

~Dhammapada

RFA photo/Hang Savyouth

As rain seeps into
an ill-thatched hut,
so passion,
the undeveloped mind.

As rain doesn’t seep into
a well-thatched hut,
so passion does not,
the well-developed mind.

~Dhammapada

RFA/Ouk Savborey

Phenomena are preceded by the heart,
ruled by the heart,
made of the heart.
If you speak or act
with a corrupted heart,
then suffering follows you —
as the wheel of the cart,
the track of the ox
that pulls it.
Phenomena are preceded by the heart,
ruled by the heart,
made of the heart.
If you speak or act
with a calm, bright heart,
then happiness follows you,
like a shadow
that never leaves.

~Dhammapada

Yielding like the earth,
Joyous and clear like the lake,
Still as the stone at the door,
He is free from life and death.
His thoughts are still.
His words are still.
His work is stillness.
He sees his freedom and he is freed.

The master surrenders his beliefs.
He sees his freedom and he is freed.

The master surrenders his beliefs.
He sees beyond the end and the beginning.

He cuts all ties.
He gives up all his desires.
He resists all temptation.
And he rises.

~The Dhammapada

Sunflowers in Providence, Rhode Island.

Walking upon this path you will make an end of suffering. Having discovered how to pull out the thorn of lust, I make known the path. You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way. Those meditative ones who tread the path are released from the bonds of Mara. All conditioned things are impermanent — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification. ~Dhammapada

He who wishes to put on the yellow robe without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow robe. ~Dhammapada