The Buddhist Tradition - The Dhammapada

10. Violence

All fear violence, all are afraid of death. Seeing the similarity to oneself, one should not use violence or have it used. 129 

 All fear violence, life is dear to all. Seeing the similarity to oneself, one should not use violence or have it used. 130 

 He who does violence to creatures seeking happiness like himself does not find happiness after death. 131 

 He who does no violence to creatures seeking happiness like himself does find happiness after death. 132 

 Don't speak harshly to anyone. If you do people will speak to you in the same way. Harsh words are painful and their retaliation will hurt you. 133 

 If you don't disturb yourself, like a broken gong does not vibrate, then you have achieved nirvana. Irritability no longer exists for you. 134 

 Like a cowherd driving cows off to the fields, so old age and death take away the years from the living. 135 

 Even when he is doing evil, the fool does not realise it. The idiot is punished by his own deeds, like one is scorched by fire. 136 

 He who does violence to the peaceful and harmless soon encounters one of ten things - He may experience cruel pain, disaster, physical injury, severe illness, or insanity, or else trouble with the authorities, grave accusation, bereavement, or loss of property, or else destruction of his house by fire, and on the death of his body the fool goes to hell. 137, 138, 139, 140 

 Neither naked asceticism, matted hair, dirt, fasting, sleeping on the ground, dust and mud, nor prolonged sitting on one's heels can purify a man who is not free of doubts. 141 

 Even if richly dressed, when a man behaves even-mindedly and is at peace, restrained and established in the right way, chaste and renouncing violence to all forms of life, then he is a brahmin, he is a holy man, he is a bhikkhu (true Buddhist monk). 142 

 Where is that man in the world who is so restrained by shame that he avoids laziness like a thoroughbred horse avoids the whip? 143 

 Like a thoroughbred horse touched by the whip, be strenuous and determined. Then you will be able to rid yourself of this great suffering by means of faith, morality, energetic behaviour, stillness of mind and reflection on the teaching, after you have become full of wisdom, good habits and recollection. 144 

 Navvies channel water, fletchers fashion arrows, and carpenters work on wood, but the good disciple themselves. 145