Pali: Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā manoseṭṭhā manomayānManasā ce paduṭṭhena bhāsati vā karoti vānTato naṃ dukkhamanveti cakkaṃ va vahato padaṃ
English: Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.
Reflecting on how the mind shapes our reality is a potent reminder of our responsibility for our thoughts and intentions. Can we truly trace the direct link between our inner state and the suffering we experience, and if so, how can we use this knowledge to cultivate a more compassionate mind?
Verse translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita in The Dhammapada. Shared with image by VirtualSangha.org
