“Whatever living beings there may be — feeble or strong, long, stout, or of medium size, short, small, large, those seen or those unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born as well as those yet to be born — may all beings have happy minds.”
The Buddha, Karaniya Metta Sutta
This striking verse is found in the Magandiya Suta in the Sutta Nipata, which is generally held to be one of the oldest texts in the Pali canon.
Bhikkhu Thanissaro translates this as:
“Those who grasp at perceptions and views
go about butting their heads in the world.”
Fausböll, a 19th century pioneer translator, has:
“But those who grasped after marks and philosophical views, they wander about in the world annoying people.”
Suttas.net has:
“Those attached to the notion ‘I am’ and to views
Roam the world offending people.”
The translator notes that “I am” is not in the quotation, but that its inclusion is warranted by material nearby.
The original Pali is:
Saññaca diṭṭhiñca ye aggahesuṃ
Te ghaṭṭayantā vicaranti loketi.
My rendition would be:
Those who cling to perceptions (saññā) and views (diṭṭhi)
Wander (vicarati) the world offending (ghaṭṭeti) people.
[Added later: Bhikkhu Varado’s translation, which I just discovered, is almost identical to mine: “Those attached to perception and views / roam the world offending people.”]
“Those who cling to perceptions and views wander the world offending people.” The Buddha Share on X
This is a genuine quote from the Buddhist scriptures. It’s from the Sutta Nipata.
“Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is Awakened.” The Buddha
“There is nothing comparable to one who is Awakened.” The Buddha Share on X “Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is Awakened.” The Buddha Share on X
This is a genuine quote from the Buddha. It’s from the Kimsila Sutta.
“Understanding is the heartwood of well-spoken words.” —The Buddha Share on X
This is a genuine quote from the Buddhist scriptures, said to have been uttered by the Buddha himself:
‘As I am, so are these.
As are these, so am I.’
Drawing the parallel to yourself,
neither kill nor get others to kill.
It’s from a text called the Nalaka Sutta, which is found in the Sutta Nipata)
“‘As I am, so are these. As are these, so am I.’ Drawing the parallel to yourself, neither kill nor get others to kill.” The Buddha Share on X
All tremble at violence; all fear death.
Putting oneself in the place of another,
one should not kill nor cause another to kill.
This is a genuine Buddha quote. It’s from the Dhammapada, verse 129.
“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.”—The Buddha Share on X
“One should train in [three] deeds of merit—generosity, a balanced life, developing a loving mind—that yield long-lasting happiness.”
This is a genuine quote from the Buddhist scriptures. It’s from a scripture called the Itivuttika, here in a translation by John Ireland.
“One should train in three deeds of merit—generosity, a balanced life, developing a loving mind—that yield long-lasting happiness.”—The Buddha Share on X
“Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.”—Buddha
This is a genuine quote from the Buddhist scriptures. It’s from the Dhammapada, verse 50.
“Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone.”—Buddha Share on X
“Resolutely train yourself to attain peace” is a genuine quote from the Buddha.
It’s from the Utthana Sutta of the Sutta Nipata.
In Pāli it’s “Daḷhaṃ sikkhatha santiyā.”
“Resolutely train yourself to attain peace.” The Buddha Share on X
“The calmed say that what is well-spoken is best;
second, that one should say what is right, not unrighteous;
third, what’s pleasing, not displeasing;
fourth, what is true, not false.” – The Buddha
(From the Sutta Nipata)
“The calmed say that what is well-spoken is best; second, that one should say what is right, not unrighteous; third, what's pleasing, not displeasing; fourth, what is true, not false.” – The Buddha Share on X