8. The Thousands (DHP100-115)

Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 100–115

8. The Thousands

Better than a thousand

meaningless sayings

is a single meaningful saying,

hearing which brings you peace.

Better than a thousand

meaningless verses

is a single meaningful verse,

hearing which brings you peace.

Better than reciting

a hundred meaningless verses

is a single saying of Dhamma,

hearing which brings you peace.

The supreme conqueror is

not he who conquers a million men in battle,

but he who conquers a single man:

himself.

It is surely better to conquer oneself

than all those other folk.

When a person has tamed themselves,

always living restrained,

no god nor centaur,

nor Māra nor divinity,

can undo the victory

of such a personage.

Rather than a thousandfold sacrifice,

every month for a full century,

it’s better to honor for a single hour

one who has developed themselves.

That offering is better

than the hundred year sacrifice.

Rather than serve the sacred flame

in the forest for a hundred years,

it’s better to honor for a single hour

a personage who has developed themselves.

That offering is better

than the hundred year sacrifice.

Whatever sacrifice or offering in the world

a seeker of merit may make for a year,

none of it is worth a quarter

of bowing to the sincere.

For one in the habit of bowing,

always honoring the elders,

four blessings grow:

lifespan, beauty, happiness, and strength.

Better to live a single day

ethical and absorbed in meditation

than to live a hundred years

unethical and lacking immersion.

Better to live a single day

wise and absorbed in meditation

than to live a hundred years

witless and lacking immersion.

Better to live a single day

energetic and strong,

than to live a hundred years

lazy and lacking energy.

Better to live a single day

seeing rise and fall

than to live a hundred years

blind to rise and fall.

Better to live a single day

seeing the state free of death

than to live a hundred years

blind to the state free of death.

Better to live a single day

seeing the supreme teaching

than to live a hundred years

blind to the supreme teaching.