Insights from the Theravada Tipitaka (Pali Canon)

For many more translations of classic Tipitaka texts click here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/

'He abused me, he struck me,
He defeated me, he robbed me' -
In those who harbour thoughts like these
Hatred will never be allayed.
For in this world hatred is never
Allayed by further acts of hate.
It is allayed by non-hatred:
That is the fixed and ageless law.
Those others do not recognise
That here we should restrain ourselves.
But those wise ones who realise this
At once end all their enmity.
The Buddha, Upakkilesa Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya, Wisdom edition, p. 1009.

'Bhikkhus [monks], when mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it is of great fruit and great benefit.'
The Buddha, Anapanasati Sutta [Mindfulness of Breathing Sutra], Majjhima Nikaya, Wisdom edition, p. 941.

[Angulimala, a murderous thief, when enlightened by the Buddha declared:]
'Who once did live in negligence
And then is negligent no more,
He illuminates the world
Like the moon freed from a cloud.'

Who checks the evil deeds he did
By doing wholesome deeds instead,
He illuminates the world
Like the moon freed from a cloud.'
On Angulimala, Majjhima Nikaya, Wisdom edition, p. 715.

Winning gives birth to hostility.
Losing, one lies down in pain.
The calmed lie down with ease,
having set winning & losing aside.
Samyutta Nikaya III, 14

Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.
Khuddakapatha 9

Hate brings great misfortune,
hate churns up and harms the mind;
this fearful danger deep within
most people do not understand.
Itivuttaka 84

"As I am, so are others;
as others are, so am I."
Having thus identified self and others,
harm no one nor have them harmed.
Sutta Nipata 705

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
Sutta Nipata 720

One who, while himself seeking happiness,
does not oppress with violence other beings
who also desire happiness,
will find happiness hereafter.
Dhammapada 132

There are those who do not realize
that one day we all must die.
But those who do realize this
settle their quarrels.
Dhammapada 6

---------