Ten Precepts from Dhammapada

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Return Love for Hatred.1.2 Hatred lives and mortal strife;1.3Love return for bitter hatred,1.4 Hatred dies, and sweet is life! (5)

Precepts without Acts.2.2 Never acted, wisely meant,2.3Are like gay and coloured flowers, --2.4 Without fragrance, without scent! (51)

The Golden Rule.3.2 Love your life and death abhor,3.3So doth every living creature,3.4 Harm not things that live and breathe. (129, 130)

Live without Hatred among Men you Hate.4.2 Ye shall live devoid of hate,4.3Unto men who smite in anger4.4 Show your love and meekness great. (197)

Good Works survive.5.2 And in higher life will meet,5.3E'en as gentle loving kinsmen5.4 Home-returning kinsmen great! (200)

Overcome Anger by Love.6.2 Good for evil acts return;6.3By charity the miser conquer,6.4 By your truth let false men learn! (223)

The Faults of other Men.7.2 Not the fault that ye have done!7.3Like chaff your neighbour's vices winnow,7.4 Like a false die hide your own! (252)

The Elder and the Sage.8.2 Is the man advanced in age;8.3Truth and virtue, love and pureness,8.4 Make the Elder and the Sage. (260, 261)

Assumed and True Holiness.9.2 Not by family or birth,9.3But by truth and righteousness9.4 Is the Brâhman known on earth. (393)

There is Ravening within.10.2 Wherefore garment wild of skin,10.3What avails this outward penance10.4 When there's ravening within! (394)

© Romesh Chunder Dutt