“Dhamma surely protects one who practices Dhamma. The teaching brings happiness when practiced well. This is the benefit of practicing Dhamma: one doesn’t go to a bad destination.
It’s not the case that Dhamma and what is not Dhamma lead to the same results. What is not Dhamma leads to hell, while Dhamma takes you to a good place.
So you should rouse up enthusiasm for the teachings; such rejoicing is owing to the Holy One, the unaffected. The disciples of the excellent Holy One are firm in the teaching; those attentive ones are led on, headed to the very best of refuges.”
“The boil has been burst from its root, the net of craving is eradicated. He has ended transmigration, he has nothing, he’s like the full moon on a bright night.”
Dhammika
Thag 4.10 · Dhammikattheragāthā
Connections
Collection & context
- TheragāthāThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.