Don’t get involved in lots of work, avoid people, and don’t try to acquire things. If you’re eager and greedy for flavors, you’ll miss the goal that brings such happiness.
They know it really is a bog, this homage and veneration in respectable families. Honor is a subtle dart, hard to extract, and hard for a reprobate to give up.
The deeds of a mortal aren’t bad because of what others do. You yourself should not do bad, for mortals have deeds as their kin.
You’re not a bandit because of what someone says, you’re not a sage because of what someone says; but as you know yourself, so the gods will know you.
When others do not understand, let us, who do understand this, restrain ourselves in this regard; for that is how conflicts are laid to rest.
A wise person lives on even after loss of wealth; but without gaining wisdom, even a rich person doesn’t really live.
All is heard with the ear, all is seen with the eye; the attentive ought not discard all that is seen and heard.
Though you have eyes, be as if blind; though you have ears, be as if deaf; though you have wisdom, be as if dumb; though you have strength, be as if feeble. And when issues come up lie as still as a corpse.
Mahākaccāna
Thag 8.1 · Mahākaccāyanattheragāthā
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
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.