The mind is the foundation of all things
It arises from mind and is shaped by mind
If one speaks and acts with an unwholesome mind
Suffering follows close behind
Just as a wheel follows the footprint of the ox

The mind is the foundation of all things
It arises from mind and is shaped by mind
If one speaks and acts with a clear and pure mind
Happiness follows close behind
Just as a shadow never leaves the body

“He insulted me, he struck me
He defeated me, he robbed me”
For one who carries thoughts like these
Resentment never comes to rest

In this world, hatred
Is never settled by hatred
Only by releasing hatred does hatred end
This is a truth that does not change

A person whose thoughts are shallow
Is like a house with a poorly thatched roof
The rain of greed pierces straight through their heart
But a person whose thoughts are deep and upright
Is like a house with a well-built roof
The rain of greed cannot pierce through

Greater than conquering a million soldiers on the battlefield
Is the one who conquers themselves
They are the truest victor of all

The wound an enemy or someone who hates me may give
Is nothing compared to
The wound I give myself
By harboring a misguided mind

A fool who knows themselves to be a fool
Is, by that very knowing, already wise
But a fool who believes themselves wise
Is truly and completely a fool

Even living a whole lifetime beside a wise person
A fool will never grasp their teaching
Just as a spoon never tastes the soup it stirs

A wise person, meeting a sage for just a single moment
Awakens immediately to the true way
Just as the tongue instantly knows the taste of soup

Wrongdoing is easy to commit
And easy to bring harm upon oneself
But what is beneficial and good
Is truly difficult to carry out

Even the smallest wrongdoing
Should never be dismissed as harmless to oneself
For even a falling drop of water, however small
Will eventually fill a great jar

The wise govern themselves
As an irrigator channels water
As a fletcher straightens an arrow
As a carpenter shapes and smooths the wood

Just as solid rock is not shaken by the wind
The wise are not shaken
By either blame or praise

Rust arises from iron itself
Yet it eats away at the very iron it came from
In the same way, when conduct is not upright
The deeds one creates lead oneself to ruin

Do not carelessly look upon another’s faults
Do not dwell on what they have done or left undone
Look only upon what you yourself
Have done, and have left undone

A person all words and no action
Is like a brilliant flower with no fragrance
A person who acts exactly as they speak
Is like a fragrant flower, both bright and beautiful

Every living being fears death
Every living being fears being struck
Measure others’ lives by your own
Do not kill, do not strike another

Whoever holds compassion for all living things
Governs themselves, departs from greed
And clings to nothing anywhere
That person I call the awakened one

May this merit extend to all beings everywhere
May we, together with all sentient beings, all attain the Buddha path