Dhammapada for life

Our Thoughts and Deeds

The objective of this series of articles is to present as simply as possible and in a concise manner, some of the sacred contents of the Dhammapada which will certainly light our path in the quest for truth and inner solace.

What you enjoy reading today is taken from Yamaka Vagga Verse (1)

Suffering pursues the evil-doer, as the cart-wheel the ox's hoof Relevant verse Mind is the foremost dhamma Mind is supreme Mind creates If with a corrupted mind One should either speak or act Then suffering follows him As does the wheel the ox's hoof Relevant story Story of the Monk Chakkupala While residing at the Jetawana Monastery in Savatthi, Lord Buddha spoke the above verse, with reference to monk Chakkupala, a blind monk.

Monk Chakkupala came to pay homage to Lord Buddha on one occasion to the Jetawana Monastery. While pacing up and down in meditation, Monk Chakkupala trampled some insects. The dead insects were seen by the visiting monks in the morning. They thought ill of Monk Chakkupala and reported the matter to Lord Buddha.

Lord Buddha asked them, whether they had seen the monk killing the insects. Their answers were in the negative.

Lord Buddha said. "Just as you had not seen him killing, so also he had not seen those living insects, also the Monk Chakkupala had already attained arahathship, he could have no intention of killing, so he was innocent"

The question then was why monk Chakkupala was blind, although he was an arahat. Then, Lord Buddha spoke thus: In one of monk Chakkupala's past existences, he was a physician.

A woman patient’s eyes were completely cured with his first medication. The woman had promised that if her eyes were cured, she will become his slave along with her children. Due to the fear of this

Just as you had not seen him killing, so also he had not seen those living insects, also the monk Chakkupala had already attained arahathship, he could have no intention of killing, so he was innocent

promise, the woman lied to the physician, that her eyes are now worse. The physician knew that she was deceiving him, so through revenge, he gave the second medication, to make her completely blind.

As a result of this evil deed, the physician lost his eyesight many times in his later existences.

"All that we experience begins with thought. Our words and deeds spring from thought" If we speak or act with evil thoughts, unpleasant circumstances and experiences inevitably result"

This is very much like the wheel of the cart following the hoofs on the oxen yoked to the cart.

"May all beings be well and happy"