This week, I hoped to write a post on meeting the violence and injustice in our world with the warmth and light of our goodness and love.  I wanted to talk about nonviolence,  but the Sweeping Heart Zen application for tax exempt status with the IRS got in the way.

The Dhammapada and Nonviolence

What I can do is share this key passage on letting go of harming others from a collection of the Buddha’s sayings known as the Dhammapada.  It has given meditation practitioners and yogis plenty to reflect on and live by for thousands of years.

All beings tremble before violence.
All fear death.
All love life.

See yourself in others.
Then whom can you hurt?
What harms can you do?

[Those] who seek happiness
By hurting those who seek happiness
Will never find happiness.

For your brother is like you.
He wants to be happy.
Never harm him…
(from the Dhammapada, translated by Thomas Byron)

Here’s a link to the complete Dhammapada: accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.intro.budd.html

I hope you have a wonderful week!