Section 9
Chapter 9: Evil explained simply
The Dhammapada by Buddhist tradition
Original excerpt
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116. If a man would hasten towards the good, he should keep his thought away from evil; if a man does what is good slothfully, his mind delights in evil. 117. If a man commits a sin, let him not do it again; let him not delight in sin: pain is the outcome of evil. 118. If a man…
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Public-domain original
Chapter IX. Evil
116. If a man would hasten towards the good, he should keep his thought
away from evil; if a man does what is good slothfully, his mind delights
in evil.
117. If a man commits a sin, let him not do it again; let him not
delight in sin: pain is the outcome of evil.
118. If a man does what is good, let him do it again; let him delight in
it: happiness is the outcome of good.
119. Even an evil-doer sees happiness as long as his evil deed has not
ripened; but when his evil deed has ripened, then does the evil-doer see
evil.
120. Even a good man sees evil days, as long as his good deed has not
ripened; but when his good deed has ripened, then does the good man see
happy days.
121. Let no man think lightly of evil, saying in his heart, It will not
come nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is
filled; the fool becomes full of evil, even if he gather it little by
little.
122. Let no man think lightly of good, saying in his heart, It will not
come nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is
filled; the wise man becomes full of good, even if he gather it little
by little.
123. Let a man avoid evil deeds, as a merchant, if he has few companions
and carries much wealth, avoids a dangerous road; as a man who loves
life avoids poison.
124. He who has no wound on his hand, may touch poison with his hand;
poison does not affect one who has no wound; nor is there evil for one
who does not commit evil.
125. If a man offend a harmless, pure, and innocent person, the evil
falls back upon that fool, like light dust thrown up against the wind.
126. Some people are born again; evil-doers go to hell; righteous
people go to heaven; those who are free from all worldly desires attain
Nirvana.
127. Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into
the clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world
where a man might be freed from an evil deed.
128. Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into
the clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world
where death could not overcome (the mortal).
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Simple English explanation
Do not treat small wrongs as harmless. Repeated small actions gradually fill a life, just as drops fill a jar.
1-minute summary
The chapter teaches moral accumulation. Evil may seem small at first, but repeated choices form character; good works grow the same way.
Key takeaways
- Small wrongs accumulate over time.
- Goodness also grows through repeated action.
- Consequences may arrive later than actions.
- A person should not delay turning from harm.
Modern example
Tiny dishonest shortcuts at work can become a culture of corruption if everyone treats them as nothing.