Collected Works of Nolini Kanta Gupta - Vol. 5

[I]

All tremble at punishment: all are afraid of death. See others as yourself and do not strike or cause to strike.

[2]

All tremble at punishment: to all life is dear. See others as yourself and do not strike or cause to strike.

[3]

Creatures long for happiness. He who inflicts pain for his own happiness never gains happiness.

[4]

Creatures long for happiness. He who does not inflict pain upon others for his own happiness gains happiness.

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[5]

Never utter harsh words; if you do, the same will be done to you in return. Words spoken in 'anger cause suffering, they strike back again.

[6]

If you fall silent even like a broken gong, then you have attained Nirvana. Violence no longer abides in you.

[7]

As the cowherd with his baton drives his herd out to the pasture, even so old age and death drive out the life of living creatures.

[8]

The fool knows not when he does an evil deed. One with a wrong mind is consumed by his own deeds as though by fire.

[9]

He who hurts one who does not hurt, he who blames one who does not blame enters forthwith into one of these ten domains:

[10]

He will undergo cruel pain, mutilation of the body, grave malady, mental breakdown;

[11]

Trouble from rulers, gross calumny, loss of relatives, loss of wealth;

[12]

Fire burns his whole habitation, and when his body dissolves, he is reborn in hell.

[13]

Not nakedness nor matted hair nor dirt nor fasting nor sleeping on the bare ground nor smearing the body with ashes nor any ascetic posture can purify a mortal who has not freed himself from doubt.

[14]

Even though richly attired, one moves about calm and tranquil,

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controlled and restrained, chaste and pure, sparing all creatures any harm, he indeed is a Brahmin, he indeed a sramana.

[15]

Is there in the world any man so irreproachable as not to deserve censure, even like a thoroughbred that needs no whip?

[16]

As a thoroughbred, flecked with the whip, gets energetic and speeds fast, even so a man who is perfect in knowledge and conduct, who is self-conscious and always remembering, through his faith and conduct and strength, concentration on and pursuit of truth, runs a way from the Great Suffering.

[17]

Engineers canalise the water, makers of arms mould the arrow, carpenters fashion the wood, even so the sages direct them selves.

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