Dear Friends,
As always, thank you for reading and listening this week — it means more than you know. I hope you all have a very safe and Happy New Year! Below, you’ll find a short contemplation along with links to this week’s meditations. Be wise and be well!
📿 On Good and Bad Deeds
This week’s contemplation comes from the Dhammapada (or sayings) of the Buddha. The Buddha is known to have said,
If a man hold himself dear, let him watch himself carefully; during one at least out of the three watches a wise man should be watchful.
Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.
By oneself the evil is done, by oneself one suffers; by oneself evil is left undone , by oneself one is purified. Purity and impurity belong to oneself, no one can purify another.
Let no one forget his own duty for the sake of another's, however great; let a man, after he has discerned his own duty, be always attentive to his duty. […]
***Listen to this week’s contemplation courtesy of The Wisdom School podcast (Apple or Spotify).
Contemplation Questions (Pick one or create your own!):
What does it mean to be watchful over oneself?
How can you begin (or continue) to focus on your own duty?
This Week’s Meditations…
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Thank you for reading/listening this week; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
J.W.
P.S. Feel free to comment, ask questions, or make suggestions!