Dhammapada 3–6

"They abused me, they hit me! They beat me, they robbed me!" For those who bear such a grudge, hatred is never laid to rest.

"They abused me, they hit me! They beat me, they robbed me!" For those who bear no such grudge, hatred is laid to rest.

For never is hatred laid to rest by hate, it's laid to rest by love: this is an ancient teaching.

When others do not understand, let us, who do understand this, restrain ourselves in this regard; for that is how conflicts are laid to rest.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato, published by SuttaCentral and dedicated to the public domain under CC0 1.0.

About this passageFour verses from the opening chapter of the Dhammapada, titled "Pairs" because its verses come in matched sets showing a thing and its opposite. Verses 3 and 4 are such a pair, identical except for one word. The list of grievances is deliberately concrete and repeated verbatim, so that the only variable left is whether it is carried. Verse 5 calls the teaching ancient, presenting it as something restated rather than newly discovered.

Filed underloveforgivenessenemiesresentmentcompassion

Shelved under

Filed alongside(4)

Provenance

Source.
Early Buddhist Discourses
Translator.
Bhikkhu Sujato
Rights.
CC0 1.0 Universal (public domain dedication)
Text checked against.
https://suttacentral.net/dhp1-20/en/sujato