19 - The Judge

Khuddaka Nikaya
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Dhammapada

A Translation

Translated from the Pali

by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

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Dhammapada XIX

The Judge

256-257*:

To pass judgment hurriedly
doesn't mean you're a judge.
The wise one, weighing both
the right judgment & wrong,
judges others impartially --
unhurriedly, in line with the Dhamma,
guarding the Dhamma,
guarded by Dhamma,
intelligent:
he's called a judge.

258-259*:

Simply talking a lot
doesn't mean one is wise.
Whoever's secure --
no hostility,
fear --
is said to be wise.

Simply talking a lot
doesn't maintain the Dhamma.
Whoever
-- although he's heard next to nothing --
sees Dhamma through his body,
is not heedless of Dhamma:
he'sone who maintains the Dhamma.

260-261:

A head of gray hairs
doesn't mean one's an elder.
Advanced in years,
one's called an old fool.
But one in whom there is
truth, restraint,
rectitude, gentleness,
self-control --
he'scalled an elder,
his impurities disgorged,
enlightened.

262-263:

Not by suave conversation
or lotus-like coloring
does an envious, miserly cheat
become an exemplary man.
But one in whom this is
cut through
up- rooted
wiped out --
he's called exemplary,
his aversion disgorged,
intelligent.

264-265*:

A shaven head
doesn't mean a contemplative.
The liar observing no duties,
filled with greed & desire:
what kind of contemplative's he?

But whoever tunes out
the dissonance
of his evil qualities
-- large or small --
in every way
by bringing evil to consonance:
he's called a contemplative.

266-267:

Begging from others
doesn't mean one's a monk.
As long as one follows
householders' ways,
one is no monk at all.

But whoever puts aside
both merit & evil and,
living the chaste life,
judiciously
goes through the world:
he'scalled a monk.

268-269*:

Not by silence
does someone confused
& unknowing
turn into a sage.
But whoever -- wise,
as if holding the scales,
taking the excellent --
rejects evil deeds:
he is a sage,
that's how he's a sage.
Whoever can weigh
both sides of the world:
that's how he's called
a sage.

270:

Not by harming life
does one become noble.
One is termed noble
for being gentle
to all living things.

271-272*:

Monk,
don't
on account of
your precepts & practices,
great erudition,
concentration attainments,
secluded dwelling,
or the thought, 'I touch
the renunciate ease
that run-of-the-mill people
don't know':
ever let yourself get complacent
when the ending of effluents
is still unattained.