Nov5

Even finely painted royal chariots wear out:
Just so the body grows old.
The Dhamma of the good does not grow old.
Indeed, the good make it known to the good.

Dhammapada 151

What can we depend on in this life? ‘Even finely painted royal chariots wear out,’ says the Dhammapada, referring to the most spectacular technology of its time. Recently I have been suffering from problems with my much-loved iMac computer, which so far have defeated the expertise of a number of very knowledgeable and helpful people.

It’s only when you encounter a problem with something like this that you discover quite how much you normally rely on it. I have grown to depend on my computer for work, play and social life, and had more or less ceased to notice it until I had to be without it for a week or more and manage with a borrowed one – only a few years old but already out of date. Now I’m faced with the prospect of having to be without it again, while the engineers have another try. But at least it’s not a life-threatening problem, as it might have been if that royal chariot had broken down on the battlefield!

The body is a more complex thing than even the most splendid chariot or the best-designed computer, and one that we take even more for granted, until it goes wrong. This is something that has been brought home to me lately, as my husband has been suffering from a long period of serious illness. In the last resort, the body’s no more under our control than the chariot or the computer, and we can’t depend on it either.

So what can we depend on? The Dhammapada gives the Buddhist answer, the Dhamma (‘Dharma’ in Sanskrit), an untranslatable word that refers to the truth realised by the Buddha and embodied in his teaching. But even though it is timeless and unchangeable, if it is to be visible in the world it needs ‘the good’ to practise it and pass it on to others, whether by teaching or by example.

So who are ‘the good’ that the verse refers to? We can’t depend on others to do it: I think that it’s going to have to be us!

Tags: Apple Mac, body, Chariot, Dhamma, Dharma

Karaṇīya Metta Sutta

The Buddha’s Teaching on Loving Kindness

This is what to do if you know what is best for you
And seek to attain the place of peace:
Be able, upright—truly upright,
Easy to speak to, gentle, not arrogant,

Content, with needs easily met,
With few responsibilities, of simple livelihood,
With senses calmed, skilful,
Not proud, not possessive about families.

You should not do the slightest thing
For which other wise folk might reproach you.
Think: ‘Happy and at peace,
May all beings be happy-minded.

‘Whatever living things there are,
Without exception, weak or strong,
Tall, large, or medium-sized,
Small, atom-sized or huge,

‘Seen or unseen,
Living far or near,
Born or about to be born,
May all beings be happy-minded.

‘Let not one deceive another
Or despise another, anywhere;
Let not one wish evil on another,
Through anger or ill-will.’

Just as a mother would protect her own child,
Her only child, even with her life,
You should develop a limitless mind
Towards all beings.

You should develop a limitless mind,
Spread loving kindness to the whole world,
Above, below and across,
Without obstruction, enmity or hatred.

Standing, walking, sitting,
Or lying down, so long as you are awake,
You should maintain this awareness:
They call this Divine Abiding here.

So, not falling into wrong view,
Of good character, endowed with insight,
Giving up grasping for sense-pleasures,
You will not return to a womb again.

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Like a beautiful flower,

Colourful but scentless,

The well-taught word is fruitless

For one who does not practise.

Like a beautiful flower,

Colourful and fragrant,

The well-taught word is fruitful

For one who practises.

(vv. 51-2)

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Even finely painted royal chariots wear out:

Just so the body grows old.

The Dhamma of the good does not grow old.

Indeed, the good make it known to the good.

(v. 151)

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