The Dhammapada: The Way of the Buddha, Vol 9

Be on guard

Be on guard. 'Do what you have to do resolutely, with all your heart. The traveler who hesitates will fall into danger.' Be on guard: awareness is your guard. Don't let the mind distract you from the path. Hesitation is the mind's trick—the heart never hesitates. Act resolutely, with all your heart.

Is there life before death?

Is there life before death? 'My life seems so meaningless and empty. Is this all there is?' There is infinitely more—but you're asleep to it. Is there life before death? The real question. Most people are dead before they die. Life begins when awareness begins. Don't wait for death to find meaning—find it now.

Buddhas only point the way

Buddhas only point the way. 'I shall endure hard words as the elephant endures the shafts of battle. The tamed man is the master.' Buddhas only point the way: they can't walk it for you. The tamed elephant goes to battle; the tamed man endures hard words in peace. Taming is not suppression—it's understanding.

Freedom is something inner

Freedom is something inner. 'I feel so stupid—is it enough to just be here with you?' Yes. Being with the master is enough—but don't just be physically present, be existentially present. Freedom is something inner: no outer circumstance can give or take it. Feeling stupid is the beginning of intelligence—the mind's humiliation is awareness's birth.

The risk is worth taking

The risk is worth taking. 'If you can find a virtuous and wise companion, go with him joyfully. But if not, travel on alone.' The risk is worth taking: the path of awareness is risky—you lose the known for the unknown. But the risk of not taking the risk is greater—you lose your whole life. Better alone than with the wrong companion.

Truth cannot be lost

Truth cannot be lost. 'I am rejecting my mind and clinging to awareness.' Don't reject the mind—you can't reject what you don't understand. And don't cling to awareness—clinging is the mind's trick. Truth cannot be lost: you don't need to hold it. What's real doesn't need clinging. Just watch the mind—don't reject or accept.

How sweet it is

How sweet it is. 'To have friends in need is sweet. To have done something good before leaving this life is sweet. To let go of sorrow is sweet.' How sweet it is: the Buddha celebrates life's sweetness—not the sweetness of pleasure but of awareness. Friendship, good deeds, letting go—all sweet. The awakened one tastes sweetness in everything.

The nature of things

The nature of things. 'The intellect is a barrier? But your lectures are intellectual tours de force.' The intellect is a servant, not a master. Osho uses it as a device to transcend it. The nature of things: the scientist studies the surface; the mystic dives to the depth. Intellect can prepare the ground but can't produce the crop.

The monkey in the forest

The monkey in the forest. 'If you sleep, desire grows like a vine in the forest. Like a monkey, you jump from tree to tree, never finding the fruit.' The monkey in the forest: the mind is the monkey—restless, jumping from desire to desire. Sleep feeds the vine of desire. Wake up and the vine withers. The fruit is here—stop jumping.

Intelligent people are dangerous

Intelligent people are dangerous. 'Driving in forward and reverse at the same time—not going anywhere.' The mind says go forward; the fear says go backward. Intelligent people are dangerous: they can see through the system but can't see through themselves. Intelligence without awareness is a sword without a handle. Stop driving—just be.