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.
256-257
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’s one who maintains the Dhamma.
258-259
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’s called an elder,
his impurities disgorged,
enlightened.
260-261
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.
262-263
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.
264-265
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’s called a monk.
266-267
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.
268-269
Not by harming life
does one become noble.
One is termed
noble
for being
gentle
to all living things.
270
Monk,
don’t
on account of
your habits & 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.
271-272
Read this translation of Dhp 256–272 Dhammaṭṭhavagga: The Judge by Bhikkhu Ṭhanissaro on DhammaTalks.org. Or read a different translation on SuttaCentral.net, SuttaFriends.org, Ancient-Buddhist-Texts.net or AccessToInsight.org. Or explore the Pali on DigitalPaliReader.online.
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