The Pairs (Twin Verses)

Mind precedes all mental states; mind is their chief, they are mind-made

Mind precedes all mental states; mind is their chief, they are mind-made

'He insulted me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me' — in those who keep nursing…

'He insulted me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me' — in those who do not nurse…

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world

Others do not realize that we are all heading toward death here

The one who dwells contemplating the agreeable, with senses unrestrained, immoderate in…

The one who dwells contemplating the unattractive, with senses well-restrained, moderate…

Whoever, while still impure, lacking self-restraint and truthfulness, would put on the…

But the one who has cast off impurity, well-established in moral precepts, endowed with…

Those who see what is inessential as essential, and what is essential as inessential, do…

Those who know the essential as essential and the inessential as inessential — they reach…

Just as rain penetrates an ill-thatched house, so passion penetrates an uncultivated mind

Just as rain does not penetrate a well-thatched house, so passion does not penetrate a…

The evildoer grieves here and grieves hereafter; in both worlds he grieves

The doer of good rejoices here and rejoices hereafter; in both worlds he rejoices

The evildoer is tormented here and tormented hereafter; in both worlds he is tormented

The doer of merit delights here and delights hereafter; in both worlds he delights

Though he recites many sacred texts, the heedless person who does not act on them is like…

Though he recites little of the sacred texts, but lives in accordance with the Dhamma —…