Three lines of instruction
Today, keep three things in view: avoid harm, do good, tend your mind.
- Read · about 2 minutes
Not to do any evil;to embrace the good;to purify one’s mind:this is the instruction of the Buddhas.Dhammapada 183 · chapter 14, “The Buddhas” · tr. Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0)
From the text
The verse gives a three-part instruction, which it attributes to the Buddhas: not to do anything evil, to embrace what is good, and to purify one's own mind.
In everyday life
The verse is short enough to memorize, and the order is worth noticing. First, stop causing harm. Second, do good. Third, work on the mind itself. The first two are about what you do in the world and are the easiest to check at the end of a day. The third is quieter and slower. 'Purify' here does not need a special meaning; one way to take it is simply clearing out what clouds the mind, such as resentment, craving, and dullness, so that you can see and choose more clearly. A sit with the breath is a small version of this. When you notice the mind has wandered into an old irritation and you return to the breath, you are doing the third line in miniature. Today, try holding all three at once. At some point in the day, ask: have I avoided harm, have I done some good, and how is my mind?
- Sit · 3, 5 or 10 minutes
Breath Awareness
Sit comfortably upright, hands in your lap or on your knees. After reading a cue, you may close your eyes and rest with the breath until the next one appears.
- Live · during your day
At one natural pause today, such as before a meal, ask yourself three quick questions: Have I avoided harm so far? Have I done something good? How is my mind right now?
- Reflect · this evening
Of the three lines, which one asked the most of you today?
Answer on paper, or in the app’s journal, which stays on your iPhone.