The Buddha's Way of Virtue: § I: The Twin Truths

THE BUDDHA'S "WAY OF VIRTUE" § I THE TWIN TRUTHS For the proper understanding of Buddhism these opening stanzas are all-important. One of the Buddha's key-thoughts was what modern psychologists call the "law of apperception": the value of things depends upon our attitude to them. Part of Gautama's work of reform was a "transvaluation of values," a shifting of emphasis; and, like the Stoics, he taught the indifference of the things of sense. "Men are disturbed," said Epictetus, "not by things, but by the view they take of things." 1. Mind it is which gives to things their quality, their foundation, and their being: whoso speaks or acts with impure mind, him sorrow dogs, as the wheel follows the steps of the draught-ox. 2. Mind it is which gives to things their quality, p. 22 their foundation, and their being: whoso speaks or acts with purified mind, him happiness accompanies as his faithful shadow. 3. "He has abused me, beaten me, worsted me, robbed me"; those who dwell upon such thoughts never lose their hate. 4. "He has abused me, beaten me, worsted me, robbed me "; those who dwell: not upon such thoughts are freed of hate. 5. Never does hatred cease by hating; by not hating does it cease: this is the ancient law. 6. If some there are who know not by such hatred we are perishing, and some there are who know it, then by their knowledge strife is ended.