Atta-vaggo : Chapter 12. Self
Atta means “oneself“.
Who do you like best? Is it your mother? Or is it your friend? Maybe it is yourself. All living beings have a self-love that says “I like myself“.
DhP.12-157
Attānañce piyaṃ jaññā, oneself-if to-like to-know rakkheyya naṃ surakkhitaṃ; guarding it well-guarded Tiṇṇaṃ aññataraṃ yāmaṃ, three other-crossing of-the-night paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito. master-wakefulness wise
If you care about yourself,
protect yourself well.
Wise one should stay awake
through three different times of the night.
explanation
It means that you should always be aware of what you are doing in the three stages of life: young, adult and old age.
DhP.12-158
Attānameva paṭhamaṃ, oneself-just at-first patirūpe nivesaye; fit settlement Athaññamanusāseyya, then-other-next-advise na kilisseyya paṇḍito. not getting-dirty wise
First, try it yourself,
then advise others.
The wise are not to be condemned.
explanation
People like to teach. We try to teach others even when they don’t ask us to teach them. And we are hated.
Why do we want to teach them so much?
The first reason is that we want to be accepted by others. The second reason is because we want to feel superior to the others. In other words, we want to be sure of who we are.
DhP.12-159
159. Attānaṃ ce tathā kayirā, oneself if like does yathāññamanusāsati; like-other-next-advise Sudanto vata dametha, well-trained certainly restraint attā hi kira duddamo. self for truly difficult
As you advise others,
try it yourself first.
You can only advise others
if you do it yourself.
Because training yourself is really difficult.
explanation
The teaching is that before advising others, you should first admonish yourself. If you do this, you may not be able to advise others on most things.
DhP.12-160
Attā hi attano nātho, self truly self's protector ko hi nātho paro siyā; who truly protector other will-be Attanā hi sudantena, by-self for well-trained nāthaṃ labhati dullabhaṃ. protector obtain rare
You are your own guardian.
Who will guard you?
If you train yourself well,
you will be a very rare guardian.
explanation
The mind’s job is to be constantly anxious. Because the mind gets its energy from being shaken by external impulses. When we are anxious, we want to rely on, depend on or believe in something, but seeking other sources of support will only temporarily distract us, but the anxiety of the mind will not disappear. The only one we can rely on is ourselves.
DhP.12-161
Attanā hi kataṃ pāpaṃ, by-self truly done evil attajaṃ attasambhavaṃ; proceeding-from-oneself self-origin Abhimatthati dummedhaṃ, to-crush evil-sacrifice vajiraṃ vasmamayaṃ maṇiṃ. diamond as-made-of-stone jewel
What happens to oneself is what one does.
Selfish bad deeds grind oneself
like a diamond grinds a gemstone.
explanation
The cause of events that happen to us is an act we once did. There is no other cause. It may be something done a long time ago, or recently, but it cannot be mentioned. If we do good, it causes good results. If we do evil, it causes evil results. That is all. This is the law of nature.
If an unhappy result happens, do not repeat the evil actions. Many events happen in life and it is important not to worry about them.
DhP.12-162
Yassa accantadussīlyaṃ, who absolute-wickedness māluvā sālamivotthataṃ; creeper sal-tree-covered Karoti so tathattānaṃ, does he like-it-self yathā naṃ icchatī diso. like he wishing enemy
Extremely destructive people
self-destruct selfishly,
like a creeper crawling on a sal tree.
explanation
The mind easily gives rise to evil. Because it is easier to be angry than to allow others faults, easier to doubt, dislike or be jealous than to understand or respect others. Then, it justifies that the other is at fault and deserves it. This justified malice is recorded deep in the subconscious.
DhP.12-163
Sukarāni asādhūni, easy-to-do not-good attano ahitāni ca; self unkindliness or Yaṃ ve hitañca sādhuñca, whenever truly useful-and good-and taṃ ve paramadukkaraṃ. it truly best-difficult-to-do
It is easy to do unhelpful or evil deeds for yourself.
Doing what is useful or good
is actually supremely difficult.
explanation
Why do we do foolish things?
The mind gains energy from external stimuli, whether good or evil. It is through this system that we feel alive when there is something exciting going on. Evil impulses such as greed and anger are highly irritating. But this impulse is not helpful for spiritual growth.
DhP.12-164
Yo sāsanaṃ arahataṃ, it teaching arahant ariyānaṃ dhammajīvinaṃ; saint by-truth-living Paṭikkosati dummedho, blame evil-sacrifice diṭṭhiṃ nissāya pāpikaṃ; view by wicked Phalāni kaṭṭhakasseva, fruit bamboo-as attaghātāya phallati. self-kill to-bear-fruit
A foolish one who blames the teachings
of the holy arahants who live according to the truth
through evil thoughts destroys himself,
just as bamboo bears fruit and then dies.
explanation
Bamboo rarely flowers. According to popular belief, it is said to happen once every 60 years, but when it does flower, it almost always dies.
To deny the teaching of Arahant, who has no desire, is to deny the truth, which means that the view is not true.
DhP.12-165
Attanā hi kataṃ pāpaṃ, by-self truly done evil attanā saṃkilissati; by-self be-impure Attanā akataṃ pāpaṃ, by-self not-done evil attanāva visujjhati; by-self-truly be-pure Suddhī asuddhi paccattaṃ, pure impure separately nāñño aññaṃ visodhaye. not-other other cleaning
By the evil you do, you become impure.
Do not do evil, you become pure.
Whether you impure or not is up to you.
No one can purify others.
explanation
Good or evil, all is your own choice.
DhP.12-166
Attadatthaṃ paratthena, own-needs other's-needs bahunāpi na hāpaye; many-if not loss Attadatthamabhiññāya, own-needs-well-understood sadatthapasuto siyā. own-welfare-seeking to-be
Do not neglect what you have to do,
even if other important matters exist.
Fully understand what you have to do,
and then concentrate on attaining it first.
explanation
This verse was said by Buddha when he was 80 years old, as his disciples were saddened by his impending death and did not leave his side. The teaching is that you should concentrate on what you need to do (practice) rather than worrying about others.
Attavaggo dvādasamo niṭṭhito. self-chapter 12th finish
12. The self chapter is ended.