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THE STORY OF PRINCE BODHI - Dhammapada Verse 157
Description
Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.
A question has been asked in regards to this Dhammapada verse and story:
"May I ask, if we do something wrong like killing and we felt remorse about it, then is the vipaka [kamma] a lesser burden? Can you explain more about “remorse“ in this verse?”
Dhammapada verse 157 is THE STORY OF PRINCE BODHI and his wife, who are unable to have children. He invites the Buddha for an alms-giving and learns of their past life transgressions that have resulted in this predicament.
This teaching is particularly helpful in understanding that
- — we are the owners of our kamma,
- — examining the importance of regret over our actions,
- — abandoning unwholesome conduct,
- — admitting fault and making amends, and
- — having strong intentions and applying effort towards cultivating wholesome conduct.
The Buddha's words from Dhp 157:
"Attānañce piyaṁ jaññā,
rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ;
Tiṇṇaṁ aññataraṁ yāmaṁ,
paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito.”
“If one knows oneself as dear,
one should guard oneself well,
during one of the three watches of the night
the wise one should stay wakeful (alert).”
Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:
- — Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN53)
- — Accaya Sutta (AN 3.4)
- — Cakkhupālatthera Vatthu (Dhp 1)
- — Acinteyya Sutta (AN 4.77)
- — Aṅgulimālattheravatthu (Dhp 173)
- — Aṅgulimāla Sutta (MN 86)
- — Dutiyasīla Sutta (Iti 33)
To read the full chapter Atta Vagga (Dhp 157–166) of the Dhammapada - https://suttacentral.net/dhp157-166/en/anandajoti
Much merit (bohoma pin) to the person who has asked this question.
The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_2CxbP8dgs AND on Spotify as a video podcast
Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai