Than Hsiang's Pu Men Pin Online Gong Xiu Dharma Sharing ( 09/10/2026 )

Lecturer and the Dean of the Faculty of Buddhist Studies at IBC, Dr. Ooi Eng Jin sharing " Verses of Heedfulness "

Verses of Heedfulness from the Pali Dhammapada ( Part I )

Contents:
1. Why is appamāda(heedfulness)important?
2. AppamādaSutta
3. Verses from the Chapter of Heedfulness ( the Dhammapada, verses 21 to 26 )

Why is Appamāda(Sanskrit: Apramāda) important?
In the MahāparinibbānaSutta, DN16 (The Great Passing)
The last words of the Buddha:
‘handadānibhikkhaveāmantayāmivo: “vayadhammāsaṃkhārā, appamādenasampādethīti”’ D II 156.1–2)
“Now, monks, I declare to you: all conditioned things are of a nature to decay –strive on untiringly.” -Walshe 1995.
“Come now, mendicants, I say to you all: ‘Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence.’” -Sujato2026

( Heedfulnessmeans the quality of paying close and careful attention/attentiveness (Collins), duties, or actions )

AppamādaSutta (SaṃyuttaNikāya)
King Pasenadiasks the Buddha (in Sāvatthi):
“Is there, venerable sir, one thing which secures both kinds of good, the good pertaining to the present life and to the future life?”
“There is one thing, great king..”
“What is that one thing?”
“Heedfulness(appamāda), great king. Just as the footprints of all living beings that walk fit into the footprint of the elephant, and the elephant's footprint is declared to be their chief by reason of its size, so heedfulnessis one thing which secures both kinds of good pertaining to the present and future life.” (S I 86, Cf. Bodhi 2000, 179)

Dhammapadaverse 21 ( Appamādavagga ):
appamādoamatapadaṃ
pamādomaccunopadaṃ
appamattānamīyanti
ye pamattāyathāmatā.

Heedfulness is the path to deathless
heedlessness is the path of death.
They who are heedful do not die;
they who are heedless are as dead.

“Deathless” means nibbāna. Because [nibbāna] is unborn [that is, it is unoriginated and has no beginning], nibbānadoes not age or die: therefore it is called “deathless.”
“Path” means that it is by way of this [heedfulness] that people reach the deathless.
Amatapadaṃis the path or the place of undying; it is said to be the method by which one realizes the deathless.---(cf. Skilling 2024)

Dhammapadaverse 22 ( Appamādavagga ) :
evaṃvisesatoñatvā
appamādamhipaṇḍitā
appamādepamodanti
ariyānaṃgocareratā

The wise, knowing this,
especially in respect of heedfulness,
rejoice in heedfulness,
delighting in the realm of noble ones
---(cf. Norman 2000)

Dhammapadaverse 23 ( Appamādavagga ) :
te jhāyino sātatikā
niccaṃ daḷhaparakkamā
phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṃ
yogakkhemaṃ anuttaraṃ.

Meditating, persevering,
constantly making a firm effort,
those wise ones attain nibbāna,
supreme rest from exertion.
---(cf. Norman 2000)

Dhammapadaverse 24 ( Appamādavagga ) :
uṭṭhānavato satīmato
sucikammassa nisammakārino
saññatassa dhammajīvino
appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati

Of one who exerts himself, is mindful,
does pure deeds, acts considerately,
is restrained, lives according to the law,
is heedful, the fame increases.
---(cf. Norman 2000)

Dhammapadaverse 25 ( Appamādavagga ) :
uṭṭhānenappamādena
saṃyamena damena ca;
dīpaṃ kayirātha medhāvī,
yaṃ ogho nābhikīrati.

By exertion, by heedfulness,
by restraint and self-control,
a wise man would make an island
which a flood does not overwhelm.
---(cf. Norman 2000)

Dhammapadaverse 26b ( Appamādavagga ) :
pamādamanuyuñjanti
bālā dummedhino janā
appamādañca medhāvī
dhanaṃ seṭṭhaṃva rakkhati

Fools, stupid people,
apply themselves to heedlessness,
but a wise man guards his heedfulness
as his best treasure.
---(cf. Norman 2000)

Dhammapadaverses 21 to 26:
21:
appamādo amatapadaṃ
pamādo maccunop adaṃ
appamattā na mīyanti
ye pamattā yathā matā

22:
evaṃ visesato ñatvā,
appamādamhi paṇḍitā
appamāde pamodanti,
ariyānaṃ gocare ratā

23:
te jhāyino sātatikā,
niccaṃ daḷhaparakkamā
phusanti dhīrā nibbānaṃ
yogakkhemaṃ anuttaraṃ

24:
uṭṭhānavato satīmato
sucikammassa nisammakārino
saññatassa dhammajīvino
appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati

25:
uṭṭhānenappamādena
saṃyamena damena ca
dīpaṃ kayirātha medhāvī
yaṃ ogho nābhikīrati

26:
pamādamanuyuñjanti
bālā dummedhino janā
appamādañca medhāvī
dhanaṃ seṭṭhaṃva rakkhati

Anumodanā !

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