One who studies many teachings,
But, being negligent, doesn’t act accordingly,
Like a cow herder counting others’ cows,
Does not attain the benefits of the spiritual life.One who studies few teachings,
Yet lives according to the Truth,
Abandoning greed, ill will, and delusion,
Aware and with mind clear,
Not clinging now or in the future,
Attains the benefits of the spiritual life.
We complete the first chapter of the Dhammapada with Verse 19 and Verse 20 and an extremely important principle of the spiritual life. We have to act in accordance with the teachings that we study if we want to experience the benefits of those teachings. If we do not put into practice what we find in the different teachings that we are looking at, then we may gain some knowledge, but we won’t gain the object of the spiritual life – wisdom and peace. These will only come through the development of a daily practice based on these teachings, a practice that is congruent with the ideals shared by the teachers. There is no other way.
