Our life is shaped by our mind

Dhammapada Chaper 1 verse 1

One of the wisdom books that I like to read is The Dhammapada, a collection of the sayings of the Buddha. The translation that I have is by Eknath Easwaran.

The first chapter of sayings is entitled “Twin Verses.” The first verse reads,

“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it.”

The following twin verse reads,

“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.”

Why did the Buddhist monks who compiled the Dhammapada (which means the path of the Dharma) put these two twin verses at the beginning?

What is mind? What is life? What is your mind? What is your life?

You have your mind. You live your life. Do you think that this is true for you?

Is your life shaped by your mind?

Do you become what you think?

Actually the translation of the verse uses the all inclusive first person plural.

“Our life is shaped by our mind.”

What is the relationship between my mind, your mind, and our mind?

You Are Not Alone

Is there a collective mind?

Do only individuals have minds? Do groups, families, tribes, nations, religions, cultures, etc. have some kind of common mind?

“Our life is shaped by our mind.”

How does our life shape our mind?

What does it mean to shape one’s life?

Is the converse also true? Does our life shape our mind?

It seems to me that the mind, while it reacts to life, is stronger, more causal. What do you think?

“We become what we think?”

What is thought?

A thought

What is a thought?

Where do thoughts come from?

How do thoughts effect us?

What is the relationship between thought, emotion, feeling, and action, and result?

How do we become what we are?

What is becoming?

“We become what we think.”

Are you ready to accept responsivity for your thoughts?

Can you choose your thoughts?

Can you control what you think?

“Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it.”
“Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.”

 

What is a positive thought?

What is a negative or evil thought?

What kind of a world am I shaping?

What kind of a world are you shaping?

What kind of a world are we shaping?

Do we want suffering or joy?

“Our life is shaped by our mind.”