For all mortals, birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, sickness is suffering. No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. One should do what one teaches others to do; if one would train others, one should be well controlled oneself. Difficult, indeed, is self-control. All tremble at punishment. Life is dear to all. Put yourself in the place of others; kill none nor have another killed. Thirst for existence, O monks, has a specific condition, it is nourished by something, it also does not go without support. And what is that nourishment? It is ignorance. And again, Subhuti, suppose a woman or a man were to renounce all their belongings as many times as there are grains of sand in the river Ganges ; and suppose that someone else, after taking from this discourse on dharma but one stanza of four lines, would demonstrates it to others. Then this latter on the strength of that would beget a greater heap of merit, immeasurable and incalculable. Good men and bad men differ radically. Bad men never appreciate kindness shown them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else. Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. Inward calm cannot be maintained unless physical strength is constantly and intelligently replenished. It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. | 
