Reflections on a Pฤli Verse from the Dhammapada
“Kaแนhaแน dhammaแน vippahฤya, sukkaแน bhฤvetha paแนแธito;
Okaแน anokaแน ฤgamma, viveke yattha dลซramaแน.”
— Dhammapada, Verses 87–88
In these sacred lines from the Dhammapada, the Buddha offers a timeless invitation—one that speaks directly to the human heart across centuries and cultures. It’s a call to transform, to let go, and to evolve.
Let’s unfold this verse and discover the wisdom within.
๐ “Having abandoned dark dhamma…”
The word “kaแนha” means dark—a reference to unwholesome or harmful mental states:
- Greed
- Anger
- Jealousy
- Lust
- Delusion
These are not sins to be punished for, but obstacles to be understood and released. The Buddha's teaching is simple: let go of what dims your inner light.
To abandon dark dhamma is not about judgment—it’s about freedom. The wise learn to recognize the heavy emotions and patterns that pull them down, and slowly, mindfully, they release them.
๐ “...the wise should cultivate the bright.”
Here, “sukka” means bright, pure, or radiant. The wise don’t just let go of negativity—they consciously nurture the light.
- Compassion over comparison
- Generosity over grasping
- Stillness over reactivity
- Mindfulness over mindlessness
Just as a gardener pulls weeds and waters the flowers, the spiritual path requires both: clearing and cultivating.
This verse reminds us: The mind is fertile ground. What you grow there is up to you.
๐ก “Leaving home for the homeless…”
“Oka” means home—the familiar, the comfortable, the worldly life filled with routine desires and roles.
“Anoka” is the homeless, the renunciate path, the unknown.
“Anoka” is the homeless, the renunciate path, the unknown.
This isn’t just about monks giving up household life. It’s about each of us learning to release attachment to the illusions of permanence, success, and self-image.
It’s an inner renunciation.
A shift from “What can I possess?” to “Who can I become?”
A shift from “What can I possess?” to “Who can I become?”
๐ “...he delights in solitude, where few dare to go.”
The journey into viveka—solitude—is not always easy. Most avoid it. We fill our lives with noise, distraction, and stimulation because silence is uncomfortable. But in that silence, the soul speaks.
The wise delight in solitude not because they are lonely, but because they’ve tasted the richness that lives beyond the senses. It’s in the stillness that we touch the eternal.
๐ From the Shadows to the Sacred
This verse is a map of transformation:
| Darkness | Light |
|---|---|
| Greed | Generosity |
| Lust | Purity of heart |
| Anger | Compassion |
| Attachment | Freedom |
| Noise | Silence |
The wise one walks this path—not all at once, but step by step. With awareness. With sincerity. With grace.
๐งโ๏ธ Living This Verse
Even if you’re not a monk in robes, you can live the essence of this verse:
- Observe your mind daily. What thoughts are darkening your light?
- Fast from negativity: gossip, blame, harsh speech, resentment.
- Make space for solitude: even 10 minutes of silence can change your day.
- Renounce comfort that blocks growth: real peace lies beyond convenience.
- Water the seeds of light: read sacred texts, chant, serve, breathe consciously.
๐ฌ Final Reflection
This teaching isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being willing—willing to walk away from what no longer serves and walk toward what truly sets you free.
It’s about being willing—willing to walk away from what no longer serves and walk toward what truly sets you free.
“You don’t have to run from the darkness.
Just light a lamp.
You are the lamp.”
Let this ancient verse be your guide—turning every moment of temptation into a moment of transcendence. Let the dark dissolve, and the light within you lead the way.
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