Dhammapada

 “I teach only two things, suffering and end of suffering”

- Buddha

The first verses of the Dhammapada:

Actions based on the three unwholesome roots of greed (lobha), ill will (dosa), and delusion (moha) are unwholesome, resulting in bad consequences, while actions based on the three wholesome roots of non-greed (alobha), non-ill will (adosa) and non-delusion (amoha) result in good consequences. In the first two verses of the Dhammapada, the Buddha described the central role of the mind in performing wholesome or unwholesome actions and how the consequences of one’s bad or good actions will follow the one who performed them.

 “All mental phenomena have the mind as their forerunner,
  They have mind as their chief, they are mind-made,
   If one speaks or acts with an evil mind,  
   Pain follows him just as the wheel follows the hoof of the ox that draws the
   cart”

 “All mental phenomena have the mind as their forerunner,
   They have mind as their chief; they are mind-made,
   If one speaks or acts with a pure mind,
   Happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him”

In verse 178, the Buddha stated that even the first spiritual stage of the Buddhist path of liberation which is Stream Entry (sotapanna), is better than worldly gains such as becoming the ruler of the world, enjoying the bliss in heavens or even being the ruler of the whole universe.Stream Entry is the first of the four supra mundane spiritual stages which are gradually attained when one cultivates the Buddhist path of liberation, the other three stages being; Once Returner (sakadagami), Non-Returner (anagami) and the final stage of Arahant when one is fully enlightened with no further birth.

“Far better than sovereignty over the earth – or far better than heavenly bliss, Or far better than ruling supreme over the entire universe – is Sotapatti fruition”

The verse 191 states how one who wants to eradicate suffering has to realize the four Noble Truths.: “Realisation of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the Noble Eight-fold Path leads to the cessation of suffering”

Verse 122: “One should not regard a little merit lightly, thinking it will not affect me, just as falling water drops, fill a water pot, the wise one becomes full of merit, by accumulating little by little.”

369 Bhikshu, empty your boat! It will go faster. Cast out greed and hatred and reach nirvana.

370 Overcome the five obstacles, rise above the five selfish attachments, and you will cross the river of life.

371 Meditate, bhikshu, meditate! Do not run after sense pleasures. Do not swallow a red-hot iron ball and then cry, “I am in great pain!”