Dhammapada 35

It is good to tame the mind, hard to hold, quick, landing wherever it wishes

It is good to tame the mind, hard to hold, quick, landing wherever it wishes. A tamed mind brings happiness.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

The mind quickly lands on whatever attracts it and is hard to hold steady. The verse values training this movement and connects a trained mind with happiness.

Key words

damatha

taming, training — An ongoing discipline of mind, not a demand to have no thoughts.

The story behind the verse

The mind-reader

In the commentary, a laywoman hosted a group of monks during the rainy season. After instruction in meditation, she attained spiritual realization and the ability to read thoughts, and she used that ability to provide what the monks needed, and they attained liberation. Another monk heard their praise and went to stay with her, and he became frightened that she might discover a harmful thought and returned to the Buddha. The Buddha told him to train his mind and sent him back, and the monk practiced there and attained liberation.

Retold by Banya from the traditional commentary, after E. W. Burlingame, Buddhist Legends (1921).

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.