Published Monday, 14 April 2014
One who refrains from causing harm
by way of body, speech or mind,
can be called a great being.
Dhammapada v. 391
Greatness could be defined in terms of the power we have or the possessions we own, but in the mind of the Buddha it is better determined by how people conduct themselves. This is a very practical way of assessing how trustworthy a person may be. Are they restrained in how they act and in what they say? Are they kind? We can’t tell what is happening inwardly, but we can observe the influence they have on the world around them.
With Metta,
Bhikkhu Munindo