Sacred Text · The Dhammapada
The Dhammapada, verse 338
Chapter 24, Thirst · verse 338
“As a tree, even though it has been cut down, is firm so long as its root is safe, and grows again, thus, unless the feeders of thirst are destroyed, the pain (of life) will return again and again.”
Dhammapada 338 · Müller
Translation: F. Max Müller (1881), The Dhammapada, Sacred Books of the East vol. X, public domain, via Project Gutenberg (ebook 2017). Reproduced in full and in context; verse 5 and the verse count (423 verses, 26 chapters) validated against the source before publishing.
Christian comparison
How this connects to Jesus
Craving, like a tree cut down, springs up again unless its root is destroyed. The Dhammapada sees clearly how thirst enslaves us. Jesus met a woman at a well and offered living water, so that whoever drinks will never thirst again (John 4:13-14). Not the extinguishing of all desire, but a thirst finally satisfied in God.
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