A Presentation of a selection of English Proverbs that teach good Life Lessons and moral values. The texts are in English. For the Video with audio narration and explanation in Hokkien, please check out the Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ3GRPsLmXY

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1 An idle brain is the devil’s
workshop.
If you’ve nothing to do, you’ll likely
think of mischief.
Beware of thoughts of sensual attachment,
ill-will and cruelty.
Such thoughts can lead us to wrong speech
and wrong actions of the body.

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2 Clothes do not make the man.
You cannot accurately judge a person
solely by appearances.
‘Beauty is only skin deep’, there are far more
important things indeed.
What truly matters is whether he’s little
delusion, hate and greed.

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3 Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Don’t take more responsibility
or do more than you can handle.
It is unwise to indulge in the senses
or doing ascetic practice.
In Dhamma striving, don’t overexert and
don’t be lax … that’s the way for peace.

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4 Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Don’t act badly toward the person who has helped
you or from whom you derive some benefits, for
you may lose those benefits in future.
The practice of Gratitude is an important
spiritual practice.
Ungrateful ones, feeling regret, guilt and
remorse don’t have inner peace.

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5 Don’t cast pearls before swine.
Don’t offer something valuable to
someone who doesn’t value it.
With dust in their eyes,
many have no Dhamma affinity.
Haters of Dhamma are declining in spirituality.
May they one day have the Blessing
to learn Dhamma joyfully.

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6 Every man is the architect
of his destiny.
Your own actions and decisions decide what you
achieve (or don’t) in life.
The blessings a person receives
or how he turns out to be,
is not due to fate, chance, luck
or the works of an Almighty.
It depends on mental actions, speech
and acts of the body.

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7 Fall seven times. Stand up eight.
Be resilient and try despite failures.
That’s how you succeed.
Happiness and Success
in worldly matters or spirituality
depends on our mind states and what we do in
terms of speech and body.
Be patient, determined, persistent
and strive along diligently.

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8 Good things come to those who wait.
Patience is often rewarded.
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet”,
A Wise One said.
Have Patience and Endurance,
Loving-kindness you must spread.

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9 If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.
If you do something dangerous or foolish, you
are likely to get harmed.
We must remember that
The Law of Cause and Effect reigns supreme.
Wrong mental, verbal or bodily actions
end in suffering.

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10 If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If things were to happen by just wishing them, even
the poorest will have everything they want.
It’s not through mere praying and appealing
to a Supreme Being
that you can get wealth, fulfill your desires
or get anything.
It is Kamma, through your wholesome actions of the
mind, speech and body in your living.

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11 A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
When someone is in a difficult situation, s/he
often takes any available opportunity, albeit an
unwise one, to overcome the Dukkha.
To rid of worldly hardship or pain,
avoid unwholesome action.
The wise practice Sila, Samadhi, Panna
for Liberation.
Avoid
Bad
Actions!

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12 Look before you leap.
You shouldn't act without first
considering the possible
consequences or dangers.
Ignorant, heedless or mindless ones
act out of greed, anger or delusion.
‘Dukkha or Suffering will befall them’ – KNOW
this important Dhamma Lesson!

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Good dhamma for one and all we must happily share
The End