The night is long for those who cannot sleep,
The road is long for those whose strength is weak.
The cycle of life is long for those who cannot see,
The truth that leads the heart to freedom's peace.
If no wise companion walks beside you,
If no noble friend shares your way,
Walk alone with courage and mindfulness,
Rather than follow the foolish day by day.
[Chorus]
Know yourself, even when you don't know,
There is still a path for wisdom to grow.
Do not pretend that you understand it all,
Open your heart when you stumble and fall.
[Verse 2]
A ladle in the soup will never taste,
Though it may stay there through the years.
A fool beside a wise one may remain,
Yet never understand the truth he hears.
But the tongue can taste the flavor,
In just a moment, clear and true.
A heart that listens with awareness
Can learn the Dhamma and transform anew.
[Chorus]
Bad deeds are like a hidden fire,
Sleeping beneath the ashes deep.
When their consequences rise,
They awaken what we chose to keep.
Good deeds bring joy without regret,
A peaceful heart can face the day.
Choose the actions you can live with,
Choose the path that leads away.
[Bridge]
Do not be blinded by honor,
Do not be captured by praise.
Do not let knowledge turn to pride,
Let wisdom guide your ways.
[Final Chorus]
Know yourself and leave the foolish path,
Walk with wisdom, mindful and free.
Do not cling to wealth or recognition,
Seek the peace of Nibbāna's sea.
Know your actions, know their fruits,
Learn from every step you take.
Even when you walk alone,
With Dhamma in your heart,
You will never walk in vain.
The Foolish Chapter: Know Yourself, Choose Your Companions, and Understand the Results of Your Actions
The Bāla Vagga, or Chapter of the Fool, in the Dhammapada presents a profound teaching on self-awareness, wise companionship, karma, attachment, and the danger of mistaking ignorance for wisdom.
The chapter begins with the observation that a night feels long to one who remains awake, a journey feels long to one who is exhausted, and the cycle of existence feels long to a foolish person who does not understand the true Dhamma. The teaching points to the suffering created by ignorance and the absence of clear understanding.
One important teaching concerns choosing one's companions. When a person cannot find a companion who is wiser or equal in virtue, it is better to walk alone with determination than to associate with harmful or foolish companions. Friendship should support wisdom and wholesome conduct rather than reinforce destructive habits.
The Buddha also challenges attachment to possessions and relationships through the recurring notions of “my children” and “my wealth.” Such possessions cannot ultimately belong to a person forever. The teaching encourages people to understand impermanence and to develop inner independence rather than defining themselves through external possessions.
The chapter makes a particularly important distinction between recognizing one's own ignorance and being ignorant while believing oneself to be wise. A person who recognizes, “I am foolish,” still has an opportunity to develop wisdom. But someone who is ignorant and believes himself to be wise closes the door to learning.
The Buddha illustrates this with the famous image of the ladle and the tongue. A foolish person may sit beside a wise person for an entire lifetime and still fail to understand the Dhamma, just as a ladle remains in a pot of soup without ever tasting its flavor. A wise and receptive person, however, may learn the Dhamma in a very short time, just as the tongue immediately recognizes taste.
The Bāla Vagga also emphasizes the consequences of actions. Wrongdoing may appear attractive or harmless while its consequences have not yet appeared. But when the results mature, suffering can arise. Evil action is compared to a fire hidden beneath ashes: it may not be visible at first, but it can eventually burn the person who created it.
Wholesome actions, by contrast, can produce joy rather than regret. The teaching therefore encourages people to consider the long-term consequences of their actions rather than judging them solely by immediate pleasure or convenience.
Another important warning concerns knowledge without wisdom. Knowledge can become harmful when it is driven by selfishness, conceit, jealousy, or the desire for power. Learning should contribute to wisdom and ethical development rather than become an instrument of pride or destruction.
The chapter also warns monastics against becoming attached to gain, honor, praise, influence, and social recognition. Such attachments can give rise to jealousy and conceit and may distract a practitioner from the deeper purpose of spiritual practice.
The Bāla Vagga ultimately contrasts two paths: one centered on gain and recognition, and another leading toward Nibbāna. The disciple who understands this distinction should not become intoxicated by worldly honors but should continually cultivate solitude, inner peace, mindfulness, and wisdom.
The central message of the Bāla Vagga is therefore clear: know yourself, choose your companions wisely, understand the consequences of your actions, and do not mistake knowledge, status, or recognition for wisdom.
Recognizing one's own limitations is not a sign of defeat. It can be the beginning of genuine learning and the first step toward wisdom.
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