Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

"The thought manifests as the word,
The word manifests as the deed,
The deed develops into habit,
And habit hardens in character,
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love,
Born out of concern for all beings…
As the shadow follows the body,
As we think, so we become"

I saw this quote attributed to the Buddha on a couple of websites, yet I could not find any credible source showing me that this is actually what he said. Did the Buddha really say these words? Are there quotes floating around the internet that are misattributed to the Buddha?

Nope, I didn't say that ~ The Buddha
Take a look at this http://www.fakebuddhaquotes.com/all-fake-buddha-quotes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maha Ghosananda used a very similar quote very often:

Think before you speak

The thought manifests as the word.
The word manifests as the deed.
The deed develops into the habit.
The habit hardens into the character.
The character gives birth to the destiny.
So, watch your thoughts with care
And let them spring from love
Born out of respect for all beings.

Its often used by representators of "engaged Buddhism" and comes maybe from the Dhammapada:

Phenomena are preceded by the heart, ruled by the heart, made of the heart. If you speak or act with a corrupted heart, then suffering follows you — as the wheel of the cart, the track of the ox that pulls it.
Phenomena are preceded by the heart, ruled by the heart, made of the heart. If you speak or act with a calm, bright heart, then happiness follows you, like a shadow that never leaves.

and are used futher in direction influencing the sociaty (reflection of your action)

Is Eknath Easwaran's translation of the Dhammapada an accurate translation?

pilgrim wrote:Nope, I didn't say that ~ The Buddha
Take a look at this http://www.fakebuddhaquotes.com/all-fake-buddha-quotes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*bump*

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes ... an_Mascar_
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Mascar%C3%B3
I realize this is a very old post. However, it came up when I did an internet search for this quote and did a little more research myself.
By the way, the bible has many interpreted versions. Juan Mascaró interpreted the Bhagavad Gita (1962).
How do I know he was not a Buddha? Notice, I did not say "the" Buddha.

It's interesting to me how many religions have so many text that are similar about "love," and they all argue about who came up with it first.