Dhammapada

The Path of Dhamma

XXI. Pakinnakavagga: Miscellany (290-305)

By Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

[290] If, by forsaking
a limited ease,
he would see
an abundance of ease,
the enlightened man
would forsake
the limited ease
for the sake
of the abundant.

[291] He wants his own ease
by giving others dis-ease.
Intertwined in the inter-
action of hostility,
from hostility
he's not set free.

[292] In those who
reject what should,
and do what shouldn't be done
-- heedless, insolent --
effluents grow.

[293] But for those who
are well-applied, constantly,
to mindfulness immersed in the body;
don't indulge
in what shouldn't be done
and persist
in what should
-- mindful, alert --
effluents come to an end.

[294] Having killed mother and father,
two warrior kings,
the kingdom and its dependency --
the brahman, untroubled, travels on.

[295] Having killed mother and father,
two learned kings,
and, fifth, a tiger --
the brahman, untroubled, travels on.

[296] They awaken, always wide awake:
Gotama's disciples
whose mindfulness, both day and night,
is constantly immersed
in the Buddha.

[297] They awaken, always wide awake:
Gotama's disciples
whose mindfulness, both day and night,
is constantly immersed
in the Dhamma.

[298] They awaken, always wide awake:
Gotama's disciples
whose mindfulness, both day and night,
is constantly immersed
in the Saṅgha.

[299] They awaken, always wide awake:
Gotama's disciples
whose mindfulness, both day and night,
is constantly immersed
in the body.

[300] They awaken, always wide awake:
Gotama's disciples
whose hearts delight, both day and night,
in harmlessness.

[301] They awaken, always wide awake:
Gotama's disciples
whose hearts delight, both day and night,
in developing the mind.

[302] Hard is the life gone forth,
hard to delight in.
Hard is the miserable
householder's life.
It's painful to stay with dissonant people,
painful to travel the road.
So be neither traveler
nor pained.

[303] The man of conviction
endowed with virtue,
glory, and wealth:
wherever he goes
he is honored.

[304] The good shine from afar
like the snowy Himalayas.
The bad don't appear
even when near,
like arrows shot into the night.

[305] Sitting alone,
resting alone,
walking alone,
untiring.
Taming himself,
he'd delight alone --
alone in the forest.

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