Theragatha
Chapter IX — The Nines
232
Bhūta
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
When, knowing, “stress, aging-and-death”—
where people run-of-the-mill are attached—
comprehending stress,
the wise man does jhāna, mindful,
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When, striking down
attachment,
the bringer of stress
and craving,
the bringer of stress bound up
with objectification,
he does jhāna, mindful,
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When, touching[1] with discernment
the auspicious, two-times-four road,
the ultimate path,
cleansing away all defilement,
he does jhāna, mindful,
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When he develops the peaceful state,
—sorrowless, stainless, unfabricated,
cleansing away all defilement,
cutting through fetters and bonds—
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When, in the sky, the thundercloud roars,
with torrents of rain on all sides
of the path of the birds,
and the monk, having gone to a cave, does jhāna,
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When, seated on the bank of rivers
covered with flowers,
garlanded with various forest plants,
happy at heart, he does jhāna,
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When, at midnight in the secluded grove,
the devas drizzle, the fanged animals roar,
and the monk, having gone to a cave, does jhāna,
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When, having kept his own thoughts in check,
taking refuge in the mountains in a mountain fissure,
free from disturbance, free
from barrenness,
he does jhāna,v
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
When, happy,
destroying stain, barrenness, grief,
free from door-bolts, free from underbrush, free
from arrows,
having put an end to all effluents,
he does jhāna,
there’s no greater enjoyment than that.
[1] Reading phusitvā with the Thai edition. The Sri Lankan, Burmese, and PTS editions read passitvā, "seeing."
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