Dhammapada

translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

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XXI. Miscellany

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.


292-293*:

In those who
reject what should,
& do what shouldn't be done
-- heedless, insolent --
effluents grow.

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


294-295*:

Having killed mother & father,
two warrior kings,
the kingdom & its dependency --
the brahmin, untroubled, travels on.

Having killed mother & father,
two learned kings,
&, fifth, a tiger --
the brahmin, untroubled, travels on.


296-301*:

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

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

They awaken, always wide awake:
    Gotama's disciples
whose mindfulness, both day & night,
is constantly immersed
    in the Sangha.

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

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

They awaken, always wide awake:
    Gotama's disciples
whose hearts delight, both day & 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, & 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.

Revised: Mon 26 October 1998