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[3] Samana, "ascetic," a title originally contemptuously applied to the Buddha and His disciples by the Brhmaas. The word is etymologically derived from V. sam—to tame or quiet. Hence the reference in v. 265.
[4] Bhikkhu, "beggar," the name given by the Buddha to His ordained disciples.
[5] Muni, "sage, silent one." The Buddha was called Sakyamuni—"the sage of the Sakya clan."
[6] Ariya, "the noble, the worthy."
[7] Reading visssam pdi. This verse is important as showing the Buddhist ideal in a nutshell. Nibbna is the dying out of craving, the root of all evil.
273.
Best is the Eightfold Path: of truths, the four;[1]
Dispassion in the best of states sublime.
Blest is he of human beings, who hath eyes to see.
274.
This is the way; no other way can lead ye
To purify the mind and see the truth.
Walk this Way and free yourselves from Mra's host of ills.
275.
Tread ye this Path, and make an end of sorrow.
Tread ye this Path for I myself have shown it.
Shown it after learning how to pluck away the thorns.[2]
276.
Strive ye yourselves; Buddha's but preach the way
To them that strive. To meditation given
They who walk this Way are free from Mra's every bond.
277.
"All things compounded are impermanent";
Whoso sees this with opened inner eye
Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity.
278.
"All things compounded are of sorrow made";
Whoso sees this with opened inner eye,
Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity.
279.
"All states compounded are without a self";[3]
Whoso sees this with opened inner eye,
Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity.
280.
Whoso strives not when it is time to strive,
Tho' young and strong, to sloth and folly prone,
Weak in will and thought, to knowledge never finds the way.
281.
Who guardeth speech and mind, who doth no wrong
With body, making pure the triple way,[4]
He shall tread the Path of Wisdom by the sages shown.
282.
Wisdom is born of meditation deep,
But lost by mind's distraction; knowing these
Two paths of loss and gain, so let him live,
Let him so direct his life that wisdom may increase.
283.
Cut down trees and undergrowth, and from desire be free![5]
For from this jungle fear of danger's born;
Cut it down, O mendicants, and from desire be free!
284.
If but a trace there be, however small,
Of lust of man for woman, as a calf
Clingeth to its dam, the mind in bondage will be held.
285.
Pluck out the love of self with thine own hand,
Just as the hand an autumn lily plucks;
Tread the Way of Peace declared by Him who hath it trod.
286.
"Here in the rainy season will I dwell;
And here in heat and cold." So thinks the fool,
Little recking of the dangers that may him befall.
287.
Care-stricken, with his thoughts of sons and flocks,
Attached to life, Death comes and seizes him,
As a sleeping village by a flood is swept away.[6]
288.
Not all his sons have power to guard that man;
No sire, no kinsman can protect him now;
How can kinsmen aught avail him in the grasp of Death?
289.
The wise man, when he sees the truth of this,
Restrained by righteous living in the Norm,
Soon will clear the path that leadeth unto Perfect Bliss.
[1] The Eightfold Path is;—Right Views, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Living, Right Effort, Right Concentration, Right Mental Balance.
The Four Noble Truths are:—Ill, the cause of Ill, the ceasing of Ill, the Path.
[2] The thorns are the stings and torments of desire.
