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Not about the perversities of others, not about their sins of commission or omission, but about his own misdeeds and negligences alone should a sage be worried. 33
Good people shine from afar, like the snowy mountains; had people are concealed, like arrows shot by night. 34
If a man by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of selfishness, will never be free from hatred. 35
Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth! 36
For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time; hatred ceases by not-hatred, this is an old rule. 37
Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked; by these three steps thou wilt become divine. 38
Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off the impurities of silver, one by one, little by little, and from time to time. 39
Lead others, not by violence, but by righteousness and equity. 40
He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just, speaks the truth, and does what is his own business, him the world will hold dear. 41
As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its color or scent, so let a sage dwell in the community. 42
If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no companionship with fools. 43
Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true religion. 44
[Pg 138] Better than living a hundred years, not seeing the highest truth, is one day in the life of a man who sees the highest truth. 45
Some form their Dharma arbitrarily and fabricate it artificially; they advance complex speculations and imagine that good results are attainable only by the acceptance of their theories; yet the truth is but one; there are not different truths in the world. Having reflected on the various theories, we have gone into the yoke with him who has shaken off all sin. But shall we be able to proceed together with him? 46
The best of ways is the eightfold path. This is the path. There is no other that leads to the purifying of intelligence. Go on this path! Everything else is the deceit of Mra, the tempter. If you go on this path, you will make an end of pain! Says the Tathgata, The path was preached by me, when I had understood the removal of the thorn in the flesh. 47
Not only by discipline and vows, not only by much learning, do I earn the happiness of release which no worldling can know. Bhikkhu, be not confident as long as thou hast not attained the extinction of thirst. The extinction of evil desire is the highest religion. 48
The gift of religion exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of religion exceeds all sweetness; the delight in religion exceeds all delights; the extinction of thirst overcomes all pain. 49
Few are there among men who cross the river and reach the goal. The great multitudes are running up and down the shore; but there is no suffering for him who has finished his journey. 50
As the lily will grow full of sweet perfume and delight upon a heap of rubbish, thus the disciple of the truly enlightened Buddha shines forth by his wisdom among those who are like rubbish, among the people that walk in darkness. 51
[Pg 139] Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! Among men who hate us let us dwell free from hatred! 52
Let us live happily then, free from all ailments among the ailing! Among men who are ailing let us dwell free from ailments! 53
Let us live happily, then, free from greed among the greedy! Among men who are greedy let us dwell free from greed! 54
The sun is bright by day, the moon shines by night, the warrior is bright in his armor, thinkers are bright in their meditation; but among all the brightest with splendor day and night is the Buddha, the Awakened, the Holy, Blessed. 55
At one time when the Blessed One was journeying through Kosala he came to the Brahman village which is called Manaskata. There he stayed in a mango grove. 1
And two young Brahmans came to him who were of different schools. One was named Vsettha and the other Bhradvja. And Vsettha said to the Blessed One: 2
"We have a dispute as to the true path. I say the straight path which leads unto a union with Brahm is that which has been announced by the Brahman Pokkharasti, while my friend says the straight path which leads unto a union with Brahm is that which has been announced by the Brahman Trukkha. 3
"Now, regarding thy high reputation, O samana, and knowing that thou art called the Enlightened One, the teacher of men and gods, the Blessed Buddha, we have come to ask thee, are all these paths paths of salvation? There are many roads all around our village, and all lead[Pg 140] to Manaskata. Is it just so with the paths of the sages? Are all paths paths to salvation, and do they all lead to a union with Brahm? 4
And the Blessed One proposed these questions to the two Brahmans: "Do you think that all paths are right?" 5
Both answered and said: "Yes, Gotama, we think so." 6
"But tell me," continued the Buddha, "has any one of the Brahmans, versed in the Vedas, seen Brahm face to face?" 7
"No, sir!" was the reply. 8
"But, then," said the Blessed One, "has any teacher of the Brahmans, versed in the Vedas, seen Brahm face to face?" 9
The two Brahmans said: "No, sir." 10
"But, then," said the Blessed One, "has any one of the authors of the Vedas seen Brahm face to face?" 11
Again the two Brahmans answered in the negative and exclaimed: "How can any one see Brahm or understand him, for the mortal cannot understand the immortal." And the Blessed One proposed an illustration, saying: 12
"It is as if a man should make a staircase in the place where four roads cross, to mount up into a mansion. And people should ask him, 'Where, good friend, is this mansion, to mount up into which you are making this staircase? Knowest thou whether it is in the east, or in the south, or in the west, or in the north? Whether it is high, or low, or of medium size?' And when so asked he should answer, 'I know it not.' And people should say to him, 'But, then, good friend, thou art making a staircase to mount up into something—taking it for a mansion—which all the while thou knowest not, neither hast thou seen it.' And when so asked he should answer, 'That is exactly what I do; yea I know that I cannot know it.' What would you think of him? Would you not say that the talk of that man was foolish talk?" 13
