The Buddha’s teaching: Sila (morality), Samadhi (mastery over the mind) and Panna (purification of the mind via Vipassana Meditation).
More basic than these blemishes
is ignorance, the worst of all.
Abandoning this blemish then,
be free of blemish, monks!
Explanation: Monks, there is a worst blemish than all these stains. The worst stain is ignorance. Getting rid of this stain become stainless. Continue reading “Verse 243. Ignorance The Worst Taint”
In mankind, conduct culpable,
with givers, avariciousness,
all blemishes these evil things
in this world or the next.
Explanation: For mankind, misconduct is the blemish. For charitable persons, miserliness is the stain. Evil actions are a blemish both here and in the here-after. Continue reading “Verse 242. Ignorance Is The Greatest Taint”
For oral tradition, non-recitation,
in household life, non-exertion,
the fair of form when slovenly,
a sentry’s sloth: all blemishes.
Explanation: For formulas that have to be memorized, non repetition is the rust. For houses the neglect of the inmates is the rust. For complexion non-caring is the rust. For a guard heedlessness is the rust. Continue reading “Verse 241. Causes Of Stain”
As rust arisen out of iron
itself that iron eats away,
so kammas done beyond what’s wise
lead to a state of woe.
Explanation: The rust springing from iron, consumes the iron itself. In the same way, bad actions springing out of an individual, destroys the individual himself. Continue reading “Verse 240. One’s Evil Ruins One’s Own Self”
Little by little, time after time,
successively then let the sage
blow away all blemishes
just as a smith with silver.
Explanation: Wise persons, moment by moment, little by little, remove the blemishes off their own selves, just like the smiths removing impurities off silver. Continue reading “Verse 239. Purify Yourself Gradually”
Make an island of yourself,
quickly strive and wise become,
freed from stain and passionless
you’ll not return, take flesh, decay.
Explanation: Therefore, become a lamp, an island, a refuge to your own self. Strive earnestly and become a wise person. Bereft of blemishes, devoid of defilements, you will not enter the cycle of birth and decay any more. Continue reading “Verse 238. Avoid The Cycle Of Existence”
Even now the end draws near,
to the presence of death you’ve fared.
Along the path’s no place for rest
and waybread you have none.
Explanation: Now, your allotted life span is spent. You have reached the presence of the king of death (Yama). You do not have a resting place in between. You do not seem to have provisions for the road either. Continue reading “Verse 237. In The Presence Of King Of Death”
Make an island of yourself,
quickly strive and wise become,
freed from stain and passionless
to go to the pure Abodes.
Explanation: As things are, be a lamp, an island, a refuge unto yourself. Strive earnestly and diligently and become a wise person. Bereft of blemishes, devoid of defilements reach the heavenly realm of the noble ones. Continue reading “Verse 236. Get Immediate Help”
Now a withered leaf are you
and now Death’s men draw near,
now you stand at the parting gates
but waybread you have none.
Explanation: Now you are like a withered, yellowed dried leaf. The first breath of wind will make you fall. Forces of death have come for you. You are now are death’s door. You do not have any provision for the road. Continue reading “Verse 235. Man At The Door Of Death”
Restrained in body are the wise,
in speech as well they are restrained,
likewise are they restrained in mind,
they’re perfectly restrained.
Explanation: The wise are restrained in body. They are restrained in speech as well. They are also well disciplined in mind. They, who have safe-guarded the three doors – body, speech and mind – are supremely restrained. Continue reading “Verse 234. Safeguard The Three Doors”
