Who’s full of faith and virtue,
of substance, high repute,
is honoured everywhere,
wherever that one goes.
Explanation: He who is full of faith and virtue, who also possesses fame and fortune, in held in reverence wherever he goes. Continue reading “Verse 303. He Is Honoured Everywhere”
Hard’s the going-forth, hard to delight in it,
hard the household life and dukkha is it too.
Dukkha’s to dwell with those dissimilar
and dukkha befalls the wanderer.
Be therefore not a wanderer,
not one whom dukkha befalls.
Explanation: It is hard to become a monk; it is hard to be happy in the practice of a monk. To live with those of a different temperament is painful. A traveller in samsara is continually subject to dukkha; therefore, do not be a traveller in samsara; do not be the one to be repeatedly subject to dukkha. Continue reading “Verse 302. Samsara – Journey”
Well awakened, they’re awake
ever the Buddha’s pupils
who constantly by day, by night
in meditation take delight.
Explanation: Those disciples of the Buddha who take delight in meditation day and night, arise wide awake and in full control of their faculties. Continue reading “Verse 301. The Mind That Takes Delight in Meditation”
Well awakened, they’re awake
ever the Buddha’s pupils
who constantly by day, by night
in harmlessness delight.
Explanation: Those disciples of the Buddha who take delight in harmlessness day and night, arise wide awake and in full control of their faculties. Continue reading “Verse 300. Reflect On Harmlessness”
Well awakened, they’re awake
ever the Buddha’s pupils
who constantly by day, by night
are mindful of the body.
Explanation: Those disciples of the Buddha who are mindful of the real nature of the body day and night, arise wide awake and in full control of their faculties. Continue reading “Verse 299. Reflect On The Real Nature of the Body”
Well awakened, they’re awake
ever the Buddha’s pupils
who constantly by day, by night
are mindful of the Sangha.
Explanation: Those disciples of the Buddha who are mindful of the virtues of the Sangha day and night, arise wide awake and in full control of their faculties. Continue reading “Verse 298. Reflect On The Virtues Of The Sangha”
Well awakened, they’re awake
ever the Buddha’s pupils
who constantly by day, by night
are mindful of the Dhamma.
Explanation: Those disciples of the Buddha who are mindful of the virtues of the Dhamma day and night, arise wide awake and in full control of their faculties. Continue reading “Verse 297. Reflect On The Virtues Of The Dhamma”
Well awakened, they’re awake
ever the Buddha’s pupils
who constantly by day, by night
are mindful of the Buddha.
Explanation: Those disciples of the Buddha who are mindful of the virtues of their Teacher day and night, arise wide awake and in full control of their faculties. Continue reading “Verse 296. Reflect On The Virtues Of The Buddha”
One’s mother and father having slain
and then two learned kings,
as well the fifth, a tiger fierce,
one goes immune, a Brahmin True.
Explanation: The brahmin (arahat) kills the mother – craving; kills the father – egotism; kills the two learned kings. They represent the two false views eternalism and nihilism. He kills the five tigers (sensuality, hate, mental inertia, worry and skeptical doubt) that obstruct the path. And, having done all these killings, the arahat goes about unaffected. Continue reading “Verse 295. The ‘Killer’ Who Goes Free”
One’s mother and father having slain
and then two warrior kings,
a realm as well its treasurer,
one goes immune, a Brahmin True.
Explanation: The brahmin kills the mother – craving, kills the father – egotism, self-cherishing: They represent the two views, Eternalism and Nihilism, opposed to Buddhist thought. The subordinates are clinging to life. And he destroys the defilements which cling to life. Having destroyed all these, the brahmin (arahat) goes without punishment. Continue reading “Verse 294. The Destroyer Who Reaches Nibbana”
