Who’s always seeing other’s faults,
taking offence, censorious,
pollutions spread for such a one
who’s far from their exhaustion.
Explanation: There are those who are given to the habit of observing the fault of others. They deride others constantly. Their taints keep on thriving, and far away from the state of taintlessness. Continue reading “Verse 253. Seeing Others Faults”
Other’s faults are easy to see
yet hard it is to see one’s own,
and so one winnows just like chaff
the faults of other people, while
hiding away those of one’s own
as crafty cheat the losing throw.
Explanation: The faults of others are clearly observed. But one’s own faults are difficult to see. A person winnows the fault of others into prominence, like chaff. He hides his own like the bird-hunter who conceals himself with leaves and twigs. Continue reading “Verse 252. Easy To See Are The Faults Of Others”
There is no fire like lust,
nought seizes like aversion,
unequalled is delusion’s net,
no river’s like to craving.
Explanation: There is no fire life passion. There is no grip like hatred. There is no net like ignorance. There is no torrent like craving. Continue reading “Verse 251. Craving Is The Worst Flood”
But who has severed envy’s mind,
uprooted it, destroyed entire,
indeed in daytime and by night
will come to a collected mind.
Explanation: If someone were to utterly uproot and totally eradicate this jealousy, and if it is absolutely destroyed, he will, without any doubt, attain tranquillity day and night. Continue reading “Verse 250. The Unenvious Are At Peace”
People give as they have faith,
as they are bright with joyfulness.
Who’s troubled over gifts received,
the food and drink that others get,
neither in daytime nor by night
will come to a collected mind.
Explanation: The people give in terms of the faith they have in the recipient. They give in terms of their pleasure. If one were to be jealous when they receive, food and drink, he will never attain tranquillity of mind day or night. Continue reading “Verse 249. The Envious Are Not At Peace”
Therefore friend remember this;
Hard to restrain are evil acts,
don’t let greed and wickedness
down drag you long in dukkha.
Explanation: Evil actions do not have restraint or discipline. This way, you must appreciate that greed and the evil action of anger should not be allowed to inflict suffering on you for a long while. Continue reading “Verse 248. These Precepts Prevent Suffering”
Or has distilled, fermented drinks:
Who with abandon follows these
extirpates the root of self
even here in this very world.
Explanation: A man who is given to taking intoxicating drinks, uproots himself in this world itself. Continue reading “Verse 247. Precepts The Lay Person Should Follow”
In the world who life destroys,
who words of falsity speaks,
who takes what is not freely given
or to another’s partner goes.
Explanation: One day a group of lay disciples who only kept one precept each, fell into dispute, each of them saying, “It’s a hard thing I have to do; it’s a hard precept I have to keep. Going to the Buddha to settle the dispute, the Buddha listened to what they had to say, and then, without naming a single precept as of lesser importance, said, “All precepts are hard to keep”. Continue reading “Verse 246. Wrong Deeds To Avoid”
But hard the life of a modest one
who always seeks for purity,
who’s cheerful though no braggart,
clean-living and discerning.
Explanation: The life is hard for a person who is modest, sensitive and inhibited, constantly pursuing what is pure, not attached, who is not slick and impudent, who is leading a pure life and is full of insight. Continue reading “Verse 245. For A Modest Person Life Is Hard”
Easy the life for a shameless one
who bold and forward as a crow,
is slanderer and braggart too:
this one’s completely stained.
Explanation: If an individual possesses no sense of shame, life seems easy for him since he can live whatever way he wants with no thought whatsoever for public opinion. He can do any destruction he wishes to do with the skill of a crow. Just as that of the crow, the shameless person’s life, too, is unclean. He is boastful and goes ahead utterly careless of others. Continue reading “Verse 244. The Shameless Life Is Easy”
