Every evil never doing
and in wholesomeness increasing
and one’s heart well-purifying:
this is the Buddha’s Teaching.
Explanation: Abandoning all evil and purifying one’s own mind by oneself – this is the Teaching of the Buddha. Continue reading “Verse 183. The Instructions Of The Buddha”
Human birth is hard to gain,
hard for mortals is their life,
to come to Dhamma True is hard,
rare the Buddha’s arising.
Explanation: It is rare that one is born a human being, in this cycle of rebirth. It is difficult and rare to get the opportunity to hear the good teaching, It is, indeed, rare for the birth of a Buddha to occur. Continue reading “Verse 182. Four Rare Opportunities”
E’er intent on concentration,
joyful in peace of letting go,
mindful, wise, the perfect Buddhas,
to even devas they are dear.
Explanation: Those noble and wise ones are intent on meditation. They are bent on conquering defilements – that is achieving Nibbana. They are mindful; and such enlightened ones are beloved by everyone. Continue reading “Verse 181. Gods And Men Adore The Buddha”
That Buddha traceless of infinite range
in whom’s no entangling craving
and no ensnaring not anywhere lead,
then by which track will you trace him?
Explanation: The Buddha, in whom there is no thirst (tanha) for grasping to the net that lures, whose ken is infinite, in what way can you lure him away?
That Buddha traceless of infinite range
whose victory none may e’er undo,
whose vanquished follow to no world,
then by which track will you trace him?
Explanation: The Buddha’s victory has not been won incorrectly. No one can turn Buddha’s victory into defeat. Nothing that he has conquered can return, or pursue him, because his conquest is so complete: His ken infinite, In what way can you tempt or ensnare him. Continue reading “Verse 179. The Buddha Cannot Be Tempted”
Than o’er the earth sole sovereignty,
than going to heaven,
than lordship over all the worlds:
better the Steam-winner’s fruit.
Explanation: The achievement of the stream-winner is the primary stage in the attainment of spiritual success. The state is greater than being a universal monarch, or reaching heaven. Continue reading “Verse 178. Being Stream-Winner Is Supreme”
To heavenly realms the mean don’t fare,
fools magnanimity ne’er acclaim,
but the one of wisdom rejoices at giving
and happy will be in future lives.
Explanation: The extreme misers do not reach the heavenly worlds. The evil ignorant ones do not approve acts of charity. But those noble ones approve and partake of charity. In consequence, they are happy in the next birth. Continue reading “Verse 177. Happiness Through Partaking In Good Deeds”
For one who falsely speaks,
who disregards the Dhamma,
who other lives denies:
no evil this one will not do.
Explanation: The evil person who has given up the virtue of truthfulness has abandoned all hope of the next world. Continue reading “Verse 176. A Liar Can Commit Any Crime”
Swans upon the sun’s path fly,
the powerful through space,
conquering Mara and his host
away from the world the wise are led.
Explanation: The swans fly away in the sky – as the path of the sun. Those possessing psychic power travel through the sky. Those diligent, wise saint conquer death with his armies and leave the world and reach Nibbana. Continue reading “Verse 175. The Wise Travel Beyond The Worldly”
This world is blind-become
few are here who see within
as few the birds break free from net
so those who go to heavens.
Explanation: Most people in this world are unable to see. They cannot see reality properly. Of those, only a handful are capable of insight. Only they see well. A few, like a stray bird escaping the net, can reach heaven. Continue reading “Verse 174. Without Eye of Wisdom, This World Is Blind”
