Beyond all beings, wise to all,
unsoiled by dhamma all am I,
left all and freed by craving’s end,
by self I’ve known, whom teacher call?
Explanation: I have overcome all, I know all, I am detached from all, I have given up all; I am liberated from moral defilements having eradicated craving. Having comprehended the four noble truths by myself, whom shall I point out as my teacher. Continue reading “Verse 353. Buddha Is Teacherless”
One of clinging-craving free,
who’s skilled in way of chanting,
knowing the wording-sequence,
of what precedes and follows,
possessed of final body,
one greatly wise, great person called.
Explanation: He is free of craving and devoid of grasping. He is well versed in etymology and in usages. He is aware of characters and their deployment into combinations. He knows the sequence of letters. He knows the old dialect. This is his last body. That person is a great wise man. Continue reading “Verse 352. The Man Of Great Wisdom”
One who’s fearless, reached the End,
of craving and of blemish free,
who has becoming’s thorn plucked out,
has this, a final body.
Explanation: He has come to cessation. He has reached the goal of his monastic life. He is free of fear, craving and is blemishless. He has broken the thorns of existence. This is his final being. Continue reading “Verse 351. The Person Who Has Reached The Goal”
But who delights in calming thoughts
develops constant mindfulness,
that one indeed will make an End,
will sever Mara’s bonds.
Explanation: He who is constantly engaged in dispelling the doubts and suspicions that assail the mind, is earnest and ever alert, looks on the world of reality as not pleasant. He will eradicate craving and will cut off bonds of death. Continue reading “Verse 350. He Cuts Off Bonds Of Mara”
For one who’s crushed by thinking much
excessive lust from beauty’s sight,
for that one craving grows the more,
that one makes strong the bonds.
Explanation: In those whose minds are agitated and assailed by doubts and suspicions, whose passions and sensualities are sharpened, craving increases more and more. This makes the bonds tighter. Continue reading “Verse 349. Craving Tightens Bonds”
Let go before, let go the after,
let go the middle, beyond the becoming.
With mind released in every way
you’ll come no more to birth, decay.
Explanation: Give up the past, give up the future, give up the present. Having reached the end of existence, with a mind free (of all conditioned things), you will not again undergo birth and decay. Continue reading “Verse 348. Reaching The Further Shore”
Ensnared in passion back they fall
as spider on a self-spun web.
This passion severed, wander the wise
forsaking dukkha all.
Explanation: Beings who are infatuated with lust fall back into the stream of craving they have generated, just as a spider does in the web it has spun. The wise cutting off the bound of craving, walk on resolutely, leaving all ills (dukkha) behind. Continue reading “Verse 347. Spider Web Of Passion”
That bond is strong, proclaim the wise,
down-dragging, pliable, hard to lose.
This passion severed, they wander forth
forsaking sensual pleasures.
Explanation: The wise agree that this is a strong bond. It tends to deprave. Though this seems a lax knot, it is difficult to untie it to be free. However difficult the process is, freeing themselves from yearning for sensual pleasures, the wise leave household life and become ascetics. Continue reading “Verse 346. Bonds Are Strong, But The Wise Get Rid Of Them”
Neither of iron nor wood nor hemp
is bond so strong, proclaim the wise,
as passion’s yearn for sons, for wives,
for gems and ornaments.
Explanation: The yearning for sons and wives are a stronger attachment than all the physical bonds made of iron, wood or hemp. Therefore, consider how to deal with this basic desire with wisdom. Continue reading “Verse 345. Bonds Of Attachment”
Who without woodness inclines to the wood.
Free in the wood to woodness returns.
Do now regard that person well
who free returns to fetter.
Explanation: Having left the forest of desire he takes to the forest of the practice (i.e. the life of a monk); but when he is free from the forest of desire he rushes back to that very forest. Come, look at that man who having become free rushes back into that very bondage. Continue reading “Verse 344. Freed From Craving Runs Back To Craving”
