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Dhammapada
- Dhammapada 2
- Heedfulness
- translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita
21. Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death.
The heedful die not. The heedless are as if dead already. [3]
22. Clearly understanding this excellence of heedfulness, the
wise exult therein and enjoy the resort of the Noble Ones. [4]
23. The wise ones, ever meditative and steadfastly persevering,
alone experience Nibbana, the incomparable freedom from bondage.
24. Ever grows the glory of him who is energetic, mindful and
pure in conduct, discerning and self-controlled, righteous and heedful.
25. By effort and heedfulness, discipline and self-mastery, let
the wise one make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.
26. The foolish and ignorant indulge in heedlessness, but the
wise one keeps his heedfulness as his best treasure.
27. Do not give way to heedlessness. Do not indulge in sensual
pleasures. Only the heedful and meditative attain great happiness.
28. Just as one upon the summit of a mountain beholds the
groundlings, even so when the wise man casts away heedlessness by heedfulness and ascends
the high tower of wisdom, this sorrowless sage beholds the sorrowing and foolish
multitude.
29. Heedful among the heedless, wide-awake among the sleepy,
the wise man advances like a swift horse leaving behind a weak jade.
30. By Heedfulness did Indra become the overlord of the gods.
Heedfulness is ever praised, and heedlessness ever despised. [5]
31. The monk who delights in heedfulness and looks with fear at
heedlessness advances like fire, burning all fetters, small and large.
32. The monk who delights in heedfulness and looks with fear at
heedlessness will not fall. He is close to Nibbana.