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Dhammapada
- Dhammapada 20
- The Path
- translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita
273. Of all the paths the Eightfold Path is the best; of all
the truths the Four Noble Truths are the best; of all things passionlessness is the best:
of men the Seeing One (the Buddha) is the best.
274. This is the only path; there is none other for the
purification of insight. Tread this path, and you will bewilder Mara.
275. Walking upon this path you will make an end of suffering.
Having discovered how to pull out the thorn of lust, I make known the path.
276. You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the
way. Those meditative ones who tread the path are released from the bonds of Mara.
277. "All conditioned things are impermanent" --
when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to
purification.
278. "All conditioned things are unsatisfactory" --
when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to
purification.
279. "All things are not-self" -- when one sees this
with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.
280. The idler who does not exert himself when he should, who
though young and strong is full of sloth, with a mind full of vain thoughts -- such an
indolent man does not find the path to wisdom.
281. Let a man be watchful of speech, well controlled in mind,
and not commit evil in bodily action. Let him purify these three courses of action, and
win the path made known by the Great Sage.
282. Wisdom springs from meditation; without meditation wisdom
wanes. Having known these two paths of progress and decline, let a man so conduct himself
that his wisdom may increase.
283. Cut down the forest (lust), but not the tree; from the
forest springs fear. Having cut down the forest and the underbrush (desire), be
passionless, O monks! [20]
284. For so long as the underbrush of desire, even the most
subtle, of a man towards a woman is not cut down, his mind is in bondage, like the sucking
calf to its mother.
285. Cut off your affection in the manner of a man plucks with
his hand an autumn lotus. Cultivate only the path to peace, Nibbana, as made known by the
Exalted One.
286. "Here shall I live during the rains, here in winter
and summer" -- thus thinks the fool. He does not realize the danger (that death might
intervene).
287. As a great flood carries away a sleeping village, so
death seizes and carries away the man with a clinging mind, doting on his children and
cattle.
288. For him who is assailed by death there is no protection
by kinsmen. None there are to save him -- no sons, nor father, nor relatives.
289. Realizing this fact, let the wise man, restrained by
morality, hasten to clear the path leading to Nibbana.