Latest / Wisdom of the Ages Library / 25 - The Bhikshu (Mendicant) - The Dhammapada
Transcript
- Chapter twenty five. The Bictuu mendicant. Restraint in the eye is good. Good is restraint in the ear. In the nose, restraint is good. Good is restraint in the tongue. In the body, restraint is good. Good is restraint in speech. In thought, restraint is good. Good is restraint in all things. A bictuu restrained in all things, is freed from pain. He who controls his hand, he who controls his feet, He who controls his speech, He who is well controlled, He who delights inwardly, who is collected, who is solitary and content. They call bikshu. The bikshu who controls his mouth, who speaks wisely and calmly, who teaches the meaning and the law. His word is sweet. He who dwells in the law, delights in the law, meditates on the law, follows the law. That bicshu will never fall away from the true law. Let him not despise what he has received, nor ever envy others. A mendicant who envies others does not obtain peace of mind. A bikshu, who though he receives little, does not despise what he has received. Even the gods will praise him if his life is pure, and if he is not slothful. He who never identifies himself with name and form, and does not grieve over what is no more, he indeed is called a bikshu. The bikshu who acts with kindness, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha, will reach the quiet place Nirvana, cessation of natural desires and happiness. Oh bikshu, empty this boat, if emptied, it will go quickly. Having cut off passion and hatred, Thou wilt go to Nirvana. Cut off the five senses, leave the five, rise above the five. A bikshu who has escaped from the five fetters. He is called Ogatina. Saved from the blood. Meditate obictuu and be not heedless. Do not direct thy thought to what gives pleasure, that thou mayest not for thy heedlessness, have to swallow the iron ball in hell, and that thou mayest not cry out when burning. This is pain without knowledge. There is no meditation. Without meditation, there is no knowledge. He who has knowledge and meditation is near, and who nirv honor. A bikshu who has entered his empty house and whose mind is tranquil, feels a more than human delight. When he sees the law clearly. As soon as he has considered the origin and destruction of the elle laments, conder of the body, he finds happiness and joy, which belong to those who know the immortal nirvana. And this is the beginning here for a wise bicture. Watchfulness over the senses, contentedness, restraint under the law, Keep noble friends whose life is pure and who are not slothful. Let him live in charity, Let him be perfect in his duties. Then in the fullness of delight, he will make an end of suffering. As the varsickly plant sheds its withered flowers, men should shed passion and hatred. O ye bictuus, the bictu whose body and tongue and mind are quieted, who is collected and has rejected the bates of the world, he is called quiet. Rouse thyself by thyself, Examine thyself by thyself. Thus, self protected and attentive, wilt thou live happily Obicuu, for self is the lord of self. Self is the refuge of self. Therefore, curb thyself as the merchant curbs a good horse. The bikshu full of delight, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha will reach the quiet place Nirvana, cessation of natural desires and happiness. He who, even as a young Biicuu, applies himself to the doctrine of Buddha, brightens up this world like the moon when free from clouds. End of Chapter twenty five.