Chapter 2

Mindfulness is the Way to the Immortal, unmindfulness the way to death. Those who are mindful do not die, (whereas) the unmindful are like the dead.

Knowing the distinction of mindfulness the spiritually mature (paṇḍita-s) rejoice in mindfulness and take delight in the sphere of the Noble Ones (ariya-s).

Absorbed in superconscious states (jhāna-s), recollected, and ever exerting themselves, those wise ones (dhῑra-s) realize Nirvāṇa, the unsurpassed security.

Whoever is energetic, recollected, pure in conduct, considerate, self-restrained, of righteous life, and mindful, the glory of such a one waxes exceedingly.

By means of energy, mindfulness, self-restraint, and control, let the man of understanding (medhāvῑ) make (for himself) an island that no flood can overwhelm.

Out of their evil understanding the spiritually immature (bāla-s) abandon themselves to unmindfulness. The man of understanding guards mindfulness as his chief treasure.

Do not abandon yourselves to unmindfulness; have no intimacy with sensuous delights. The mindful person, absorbed in superconscious states, gains ample bliss.

As a dweller in the mountains looks down on those who live in the valley, so the spiritually mature person, the hero free from sorrow, having driven out unmindfulness by means of mindfulness, ascends to the Palace of Wisdom and looks down at the sorrowful, spiritually immature multitude (below).

Mindful among the unmindful, wide awake among the sleeping, the man of good understanding forges ahead like a swift horse outdistancing a feeble hack.

By means of mindfulness, Maghava (i.e., Indra) attained to the chieftaincy of the gods. Mindfulness is always praised, unmindfulness always despised.

The almsman (bhikkhu) who delights in mindfulness (and) who regards unmindfulness with fear advances like fire, burning up fetters gross and subtle.

The almsman who delights in mindfulness (and) who regards unmindfulness with fear is not liable to regression. He is in the presence of Nirvāṇa.