Chapter 20

Best of ways is the Eightfold (Way). Best of truths are the Four (Truths). Passionlessness is the best of (mental) states. The Man of Vision (cakkhumā) is the best of bipeds.

This indeed is the Way; there is no other that leads to purity of vision. Enter upon the Way; this Way is the bewilderment of Mara.

Following this Way you will make an end of suffering. This indeed is the Way proclaimed by me ever since I knew how to draw out the darts (of craving).

By you must the zealous effort be made. The Tathāgatās (i.e. Buddhas or Enlightened Ones) are only proclaimers (of the Way). Those who are practitioners, absorbed (in higher meditative states) (eventually) win release from the bondage of Mara.

‘All conditioned things are impermanent.’ When one sees this with insight (pannā) one becomes weary of suffering. This is the Way to Purity.

All conditioned things are painful.’ When one sees this with insight (pannā) one becomes weary of suffering. This is the Way to Purity.

‘All things (whatsoever) are devoid of unchanging selfhood.’ When one sees this with insight (paññā) one becomes weary of suffering. This is the Way to Purity.

One who does not make use of his (spiritual) opportunities, who, though young and strong, is lazy, weak in aspiration, and inactive, such a lazy person does not find the way to insight (paññā).

Guarded in speech, as well as controlled in mind, let one do no (ethically) unskilful thing with the body. Purifying these three avenues of action, let him attain the Way made known by the sages.

From application (yogā) arises the (spiritually) great (bhūri). From lack of application the (spiritually) great wanes. Having known these two avenues of increase and decrease (of the great) let him so establish himself that the great may flourish.

Cut down the (whole) forest, not (just) one tree. From the forest arises fear. Cutting down both wood and brushwood, be ‘out of the wood’, almsman.

To the extent that one has not cut down the last little bit of this ‘brushwood’ of (the craving of) man for woman, to that extent his mind will be fettered, as the sucking calf to its mother.

Cut off your sticky affection, as one plucks with one’s hand the white autumnal lotus. Develop the Way of Peace, the Nirvāṇa taught by the Happy One.

‘Here shall I stay during the rains, here in the cold season and the hot.’ Thus thinks the spiritually immature person. He does not understand the dangers (to life).

That infatuated man whose delight is in offspring and cattle, death goes and carries him off as a great flood (sweeps away) a sleeping village.

Sons are no protection, nor father, nor yet (other) relatives. For him who is seized by the End-maker (i.e., Death), there is no protection forthcoming from relatives.

Knowing the significance of this, let the spiritually mature person, the man restrained by good conduct, speedily cleanse the Way leading to Nirvāṇa.