Chapter 21
The Miscellaneous
- 1 Global #290If by renouncing a limited happiness one would see an abundant happiness, let the spiritually mature person, having regard to the abundant happiness, sacrifice the limited happiness.
- 2 Global #291He who, contaminated by (his) association with hatred, seeks happiness for himself by inflicting suffering on others, is not released from hatred.
- 3 Global #292What is to be done, that is neglected; what is not to be done, that is done. Of those who are arrogant and heedless the defilements increase.
- 4 Global #293Those who ever earnestly practise mindfulness with regard to the body, not following after what is not to be done (and) steadfastly pursuing what is to be done, of these mindful and fully attentive ones the defilements come to an end.
- 5 Global #294Having slain mother and father and two warrior kings, and having destroyed a kingdom together with the (king’s) revenue collector, the brāhmaṇa goes free from sin.14
- 6 Global #295Having slain mother and father and two learned kings, and having killed a tiger as the fifth, the brāhmaṇa goes free from sin.15
- 7 Global #296Wide awake they always arise (in the morning), the disciples of Gotama, (those) who day and night are constantly mindful of the (virtues of the) Buddha.
- 8 Global #297Wide awake they always arise (in the morning), the disciples of Gotama, (those) who day and night are constantly mindful of the (qualities of the) Dhamma.
- 9 Global #298Wide awake they always arise (in the morning), the disciples of Gotama, (those) who day and night are constantly mindful of the (characteristics of the Arya) Sangha.16
- 10 Global #299Wide awake they always arise (in the morning), the disciples of Gotama, (those) who day and night are constantly mindful of the (transitory nature of the) body.
- 11 Global #300Wide awake they always arise (in the morning), the disciples of Gotama, (those) who day and night delight in non-injury (ahiṃsā).
- 12 Global #301Wide awake they always arise (in the morning), the disciples of Gotama, (those) whose mind day and night delights in meditation (bhāvanā).
- 13 Global #302It is difficult to go forth (from home to the homeless life); and difficult to delight therein (once one has gone forth). (At the same time) household life is painful, (and) painful, likewise, is living together with those who are not (one’s) peers. Travellers (on the road of birth, death, and rebirth) are oppressed by suffering, so do not be (such a) traveller oppressed by suffering.
- 14 Global #303He who is perfect in faith and good conduct, (and) possessed of fame and wealth, he is honoured everywhere, to whatever country he resorts.
- 15 Global #304Like the Snowy (Mountain Range), the good are visible even from afar. The wicked are not seen, like arrows shot in the night.
- 16 Global #305He who sits alone, lies down alone (and) walks alone, without weariness, (and) who strives, (all) alone, to subdue himself, (he) will take delight in the (solitude of the) forest.
Footnotes
14. The ‘mother’ is craving (taṇhā), the ‘father’ selfconceit (māna), the ‘two warrior kings’ are the two wrong views of eternalism and annihilationism, the ‘kingdom’ comprises the twelve bases (āyatana-s), i.e., the six sense organs, including the mind, and their respective objects, while the ‘revenue collector’ (sānucara) is the passionate delight that arises in dependence on the twelve bases. Here ‘Brāhmana’ is synonymous with Arahant.
15. The ‘two learned kings’ are the two wrong views of eternalism and annihilationism, the tiger is doubt (vicikicchā), which also happens to be the fifth hindrance (nivārana).
16. Here the Sangha is the Ārya Sangha, consisting of those of the Buddha’s disciples, past, present, and future, who are Stream-Entrants, Once-Returners, Non-Returners, and Arahants. To these the Mahāyāna would add the great Bodhisattvas.