The Buddha's Path of Virtue Part 13

Tread ye this Path, and make an end of sorrow.

Tread ye this Path for I myself have shown it.

Shown it after learning how to pluck away the thorns.[2]

276.

Strive ye yourselves; Buddha's but preach the way To them that strive. To meditation given They who walk this Way are free from Mara's every bond.

277.

_"All things compounded are impermanent"_; Whoso sees this with opened inner eye Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity.

278.

_"All things compounded are of sorrow made"_; Whoso sees this with opened inner eye, Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity.

279.

_"All states compounded are without a self"_;[3]

Whoso sees this with opened inner eye, Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity.

280.

Whoso strives not when it is time to strive, Tho' young and strong, to sloth and folly p.r.o.ne, Weak in will and thought, to knowledge never finds the way.

281.

Who guardeth speech and mind, who doth no wrong With body, making pure the triple way,[4]

He shall tread the Path of Wisdom by the sages shown.

282.

Wisdom is born of meditation deep, But lost by mind's distraction; knowing these Two paths of loss and gain, so let him live, Let him so direct his life that wisdom may increase.

283.

Cut down trees and undergrowth, and from desire be free![5]

For from this jungle fear of danger's born; Cut it down, O mendicants, and from desire be free!

284.

If but a trace there be, however small, Of l.u.s.t of man for woman, as a calf Clingeth to its dam, the mind in bondage will be held.

285.

Pluck out the love of self with thine own hand, Just as the hand an autumn lily plucks; Tread the Way of Peace declared by Him who hath it trod.

286.

"Here in the rainy season will I dwell; And here in heat and cold." So thinks the fool, Little recking of the dangers that may him befall.

287.

Care-stricken, with his thoughts of sons and flocks, Attached to life, Death comes and seizes him, As a sleeping village by a flood is swept away.[6]

288.

Not all his sons have power to guard that man; No sire, no kinsman can protect him now; How can kinsmen aught avail him in the grasp of Death?

289.

The wise man, when he sees the truth of this, Restrained by righteous living in the Norm, Soon will clear the path that leadeth unto Perfect Bliss.

[1] _The Eightfold Path_ is;--Right Views, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Living, Right Effort, Right Concentration, Right Mental Balance.

The _Four n.o.ble Truths_ are:--Ill, the cause of Ill, the ceasing of Ill, the Path.

[2] The _thorns_ are the stings and torments of desire.

[3] These three _dicta_ are the essence of the Buddha's teaching.

[4] The second, third and fourth steps of the Path.

[5] 'desire', _viz._: '_nibbana hotha_, 'be ye free from the jungle (or forest) of desire (_nir-vana_, a pun on the word _nirva?a_), cf. v.344, _vanamutto_'.

[6] Cf. V. 47.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

DIVERS VERSES.

290.

If in giving up slight pleasure Thou a greater bliss discern, Leave the lesser gain and wisely To the greater profit turn.

291.

He who causeth pain to others, Seeking his own selfish bliss, By the bonds of hate enc.u.mbered Hatred never can dismiss.

292. Those who disregard their duty,[1]

Doing what should not be done, Insolent and negligent in evil-doing More and more corrupt become.

293.

They who mounting guard on body, Ceaseless watch and ward preserve; They who others' things neglecting, From their duty never swerve; They who, self-controlled, aspire, Concentrate in every nerve, Reach destruction of desire.

294.

Slaying father, slaying mother, With two kings of warrior fame, And a realm with all its subjects,[2]

Brahmana's go free from blame.

295.

Slaying father, slaying mother, With two kings of saintly name, And a fifth pre-eminent,[3]

Brahmana's go free from blame.

296.

They who, watchful night and day, On the Buddha meditate, Are followers of Gotama.

297.

They who watchful night and day, On the Dhamma meditate, Are followers of Gotama.