The Buddha's Path of Virtue Part 16

346.

But the downward-dragging chain, Yielding, hard to loose again-- This is bondage real (they say): Who this chain of craving breaks, Free from l.u.s.t, the world forsakes.

347.

They who yield to their desires Down the stream of craving swim; As we see the spider run In the net himself hath spun.

Wise men cut the net and go Free from craving, free from woe.

348.

Loose all behind, between, before;[4]

Cross thou unto the other sh.o.r.e;[5]

With thy mind on all sides free Birth and death no more shalt see.

349.

He whose mind is tossed with doubt, Seeing bliss in pa.s.sion's surge, Makes his craving grow the longer, Rivets all his bonds the stronger.

350.

He who joys in calming doubt, And the loathsome contemplates,[6]

Soon will Mara's bondage leave, Every fetter soon will cleave.

351.

He who hath attained the goal, Fearless, free from l.u.s.t and sin, Who hath plucked out every thorn,[7]

Nevermore will be reborn.

352.

Free from l.u.s.t, to nothing clinging, Who is skilful to interpret All the wealth of sacred lore; All the ma.s.s of letters knowing (Whether after or before),[8]

This indeed is his last body, He's a Master of The Wisdom, Mighty Being, He indeed is born no more.

353.

Conqueror of all am I!

Knowing all, from all conditions Of existence I am free; By the slaying of desire I have ended craving's fire.

Who could then my teacher be?

I have now forsaken all, I myself, by mine own knowledge.

Whom should I my teacher call?[9]

354.

To give The Norm all gifts transcends; To taste The Norm is sweetest far; No joy can with its joy compare; Who raving slays all sorrow ends.

355.

Wealth harms the fool; not him who runs To win the goal intent; By l.u.s.t of wealth the fool harms self With harm for others meant.

356.

Weeds are the ruin of the fields; This world by l.u.s.t is spoiled; Then great the fruit of gifts to those By l.u.s.t who are not soiled.

357.

Weeds are the ruin of the fields; This world is spoiled by hate; To those by hatred undefiled The fruit of gifts is great.

358.

Weeds are the ruin of the fields; Deluded are mankind; Then great the fruit of gifts to those Whom folly doth not blind.

359.

Weeds are the ruin of the fields; Craving pollutes the world; Then great the fruit of gifts to those By craving not enthralled.[10]

[1] In the round of rebirth.

[2] The six sense-organs and the six objects of sense (twelve) are affected by three desires of each, generally taken as _Kamatanha_, _Rupatanha_, _Arupatanha_, desire for existence in the world of desire, in the worlds of form, in the worlds of the formless (abstract), thus making thirty-six varieties.

[3] The jungle of pa.s.sion.

[4] Past, present and future ties.

[5] Cross the stream to _Nibbana_.

[6] One of the meditation exercises, to inspire loathing for the body and its corrupt nature.

[7] Cf. above v. 275.

[8] _Nirutti-pada-kovido_: skilled in the true meaning of the language (Pali) in which the Buddha taught.

[9] This was the reply of the Buddha to an ascetic who, struck by the Master's radiance after attaining _Nibbana_, inquired who was His teacher and what was the cause of His joy.

[10] _Bhoga_, _raga_, _dosa_, _moha_, _iccha_, riches, l.u.s.t, hate, delusion, craving, are five of the hindrances to the saintly life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE.

THE MENDICANT.

360-1 Good is restraint of eye and ear, of nose and tongue, Of body, speech and mind; restraint is good In every way; the mendicant restrained All sorrow casts away.

362.

In hand and foot and speech whoso is self restrained; Whoso to ponder inwardly delights, Who liveth lonely and is well-content, Him men call mendicant.

363.

Whoso controls his lips, and words of wisdom speaks, Is not puffed up, who can elucidate The meaning and the essence of The Norm-- Pleasant is he to hear.

364.

Who dwelleth in the Norm and in the Norm delights, Who searcheth out and well remembers it-- From the True Norm that steadfast mendicant Will never fall away.

365.

Let him not think of little worth the alms he gains.

Nor jealous be of alms to others given; For whoso envies other mendicants Wins not tranquillity.

366.

Though small the part of charity that falls to him, Whoso despiseth not the alms he gains, If he live clean, not given to slothfulness, E'en by the G.o.ds is praised.[1]

367.