The Buddha's Path of Virtue Part 18

When by the twofold law (restraint and ecstasy), By virtue of the knowledge he hath gained, The Brahmana hath crossed the stream; Then every fetter falls away.

385.

Whoso the stream hath crossed and from this sh.o.r.e hath pa.s.sed,[3]

Free from all cares, unfettered; one to whom This sh.o.r.e and that alike are naught; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

386.

Whoso dwells meditiative, pa.s.sionless, And free from all Taints, his course hath run, Whoso hath won the highest Goal-- Him I deem a Brama?a.

387.

"One who is rid of evil" is a Brama?a; _Sama?a_ is one who tranquil hath become; "Gone forth from all impurity"; The hermit is _pabbajja_ called.[4]

388.

Let not a Brahma?a a.s.sail a Brahma?a; Nor let him with the a.s.sailant angry be, Woe to the striker; greater woe To him that, stricken, strikes again.

390.

No little profit cometh to the Brahma?a Who hath his mind from pleasant things restrained; Soon as the l.u.s.t to harm is gone All sorrowing is laid to rest.

391.

Whoso offendeth not in thought and word and deed, In whom no evil from these three is seen; Whoso is in these three controlled; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

392.

If there be one from whom thou canst obtain the Norm Which He, the All-Awakened One, declared, Revere him, as a Brahma?a The sacrificial fire reveres.

393.

Not matted hair, nor caste, nor n.o.ble birth can make The Brahma?a; but he that knows the truth And knows the Norm, is blest indeed; And him I deem a Brahma?a.

394.

Of what avail to thee, O fool, is matted hair?

And what avails thy garment made of skins?

The outer part thou makest clean, But all is ravening within.[5]

395.

Whoso wears rags from dustheaps picked, whoso is lean, With veins o'erspread, who in the jungle dwells And meditates in loneliness;[6]

Him I deem a Brahma?a.

396.

One is not Brahma?a because of race or birth; "Hail-fellow" is such called, and riches hath.[7]

Possessing naught, free from desire Is one I call a Brahma?a.

397.

Whoso hath cut all fetters off and hath no fear Of what may him befall; whoso from bonds And all attachments is released; Is one I call a Brahma?a.

398.

Whoso hath cut the strap, the leathern thong, the ropes[8]

And all thereto pertaining, and the bar Hath lifted; him, the Awakened one; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

399.

He who endures, tho' innocent of all offence, Abuse and blows and e'en imprisonment With patience strong, a host in strength; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

400.

Who hath no anger, who to all his vows is true, Upright in life, from pa.s.sion free, subdued, No more on earth to be reborn; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

401.

Who like a dew-drop on a lotus-lily leaf, Or seed of mustard on a needle's point, Clings not to any worldly bliss; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

402.

Who knoweth even in this world his sorrow's end, Who bath laid down the burden of desire, Emanc.i.p.ated from his bonds; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

403.

Whoso is deep in wisdom and intelligence, Who can with skill discern the right and wrong, Who hath attained the highest goal; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

404.

Whoso with householders and wanderers alike Small dealings hath, who lives the homeless life, A mendicant of scanty needs; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

405.

Whoso withholds the rod of painful punishment From living creatures, be they weak or strong, Who neither strikes nor makes to strike, Him I deem a Brahma?a.

406.

Whoso forbearance hath to those that hinder him, And to the angry showeth gentleness, Among the greedy without greed; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

407.

From whom all anger, hate, hypocrisy and pride Have fall'n away, as from a needle's point A grain of mustard-seed falls off; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

408.

Gentle in ways and apt to teach his fellow-men, Whoso will utter truth and naught but truth, Whoso in speech offendeth not; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

409.

He that takes nothing in this world that is not given, Whatever it may be, or great or small, Or long or short or good or bad; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

410.

In whom is seen no more the longing of desire For this world or beyond, who hath no l.u.s.t, Who hath no fetters any more; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

411.

In whom is seen no craving, who, because he knows, Asks not in doubt the How or Why, for he Hath reached Nibbana's peace profound; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

412.

Whoso on earth hath pa.s.sed beyond the opposites Of good and evil, and is free from grief, From pa.s.sion and impurity; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

413.

Who, like the moon on high, is stainless, pure and calm, Translucent and serene, who hath restrained The rise of all delightful states; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

414.

Whoso hath trod the hard and muddy road of births, Hath crossed delusion, reached the other sh.o.r.e, Nor l.u.s.ts, nor doubts, grasps not, is calm, Him I deem a Brahma?a.

415.

Who homeless wanders through this world, a mendicant, Abandoning desires, who hath restrained The rise of sensual delight; Him I deem a Brahma?a.

416.

Who homeless wanders through this world a mendicant, Abandoning his l.u.s.t; who hath restrained The rise of craving and desire; Him I deem a Brahma?a.