The Buddha's Path of Virtue Part 6

CHAPTER NINE.

EVIL.

116.

Haste to do good; thy thoughts from ill restrain; Sloth in good deeds makes one for evil fain.

117.

If thou do ill, cease, and thy sin forgo; Take not delight therein; ill deeds bring woe.

118.

If thou do good, thy life in good employ; Take thou delight therein; good deeds bring joy.

119.

Sinners see bliss while their ill deeds are green; When the sin ripens, sorrow then is seen.

120.

Good men see ill while their good deeds are green; When the good ripens, happiness is seen.

121.

Think not of ill: "It cannot be my fate"; As drop by drop the water fills the pot, So slowly good men good acc.u.mulate.

122.

Think not of good: "It cannot be my fate"; As drop by drop the water fills the pot, So slowly bad men woes acc.u.mulate.

123.

Just as the lord of some rich caravan, Whose guard is scanty, fears the highwayman; As one who loves his life must poison shun, Be wise and guard 'gainst evil deeds begun.

124.

Thou mayest poison handle if thy palm Contain no wound; whole skin no poison fears; There is no ill for him that doth no harm.

125.

Who on a harmless creature worketh pain, In whom no fault, in whom no ill is found, Upon that fool his evil deeds rebound As fine dust cast i' the wind falls back again.

126.

Some men by birth a life on earth attain; The wicked go to h.e.l.l, the good to heaven; But holy saints are never born again.

127.

Not in the air nor middle of the sea, Nor entering a mountain cave to hide, Nor anywhere on earth can'st thou abide Where from thy ill deeds thou can'st set thee free.

128.

Not in the air nor middle of the sea, Nor entering a mountain cave to hide, Nor anywhere on earth can'st thou abide Where death shall not pursue and conquer thee.

CHAPTER TEN.

PUNISHMENT.

129.

All beings fear the rod, all fear to die; Regard them as thyself; strike not nor slay.

130.

All beings fear the rod; all love their life; Regard them as thyself; strike not nor slay.

131.

Whoso treats pleasure-loving creatures ill, When he seeks bliss for self he shall not find it.

132.

Whoso treats pleasure-loving creatures well, When he seeks happiness for self shall find it.

133.

Use not harsh speech; when harshly spoken to Men may retort; painful are quarrellings, And punishment may follow thy harsh words.

134.

If thou can'st keep thy tongue from wagging oft, Silent as some cracked gong, thou hast thereby Nibbana won; no brawling is in thee.

135.

As with a stick the herdsman drives his kine, So death and age compel the lives of men.

136.

The fool in doing ill knows not his folly; His own deeds, like a fire, the fool consume.

137.

He who offends the harmless innocent Soon reaches one of these ten states of woe;

138.

Sharp pain, disease, or bodily decay, Grievous disaster, or a mind distraught;

139.

Oppression by the king, or calumny, Loss of relations, loss of all his wealth,

140.

His house burned by a thunderbolt or fire; At death, poor fool, he finds rebirth in h.e.l.l.

141.

Not nakedness, nor matted hair nor filth, Not fasting long, nor lying on the ground, Not dust and dirt, nor squatting on the heels.

Can cleanse the mortal that is full of doubt.

142.

But one that lives a calm and tranquil life, Though gaily decked, if tamed, restrained, he live Walking the holy path in righteousness, Laying aside all harm to living things, True mendicant, ascetic, Brahmin he!

143.

Who in this world is so restrained by shame That, like a thoroughbred flicked by the whip.

He can think lightly of the lash of blame?