The Dhammapada
Chapter Twenty-Five -- The Monk
- Good is restraint over the eye; good is
restraint over the ear; good is restraint over the
nose; good is restraint over the tongue.
- Good is restraint in the body; good is
restraint in speech; good is restraint in thought.
Restraint everywhere is good. The monk restrained
in every way is freed from all suffering.
- One who has control over one's hands,
feet and tongue, who is fully controlled, delights
in meditation, is inwardly absorbed, keeps to
oneself and is contented--such a one people call a monk.
- That monk who has control over the
tongue, is moderate in speech, unassuming
and who explains the Teaching in both letter and
spirit--whatever that one says is pleasing.
- The monk who abides in the Dhamma,
delights in the Dhamma, meditates on the Dhamma
and bears the Dhamma well in mind--that one does
not fall away from the sublime Dhamma.
- One should not despise what one has
received, nor envy the gains of others. The
monk who envies the gains of others does
not attain to meditative absorption.
- A monk who does not despise what has been
received, even though it be little, who is pure
in livelihood and unremitting in effort, that one
even the gods praise.
- One who has no attachment whatsoever
for the mind and body, who does not grieve for
what one has not--that one is truly called a monk.
- The monk who abides in universal love
and is deeply devoted to the Teaching of the
Buddha attains the peace of Nibbana, the bliss
of the cessation of all conditioned things.
- Empty this boat, O monk! Emptied, it
will sail lightly. Rid of lust and hatred,
you shall reach Nibbana.
- Cut off the five,
abandon the five, and
cultivate the five. The monk who has overcome
the five bonds is called one who has
crossed the flood.
- Meditate, O monk! Do not be heedless.
Let not your mind whirl on sensual pleasures.
Heedless, do not swallow a red hot iron ball,
lest you cry when burning, "O this is painful!"
- There is no meditative concentration for
one who lacks insight, and no insight for one
who lacks meditative concentration. One in whom
are found both meditative concentration and
insight, that one indeed is close to Nibbana.
- The monk who has retired to a solitary
abode and calmed the mind, who comprehends
the Dhamma with insight, in that one there arises
a delight that transcends all human delights.
- Whenever one sees with insight the rise
and fall of the aggregates, one is full of
joy and
happiness. To the discerning one this reflects
the Deathless.
- Control of the senses, contentment,
restraint according to the code of monastic
discipline--these form the basis of the holy
life for the wise monk here.
- Let one associate with friends who are
noble, energetic and pure in life; let one be
cordial and refined in conduct. Thus, full of
joy, one will make an end of suffering.
- Just as the jasmine creeper sheds its
withered flowers, even so, O monks, should
you totally shed lust and hatred!
- The monk who is calm in body, calm in
speech, calm in thought, well composed and who
has spewn out worldliness--that one, truly,
is called serene.
- By oneself one must censure oneself and
scrutinize oneself. The self-guarded and mindful
monk will always live in happiness.
- One is one's own protector, one is one's
own refuge. Therefore one should control oneself
even as the trader controls a noble steed.
- Full of joy, full of faith in the Teaching of
the Buddha, the monk attains the Peaceful State,
the bliss of cessation of conditioned things.
- That monk who while young devotes oneself
to the Teaching of the Buddha illuminates
this world like the moon freed from clouds.
restraint over the ear; good is restraint over the
nose; good is restraint over the tongue.
restraint in speech; good is restraint in thought.
Restraint everywhere is good. The monk restrained
in every way is freed from all suffering.
feet and tongue, who is fully controlled, delights
in meditation, is inwardly absorbed, keeps to
oneself and is contented--such a one people call a monk.
tongue, is moderate in speech, unassuming
and who explains the Teaching in both letter and
spirit--whatever that one says is pleasing.
delights in the Dhamma, meditates on the Dhamma
and bears the Dhamma well in mind--that one does
not fall away from the sublime Dhamma.
received, nor envy the gains of others. The
monk who envies the gains of others does
not attain to meditative absorption.
received, even though it be little, who is pure
in livelihood and unremitting in effort, that one
even the gods praise.
for the mind and body, who does not grieve for
what one has not--that one is truly called a monk.
and is deeply devoted to the Teaching of the
Buddha attains the peace of Nibbana, the bliss
of the cessation of all conditioned things.
will sail lightly. Rid of lust and hatred,
you shall reach Nibbana.
cultivate the five. The monk who has overcome
the five bonds is called one who has
crossed the flood.
Let not your mind whirl on sensual pleasures.
Heedless, do not swallow a red hot iron ball,
lest you cry when burning, "O this is painful!"
one who lacks insight, and no insight for one
who lacks meditative concentration. One in whom
are found both meditative concentration and
insight, that one indeed is close to Nibbana.
abode and calmed the mind, who comprehends
the Dhamma with insight, in that one there arises
a delight that transcends all human delights.
and fall of the aggregates, one is full of joy and
happiness. To the discerning one this reflects
the Deathless.
restraint according to the code of monastic
discipline--these form the basis of the holy
life for the wise monk here.
noble, energetic and pure in life; let one be
cordial and refined in conduct. Thus, full of
joy, one will make an end of suffering.
withered flowers, even so, O monks, should
you totally shed lust and hatred!
speech, calm in thought, well composed and who
has spewn out worldliness--that one, truly,
is called serene.
scrutinize oneself. The self-guarded and mindful
monk will always live in happiness.
own refuge. Therefore one should control oneself
even as the trader controls a noble steed.
the Buddha, the monk attains the Peaceful State,
the bliss of cessation of conditioned things.
to the Teaching of the Buddha illuminates
this world like the moon freed from clouds.
