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‘He insulted me, he struck me, He defeated me, he robbed me’: For those who do not get caught up in this, Hatred ceases completely.
For never here Do hatreds cease by hatred. By freedom from hatred they cease: This is a perennial truth.
Others do not understand That we must control ourselves here:
Māra
Demon king associated with antagonism to nirvana
Those who perceive value where there’s value, And no value where there’s none, Understand value – Dwellers in the realm of right thought.
As rain penetrates An ill-roofed house, Passion penetrates An undeveloped mind.
Though you recite much scripture, If you are unaware and do not act according You are like a cowherd counting others’ cattle, Not a sharer in the wanderer’s life.
Awareness is the place of the deathless; Unawareness is the place of death. The aware do not die; The unaware are as though dead already.
By effort, awareness, Restraint and self-control, The wise one should make an island Which the flood will not overwhelm.
For aware, meditating, You’ll gain great happiness.
The monk who delights in awareness, Seeing the danger in unawareness, Moves like a fire, Burning up fetters small and great.
Mind is most hard to see, most subtle, Flying where it will. The wise one should guard it. Mind guarded brings happiness.
If your mind is unsteady, If you do not know the true Dhamma, If your composure is disturbed, Your wisdom will not become complete.
Whatever an enemy can do to an enemy, Or a rival to a rival, A wrongly directed mind Will do worse to you than that.
You should not look at Others’ faults, Things done or not done by others, But at things done or not done by yourself.
Like a beautiful flower, Colourful but scentless, The well-taught word is fruitless For one who does not practise.
Long is night for the wakeful; Long is a league for the weary. Long is saṃsāra for fools Who do not know the true Dhamma.
If, as you travel, you meet None better than yourself, or equal, You should steadfastly travel alone. There’s no companionship with fools.
The fool who knows his folly Becomes wise by that fact. But the fool who thinks he’s wise – He’s called ‘a fool’ indeed!
