Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One
In the Minor Collection
The Teaching in Verses
1.
The Chapter on Pairs
1.
If with a corrupted mind one speaks or acts;
From that, suffering follows him, like a wheel the foot of the ox that carries.
2.
If with a clear mind one speaks or acts;
From that, happiness follows him, like a shadow that does not depart.
3.
For those who harbour such thoughts, enmity is not appeased.
4.
For those who do not harbour such thoughts, enmity is appeased.
5.
By non-enmity they are appeased; this is an eternal principle.
6.
Those who understand this, thereby their quarrels are appeased.
7.
Not knowing moderation in food, lazy, of inferior energy;
Him indeed Māra overpowers, as the wind a weak tree.
8.
Knowing moderation in food, faithful, putting forth strenuous energy;
Him indeed Māra does not overpower, as the wind a rocky mountain.
9.
Devoid of self-control and truth, he does not deserve the ochre robe.
10.
Endowed with self-control and truth, he indeed deserves the ochre robe.
11.
They do not attain the substance, being in the domain of wrong thought.
12.
They attain the substance, being in the domain of right thought.
13.
So lust penetrates an undeveloped mind.
14.
So lust does not penetrate a well-developed mind.
15.
He grieves, he suffers, having seen his own defiled action.
16.
He rejoices, he is glad, having seen the purity of his own action.
17.
He is tormented thinking "evil was done by me", he is tormented even more having gone to an unfortunate realm.
18.
He rejoices thinking "merit was done by me", he rejoices even more having gone to a good destination.
19.
Like a cowherd counting the cattle of others, he is not a partaker of asceticism.
20.
Having abandoned lust and hate and delusion, with right understanding and well-liberated mind,
Not clinging here or beyond, he is a partaker of asceticism.
The Chapter on Pairs is concluded as first.
