25. Bhikkhuvaggo

25. Monks

360.

Cakkhunā saṃvaro sādhu, sādhu sotena saṃvaro;

Restraint with the eye is good, good is restraint with the ear.

Ghānena saṃvaro sādhu, sādhu jivhāya saṃvaro.

Restraint with the nose is good, good is restraint with the tongue.

361.

Kāyena saṃvaro sādhu, sādhu vācāya saṃvaro;

Restraint with the body is good, good is restraint with speech.

Manasā saṃvaro sādhu, sādhu sabbattha saṃvaro;

Restraint with the heart is good, good is restraint everywhere.

Sabbattha saṃvuto bhikkhu, sabbadukkhā pamuccati.

A monk everywhere restrained is released from all suffering & stress.

362.

Hatthasaṃyato pādasaṃyato, vācāsaṃyato saṃyatuttamo;

Hands restrained, feet restrained speech restrained, supremely restrained—

Ajjhattarato samāhito, eko santusito tamāhu bhikkhuṃ.

delighting in what is inward, content, centered, alone: he’s what they call a monk.

363.

Yo mukhasaṃyato bhikkhu, mantabhāṇī anuddhato;

A monk restrained in his speaking, giving counsel unruffled,

Atthaṃ dhammañca dīpeti, madhuraṃ tassa bhāsitaṃ.

declaring the message & meaning: sweet is his speech.

364.

Dhammārāmo dhammarato, dhammaṃ anuvicintayaṃ;

Dhamma his dwelling, Dhamma his delight,

Dhammaṃ anussaraṃ bhikkhu, saddhammā na parihāyati.

a monk pondering Dhamma, calling Dhamma to mind, does not fall away from true Dhamma.

365.

Salābhaṃ nātimaññeyya, nāññesaṃ pihayaṃ care;

Gains: don’t treat your own with scorn, 86don’t go coveting those of others.

Aññesaṃ pihayaṃ bhikkhu, samādhiṃ nādhigacchati.

A monk who covets those of others attains no concentration.

366.

Appalābhopi ce bhikkhu, salābhaṃ nātimaññati;

Even if he gets next to nothing, he doesn’t treat his gains with scorn.

Taṃ ve devā pasaṃsanti, suddhājīviṃ atanditaṃ.

Living purely, untiring: he’s the one that the devas praise.

367.

Sabbaso nāmarūpasmiṃ, yassa natthi mamāyitaṃ;

For whom, in name & form in every way, there’s no sense of mine,

Asatā ca na socati, sa ve ‘‘bhikkhū’’ti vuccati.

& who doesn’t grieve for what’s not: he’s deservedly called a monk.

368.

Mettāvihārī yo bhikkhu, pasanno buddhasāsane;

Dwelling in kindness, a monk with faith in the Awakened One’s teaching,

Adhigacche padaṃ santaṃ, saṅkhārūpasamaṃ sukhaṃ.

would attain the good state, the peaceful state: stilling-of-fabrications ease.

369.

Siñca bhikkhu imaṃ nāvaṃ, sittā te lahumessati;

Monk, bail out this boat. It will take you lightly when bailed.

Chetvā rāgañca dosañca, tato nibbānamehisi.

Having cut through passion, aversion, you go from there to Unbinding.

370.

Pañca chinde pañca jahe, pañca cuttari bhāvaye;

Cut through five, let go of five, & develop five above all.

Pañca saṅgātigo bhikkhu, ‘‘oghatiṇṇo’’ti vuccati.

A monk gone past five attachments is said to have crossed the flood.

371.

Jhāya bhikkhu [jhāya tuvaṃ bhikkhu (?)] mā pamādo [mā ca pamādo (sī. syā. pī.)], mā te kāmaguṇe ramessu [bhamassu (sī. pī.), bhavassu (syā.), ramassu (ka.)] cittaṃ;

Practice jhana, monk, and don’t be heedless. Don’t take your mind roaming in sensual strands.

Mā lohaguḷaṃ gilī pamatto, mā kandi ‘‘dukkhamida’’nti ḍayhamāno.

Don’t swallow—heedless— the ball of iron aflame. Don’t burn & complain: ‘This is pain.’

372.

Natthi jhānaṃ apaññassa, paññā natthi ajhāyato [ajjhāyino (ka.)];

There’s no jhana for one with no discernment, no discernment for one with no jhana.

Yamhi jhānañca paññā ca, sa ve nibbānasantike.

But one with both jhana & discernment: he’s on the verge of Unbinding.

373.

Suññāgāraṃ paviṭṭhassa, santacittassa bhikkhuno;

A monk with his mind at peace, going into an empty dwelling,

Amānusī rati hoti, sammā dhammaṃ vipassato.

clearly seeing the Dhamma aright: his delight is more than human.

374.

Yato yato sammasati, khandhānaṃ udayabbayaṃ;

However it is, however it is he touches the arising-&-passing of aggregates:

Labhatī [labhati (pī.), labhate (ka.)] pītipāmojjaṃ, amataṃ taṃ vijānataṃ.

he gains rapture & joy: that, for those who know it, is deathless, the Deathless.

375.

Tatrāyamādi bhavati, idha paññassa bhikkhuno;

Here the first things for a discerning monk

Indriyagutti santuṭṭhi, pātimokkhe ca saṃvaro.

are guarding the senses, contentment, restraint in line with the Patimokkha.

376.

Mitte bhajassu kalyāṇe, suddhājīve atandite;

He should associate with admirable friends. Living purely, untiring,

Paṭisanthāravutyassa [paṭisandhāravutyassa (ka.)], ācārakusalo siyā;

hospitable by habit, skilled in his conduct,

Tato pāmojjabahulo, dukkhassantaṃ karissati.

gaining a manifold joy, he will put an end to suffering & stress.

377.

Vassikā viya pupphāni, maddavāni [majjavāni (ka. ṭīkā) paccavāni (ka. aṭṭha.)] pamuñcati;

Shed passion & aversion, monks—

Evaṃ rāgañca dosañca, vippamuñcetha bhikkhavo.

as a jasmine would, its withered flowers.

378.

Santakāyo santavāco, santavā susamāhito [santamano susamāhito (syā. pī.), santamano samāhito (ka.)];

Calmed in body, calmed in speech, well-centered & calm,

Vantalokāmiso bhikkhu, ‘‘upasanto’’ti vuccati.

having disgorged the baits of the world, a monk is called thoroughly calmed.

379.

Attanā codayattānaṃ, paṭimaṃsetha attanā [paṭimāse attamattanā (sī. pī.), paṭimaṃse tamattanā (syā.)];

You yourself should reprove yourself, should examine yourself

So attagutto satimā, sukhaṃ bhikkhu vihāhisi.

As a self-guarded monk with guarded self, mindful, you dwell at ease.

380.

Attā hi attano nātho, (ko hi nātho paro siyā) [( ) videsapotthakesu natthi]

Your own self is your own mainstay.

Attā hi attano gati;

Your own self is your own guide.

Tasmā saṃyamamattānaṃ [saṃyamaya’ttānaṃ (sī. pī.)], assaṃ bhadraṃva vāṇijo.

Therefore you should watch over yourself— as a trader, a fine steed.

381.

Pāmojjabahulo bhikkhu, pasanno buddhasāsane;

A monk with a manifold joy, with faith in the Awakened One’s teaching,

Adhigacche padaṃ santaṃ, saṅkhārūpasamaṃ sukhaṃ.

would attain the good state, the peaceful state: stilling-of-fabrications ease.

382.

Yo have daharo bhikkhu, yuñjati buddhasāsane;

A young monk who strives in the Awakened One’s teaching,

Somaṃ [so imaṃ (sī. syā. kaṃ. pī.)] lokaṃ pabhāseti, abbhā muttova candimā.

brightens the world like the moon set free from a cloud.

Bhikkhuvaggo pañcavīsatimo niṭṭhito.