dhammapada puja
My life has come to an end now;
I am setting forth
into the presence of Yama,
the King of Death.
No resting place is there for me on the way,
yet I have made
no provision for my journey.
1. the conditioned mind
Beset by craving
people run about
like an entrapped hare.
Held fast by mental fetters,
they come to suffering again and again .... [342]
Do not think lightly of evil,
saying, "It will not come to me."
Drop by drop is the water pot filled;
likewise the fool,
gathering it little by little,
fills himself with evil. [121]
So long as an evil deed has not ripened,
the fool thinks it as sweet as honey.
But when the evil deed ripens,
the fool comes to grief. [69]
Should a person commit evil,
let him not do it again and again.
Let him not form a desire for it
for painful is the accumulation of evil. [117]
Easy to do are things that are bad
and harmful to oneself,
but exceedingly difficult to do
are things that are good and beneficial. [163]
When this world is ever ablaze,
why this laughter,
why this jubilation?
Shrouded in darkness,
why don't you seek the light? [146]
2. faith
People, driven by fear,
go for refuge to many places -
to hills, woods, groves,
trees and shrines. [188]
This, indeed, is no safe refuge;
this is not the refuge supreme.
Not by resorting to such a refuge
is one released from all suffering. [189]
One who has gone for refuge
to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha,
penetrates with wisdom
the Four Noble Truths -
suffering,
the cause of suffering,
the cessation of suffering
and the Noble Eight-fold Path
leading to the cessation of suffering. [190/191]
This indeed is the safe refuge,
this is the refuge supreme.
Having gone to such a refuge,
one is released from all suffering. [192]
[refuges & precepts]
3. happiness
Happy indeed we live,
friendly amidst the hostile!
Amidst hostile people
we dwell free from hatred. [197]
Happy indeed we live,
unafflicted amidst those afflicted by craving!
Amidst afflicted people
we dwell free from affliction. [198]
Happy indeed we live,
free from avarice
amidst the avaricious!
Amidst avaricious people
we dwell free from avarice. [199]
Happy indeed we live,
we who possess nothing!
We shall be feeders on joy,
like the radiant gods. [200]
[Shakyamuni mantra]
4. serenity
Ever grows the glory
of one who is energetic,
mindful and pure in conduct,
discerning and self-controlled,
righteous and heedful. [24]
By effort and heedfulness
discipline and self-mastery,
let the wise one make for himself
an island which no flood can overwhelm. [25]
One who drinks deep the Dhamma
lives happily with a tranquil mind.
The wise person ever delights
in the Dhamma made known by the Noble One. [79]
Wisdom springs from meditation,
without meditation wisdom wanes.
Having known these two paths
of progress and decline,
one should so conduct oneself
that wisdom increases. [282]
On hearing the teachings,
the wise become perfectly purified
like a lake
deep, clear and limpid. [82]
[reading]
5. insight
"All conditioned things are impermanent" -
When one sees this with wisdom
one turns away from suffering.
This is the path to purification. [277]
"All conditioned things are unsatisfactory" -
When one sees this with wisdom
one turns away from suffering.
This is the path to purification. [278]
"All things are not self" -
When one sees this with wisdom
one turns away from suffering.
This is the path to purification. [279]
[reflection ...]
6. consummation
Through many a birth in samsara
have I wandered in vain,
seeking the builder of this house.
Repeated birth is indeed suffering! [153]
O house-builder, you are seen!
You will not build this house again.
For all your rafters are broken
and your ridgepole shattered.
My mind has reached the Unconditioned:
I have attained the destruction of cravings. [154]
[dhammapalam gatha]
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