that’s who the people love.
One eager to realize the ineffable
would be filled with awareness.
Their mind not bound to pleasures of sense,
they’re said to be heading upstream.
When a man returns safely
after a long time spent abroad,
family, friends, and loved ones
celebrate his return.
Just so, when one who has done good
goes from this world to the next,
their good deeds receive them there,
as family welcomes home one they love.
Minor Collection
Sayings of the Dhamma 221–234
17. Anger
Give up anger, get rid of conceit,
and escape every fetter.
Sufferings don’t befall one who has nothing,
not clinging to name and form.
When anger surges like a lurching chariot,
keep it in check.
That’s what I call a charioteer;
others just hold the reins.
Defeat anger with kindness,
villainy with virtue,
stinginess with giving,
and lies with truth.
Speak the truth, do not be angry,
and give when asked, if only a little.
By these three means,
you may enter the presence of the gods.
Those harmless sages,
always restrained in body,
go to the state that does not pass,
where there is no sorrow.
Always wakeful,
practicing night and day,
focused only on extinguishment,
their defilements come to an end.
It’s always been this way, Atula,
it’s not just today.
They blame you when you’re silent,
they blame you when you speak a lot,
and even when you speak just right:
no-one in the world escapes blame.
There never was, nor will be,
nor is there today,
someone who is wholly praised
or wholly blamed.
If, after watching them day in day out,
discerning people praise
that sage of impeccable conduct,
endowed with ethics and wisdom;
like a pendant of Black Plum River gold,
who is worthy to criticize them?
Even the gods praise them,
and by the Divinity, too, they’re praised.
Guard against ill-tempered deeds,
be restrained in body.
Giving up bad bodily conduct,
conduct yourself well in body.
Guard against ill-tempered words,
be restrained in speech.
Giving up bad verbal conduct,
conduct yourself well in speech.
Guard against ill-tempered thoughts,
be restrained in mind.
Giving up bad mental conduct,
conduct yourself well in mind.
An attentive one is restrained in body
restrained also in speech,
in thought, too, they are restrained:
they are restrained in every way.
Minor Collection
Sayings of the Dhamma 235–255
18. Stains
මෙම ගැළපූ ඛණ්ඩයට පරිවර්තන පාඨයක් සපයා නැත
Today you’re like a withered leaf,
Yama’s men await you.
You stand at the departure gates,
yet you have no supplies for the road.
Make an island of yourself!
Swiftly strive, learn to be wise!
Purged of stains, flawless,
you’ll go to the heavenly realm of the noble ones.
You’ve journeyed the stages of life,
and now you set out to meet Yama.
Along the way there’s nowhere to stay,
yet you have no supplies for the road.
Make an island of yourself!
Swiftly strive, learn to be wise!
Purged of stains, flawless,
you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age.
මෙම ගැළපූ ඛණ්ඩයට පරිවර්තන පාඨයක් සපයා නැත
A smart person would purge
their own stains gradually,
bit by bit, moment by moment,
like a smith smelting silver.
මෙම ගැළපූ ඛණ්ඩයට පරිවර්තන පාඨයක් සපයා නැත