Thirst
Books: Sacred Books Of The EastThe thirst of a thoughtless man grows like a creeper; he runs from life
to life, like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest.
Whomsoever this fierce poisonous thirst overcomes, in this world, his
sufferings increase like the abounding Birana grass.
But from him who overcomes this fierce thirst, difficult to be conquered
in this world, sufferings fall off, like water-drops from a lotus leaf.
This salutary word I tell you, "Do ye, as many as are here assembled,
dig up the root of thirst, as he who wants the sweet-scented Usira root
must dig up the Birana grass, that Mara, the tempter, may not crush you
again and again, as the stream crushes the reeds."
As a tree, even though it has been cut down, is firm so long as its root
is safe, and grows again, thus, unless the feeders of thirst are
destroyed, this pain of life will return again and again.
He whose thirty-six streams are strongly flowing in the channels of
pleasure, the waves--his desires which are set on passion--will carry
away that misguided man.
The channels run everywhere, the creeper of passion stands sprouting; if
you see the creeper springing up, cut its root by means of knowledge.
A creature's pleasures are extravagant and luxurious; given up to
pleasure and deriving happiness, men undergo again and again birth and
decay.
Beset with lust, men run about like a snared hare; held in fetters and
bonds, they undergo pain for a long time, again and again.
Beset with lust, men run about like a snared hare; let therefore the
mendicant drive out thirst, by striving after passionlessness for
himself.
He who, having got rid of the forest of lust (after having reached
Nirvana), gives himself over to forest-life (to lust), and who, when
free from the forest (from lust), runs to the forest (to lust), look at
that man! though free, he runs into bondage.
Wise people do not call that a strong fetter which is made of iron,
wood, or hemp; passionately strong is the care for precious stones and
rings, for sons and a wife.
That fetter wise people call strong which drags down, yields, but is
difficult to undo; after having cut this at last, people leave the
world, free from cares, and leaving the pleasures of love behind.
Those who are slaves to passions, run down the stream of desires, as a
spider runs down the web which he has made himself; when they have cut
this, at last, wise people go onwards, free from cares, leaving all pain
behind.
Give up what is before, give up what is behind, give up what is between,
when thou goest to the other shore of existence; if thy mind is
altogether free, thou wilt not again enter into birth and decay.
If a man is tossed about by doubts, full of strong passions, and
yearning only for what is delightful, his thirst will grow more and
more, and he will indeed make his fetters strong.
If a man delights in quieting doubts, and, always reflecting, dwells on
what is not delightful, he certainly will remove, nay, he will cut the
fetter of Mara.
He who has reached the consummation, who does not tremble, who is
without thirst and without sin, he has broken all the thorns of life:
this will be his last body.
He who is without thirst and without affection, who understands the
words and their interpretation, who knows the order of letters (those
which are before and which are after), he has received his last body, he
is called the great sage, the great man.
"I have conquered all, I know all, in all conditions of life I am free
from taint; I have left all, and through the destruction of thirst I am
free; having learnt myself, whom should I indicate as my teacher?"
The gift of the law exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of the law exceeds
all sweetness; the delight in the law exceeds all delights; the
extinction of thirst overcomes all pain.
Riches destroy the foolish, if they look not for the other shore; the
foolish by his thirst for riches destroys himself, as if he were
destroying others.
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by passion:
therefore a gift bestowed on the passionless brings great reward.
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by hatred: therefore
a gift bestowed on those who do not hate brings great reward.
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by vanity: therefore
a gift bestowed on those who are free from vanity brings great reward.
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by lust: therefore a
gift bestowed on those who are free from lust brings great reward.
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There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the
There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the voices of the fowls and dogs should be heard all the way from it to us, but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it ... There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven
There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the M... Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion
Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion of the record of the engagement, and does not insist on the (speedy) fulfilment of it by the other party (So), he who has the attributes (of the Tao) regards (only) the conditions... Therefore a sage has said, 'He who accepts his
Therefore a sage has said, 'He who accepts his state's reproach, Is hailed therefore its altars' lord; To him who bears men's direful woes They all the name of King accord' ... Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of
Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of purpose), and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of the... Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not
Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not go far from his baggage waggons Although he may have brilliant prospects to look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to them How should the lord of a myriad chariots carr... Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and
Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of him Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive with him ... Therefore he who would administer the kingdom, honouring it as
Therefore he who would administer the kingdom, honouring it as he honours his own person, may be employed to govern it, and he who would administer it with the love which he bears to his own person may be entrusted with it ... Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as his;
Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it:--he does not wish to display his superiority ... Therefore the man of skill is a master (to be
Therefore the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill If the one did not honour his master, and the other did not rejoice in hi... Therefore the place of what is firm and strong is
Therefore the place of what is firm and strong is below, and that of what is soft and weak is above ... Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire,
Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by Thus he helps the natural development of all thin... Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing
Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of humility), and manifests it to all the world He is free from self- display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore hi... Therefore the sage is (like) a square which cuts no
Therefore the sage is (like) a square which cuts no one (with its angles); (like) a corner which injures no one (with its sharpness) He is straightforward, but allows himself no license; he is bright, but does not dazzle ... Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does
Therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former ... Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his
Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech ... Therefore the sage puts his own person last, and yet
Therefore the sage puts his own person last, and yet it is found in the foremost place; he treats his person as if it were foreign to him, and yet that person is preserved Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends... Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the
Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former ... Therefore the sage, in the exercise of his government, empties their
Therefore the sage, in the exercise of his government, empties their minds, fills their bellies, weakens their wills, and strengthens their bones ... Therefore the sages got their knowledge without travelling; gave their (right)
Therefore the sages got their knowledge without travelling; gave their (right) names to things without seeing them; and accomplished their ends without any purpose of doing so ... Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves:-- 'The Tao,
Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves:-- 'The Tao, when brightest seen, seems light to lack; Who progress in it makes, seems drawing back; Its even way is like a rugged track Its highest virtue from the vale doth ri... Therefore when one is making the Tao his business, those
Therefore when one is making the Tao his business, those who are also pursuing it, agree with him in it, and those who are making the manifestation of its course their object agree with him in that; while even those who are failing in both these things... Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, and he has appointed his three ducal ministers, though (a prince) were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large enough to fill both the hands, and that as the precursor of the team of... Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned,
Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect; one ought to follow a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars Pleasure ... These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers, attain
These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers, attain to Nirvana, the highest happiness ... They depart with their thoughts well-collected, they are not happy in
They depart with their thoughts well-collected, they are not happy in their abode; like swans who have left their lake, they leave their house and home ... They lead a tamed elephant to battle, the king mounts
They lead a tamed elephant to battle, the king mounts a tamed elephant; the tamed is the best among men, he who silently endures abuse ... They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes beautiful;
They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes beautiful; their (poor) dwellings places of rest; and their common (simple) ways sources of enjoyment ... They who are ashamed of what they ought not to
They who are ashamed of what they ought not to be ashamed of, and are not ashamed of what they ought to be ashamed of, such men, embracing false doctrines enter the evil path ... They who fear when they ought not to fear, and
They who fear when they ought not to fear, and fear not when they ought to fear, such men, embracing false doctrines, enter the evil path ... They who forbid when there is nothing to be forbidden,
They who forbid when there is nothing to be forbidden, and forbid not when there is something to be forbidden, such men, embracing false doctrines, enter the evil path ... They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in
They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires ... They who know me are few, and I am on
They who know me are few, and I am on that account (the more) to be prized It is thus that the sage wears (a poor garb of) hair cloth, while he carries his (signet of) jade in his bosom ... They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth,
They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires ... They who know what is forbidden as forbidden, and what
They who know what is forbidden as forbidden, and what is not forbidden as not forbidden, such men, embracing the true doctrine, enter the good path The Elephant ... They who preserve this method of the Tao do not
They who preserve this method of the Tao do not wish to be full (of themselves) It is through their not being full of themselves that they can afford to seem worn and not appear new and complete ... Thirst
The thirst of a thoughtless man grows like a creeper; he runs from life to life, like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest. Whomsoever this fierce poisonous thirst overcomes, in this world, his sufferings increase like the abounding Birana grass... This body is wasted, full of sickness, and frail; this
This body is wasted, full of sickness, and frail; this heap of corruption breaks to pieces, life indeed ends in death ... This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation
This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation is not the result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute ... This is an old saying, O Atula, this is not
This is an old saying, O Atula, this is not only of to-day: `They blame him who sits silent, they blame him who speaks much, they also blame him who says little; there is no one on earth who is not blamed' ... This is the way, there is no other that leads
This is the way, there is no other that leads to the purifying of intelligence Go on this way! Everything else is the deceit of Mara (the tempter) ... This mind of mine went formerly wandering about as it
This mind of mine went formerly wandering about as it liked, as it listed, as it pleased; but I shall now hold it in thoroughly, as the rider who holds the hook holds in the furious elephant ... This salutary word I tell you, `Do ye, as many
This salutary word I tell you, `Do ye, as many as are here assembled, dig up the root of thirst, as he who wants the sweet- scented Usira root must dig up the Birana grass, that Mara (the tempter) may not crush you again and again, as the stream crushe... This world is dark, few only can see here; a
This world is dark, few only can see here; a few only go to heaven, like birds escaped from the net ... Those three methods (of government) Thought olden ways
Those three methods (of government) Thought olden ways in elegance did fail And made these names their want of worth to veil; But simple views, and courses plain and true Would selfish ends and many lusts eschew ... Those white bones, like gourds thrown away in the autumn,
Those white bones, like gourds thrown away in the autumn, what pleasure is there in looking at them? ... Those who are advanced in earnestness, having understood this clearly, delight
Those who are advanced in earnestness, having understood this clearly, delight in earnestness, and rejoice in the knowledge of the Ariyas (the elect) ... Those who are ever watchful, who study day and night,
Those who are ever watchful, who study day and night, and who strive after Nirvana, their passions will come to an end ... Those who are slaves to passions, run down with the
Those who are slaves to passions, run down with the stream (of desires), as a spider runs down the web which he has made himself; when they have cut this, at last, wise people leave the world free from cares, leaving all affection behind ... Those who bridle their mind which travels far, moves about
Those who bridle their mind which travels far, moves about alone, is without a body, and hides in the chamber (of the heart), will be free from the bonds of Mara (the tempter) ... Those whose mind is well grounded in the (seven) elements
Those whose mind is well grounded in the (seven) elements of knowledge, who without clinging to anything, rejoice in freedom from attachment, whose appetites have been conquered, and who are full of light, are free (even) in this world The Venerab... Thou art now like a sear leaf, the messengers of
Thou art now like a sear leaf, the messengers of death (Yama) have come near to thee; thou standest at the door of thy departure, and thou hast no provision for thy journey ... Though a man recite a hundred Gathas made up of
Though a man recite a hundred Gathas made up of senseless words, one word of the law is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet ... Though in its primordial simplicity it may be small, the
Though in its primordial simplicity it may be small, the whole world dares not deal with (one embodying) it as a minister If a feudal prince or the king could guard and hold it, all would spontaneously submit themselves to him ... Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no
Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no occasion to ride in them; though they had buff coats and sharp weapons, they should have no occasion to don or use them ... Thought
As a fletcher makes straight his arrow, a wise man makes straight his trembling and unsteady thought, which is difficult to guard, difficult to hold back. As a fish taken from his watery home and thrown on the dry ground, our thought trembles a... THREE GREAT LAWS
FIRST LAW: The warnings of reason are based in the nature of things within us, and are universal benefactors SECOND LAW: Fear is contrary to the ground-plan of life It is no primary part of the nature of things; it is an alien in the world- ... Through zeal knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal knowledge is
Through zeal knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal knowledge is lost; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow ... Thus it is that a great state, by condescending to
Thus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states, gains them for itself; and that small states, by abasing themselves to a great state, win it over to them In the one case the abasement leads to gaining adherents, in the other case to p... Thus it is that dignity finds its (firm) root in
Thus it is that dignity finds its (firm) root in its (previous) meanness, and what is lofty finds its stability in the lowness (from which it rises) Hence princes and kings call themselves 'Orphans,' 'Men of small virtue,' and as 'Carriages without a ... Thus it is that firmness and strength are the concomitants
Thus it is that firmness and strength are the concomitants of death; softness and weakness, the concomitants of life ... Thus it is that the Great man abides by what
Thus it is that the Great man abides by what is solid, and eschews what is flimsy; dwells with the fruit and not with the flower It is thus that he puts away the one and makes choice of the other ... Thus it is that the Tao produces (all things), nourishes
Thus it is that the Tao produces (all things), nourishes them, brings them to their full growth, nurses them, completes them, matures them, maintains them, and overspreads them ... Thus it was that when the Tao was lost, its
Thus it was that when the Tao was lost, its attributes appeared; when its attributes were lost, benevolence appeared; when benevolence was lost, righteousness appeared; and when righteousness was lost, the proprieties appeared ... Thus we may see, Who cleaves
Thus we may see, Who cleaves to fame Rejects what is more great; Who loves large stores Gives up the richer state ... Thy life has come to an end, thou art come
Thy life has come to an end, thou art come near to death (Yama), there is no resting-place for thee on the road, and thou hast no provision for thy journey ... To Agni And The Maruts
Thou art called forth to this fair sacrifice for a draught of milk; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni! No god indeed, no mortal, is beyond the might of thee, the mighty one; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni! They who know of the great sky, th... To Agni And The Maruts
I implore Agni, the gracious, with salutations, may he sit down here, and gather what we have made. I offer him sacrifice as with racing chariots; may I, turning to the right, accomplish this hymn to the Maruts. Those who approached on their glori... To Fires, Waters, Plants
We worship thee, the Fire, O Ahura Mazda's son! We worship the fire Berezi-savangha (of the lofty use), and the fire Vohu-fryana (the good and friendly), and the fire Urva-zista (the most beneficial and most helpful), and the fire Vazista (the mos... To him by whom this harmony is known,
To him by whom this harmony is known, (The secret of) the unchanging (Tao) is shown, And in the knowledge wisdom finds its throne All life-increasing arts to evil turn; Where the mind makes the vital breath to burn, (False) is the stre... To him who holds in his hands the Great Image
To him who holds in his hands the Great Image (of the invisible Tao), the whole world repairs Men resort to him, and receive no hurt, but (find) rest, peace, and the feeling of ease ... To Indra And The Maruts
Those who stand around him while he moves on, harness the bright red steed; the lights in heaven shine forth. They harness to the chariot on each side his two favorite bays, the brown, the bold, who can carry the hero. Thou who createst light wher...