HEALTH!
Categories: Chapter I - The Twin-VersesBooks: Mastery of Self
I request you to define it--configure the wonder
Of this dust-common, beneficent Gift
Who lacks it, he knows quite precisely his want;
Who has it divulges precisely the thing
Yet never man--scientist, poet, physician--
In words can portray it--the Soul of the Cell,
THAT lurks only in spheres of the Substance of Life;
Fares past the quartz and hides in the throat of the wearer<
Shuns diamond glory for greater of flesh;
Builds higher and higher to balance unstable
In beauty of male and in exquisite female,
And sends through the intricate meshwork of cells--
Sheer matter, kin of this quartz--
Its evidence: light-hue, radiance crimson,
Eye-gleam, pulse-throb, vigor and nerve-thrill
Of just that common, miraculous Gift,
HEALTH of a body wherein dwells soul
THERE, say I, the Infinite worked well!
Come now to YOU the artisan's skill for this marvel,
Physical man: to refine and ennoble;
To reveal the inclosure of spirit unmarred,
And grow in the mobile, responsive flesh
Mind perfect, held fast in OUR Crystal superb,
The Universe complete
--THE AUTHOR
More
-
He who overcomes this fierce thirst, difficult to be conquered
He who overcomes this fierce thirst, difficult to be conquered in this world, sufferings fall off from him, like water-drops from a lotus leaf ... He who possesses the mother of the state may continue
He who possesses the mother of the state may continue long His case is like that (of the plant) of which we say that its roots are deep and its flower stalks firm:--this is the way to secure that its enduring life shall long be seen ... He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just, speaks
He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just, speaks the truth, and does what is his own business, him the world will hold dear ... He who says what is not, goes to hell; he
He who says what is not, goes to hell; he also who, having done a thing, says I have not done it After death both are equal, they are men with evil deeds in the next world ... He who seeking his own happiness does not punish or
He who seeking his own happiness does not punish or kill beings who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death ... He who seeking his own happiness punishes or kills beings
He who seeking his own happiness punishes or kills beings who also long for happiness, will not find happiness after death ... He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm;
He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (easily) (So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowled... He who takes refuge with Buddha, the Law, and the
He who takes refuge with Buddha, the Law, and the Church; he who, with clear understanding, sees the four holy truths:-- ... He who walks in the company of fools suffers a
He who walks in the company of fools suffers a long way; company with fools, as with an enemy, is always painful; company with the wise is pleasure, like meeting with kinsfolk ... He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without
He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress ... He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain
He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred ... He who, even as a young Bhikshu, applies himself to
He who, even as a young Bhikshu, applies himself to the doctrine of Buddha, brightens up this world, like the moon when free from clouds The Brahmana (Arhat) ... He who, though dressed in fine apparel, exercises tranquillity, is quiet,
He who, though dressed in fine apparel, exercises tranquillity, is quiet, subdued, restrained, chaste, and has ceased to find fault with all other beings, he indeed is a Brahmana, an ascetic (sramana), a friar (bhikshu) ... He whom no desire with its snares and poisons can
He whom no desire with its snares and poisons can lead astray, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless? ... He whose appetites are stilled, who is not absorbed in
He whose appetites are stilled, who is not absorbed in enjoyment, who has perceived void and unconditioned freedom (Nirvana), his path is difficult to understand, like that of birds in the air ... He whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong,
He whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong, in defiance of the laws) is put to death; he whose boldness appears in his not daring (to do so) lives on Of these two cases the one appears to be advantageous, and the other to be injurious But ... He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest
He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest no one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless? ... He whose evil deeds are covered by good deeds, brightens
He whose evil deeds are covered by good deeds, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds ... He whose thirst running towards pleasure is exceeding strong in the
He whose thirst running towards pleasure is exceeding strong in the thirty-six channels, the waves will carry away that misguided man, viz his desires which are set on passion ... He whose wickedness is very great brings himself down to
He whose wickedness is very great brings himself down to that state where his enemy wishes him to be, as a creeper does with the tree which it surrounds ... He will have cruel suffering, loss, injury of the body,
He will have cruel suffering, loss, injury of the body, heavy affliction, or loss of mind, ... Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches; trust
Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches; trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana the highest happiness ... HEALTH!
I request you to define it--configure the wonder Of this dust-common, beneficent Gift Who lacks it, he knows quite precisely his want; Who has it divulges precisely the thing Yet never man--scientist, poet, physician-- In words can portray ... Heaven and Earth (under its guidance) unite together and send
Heaven and Earth (under its guidance) unite together and send down the sweet dew, which, without the directions of men, reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord ... Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of)
Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt... Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long The reason why
Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves This is how they are able to continue and endure ... Hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces
Hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces does not conquer; and a tree which is strong will fill the out-stretched arms, (and thereby invites the feller) ... Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to
Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to accomplish his great achievements It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them ... Hence, those with whom he agrees as to the Tao
Hence, those with whom he agrees as to the Tao have the happiness of attaining to it; those with whom he agrees as to its manifestation have the happiness of attaining to it; and those with whom he agrees in their failure have also the happiness of att... Him I call indeed a Brahmana from whom anger and
Him I call indeed a Brahmana from whom anger and hatred, pride and envy have dropt like a mustard seed from the point of a needle ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who calls nothing his
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who calls nothing his own, whether it be before, behind, or between, who is poor, and free from the love of the world ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not cling
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not cling to pleasures, like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not offend
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not offend by body, word, or thought, and is controlled on these three points ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who finds no fault
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who finds no fault with other beings, whether feeble or strong, and does not kill nor cause slaughter ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who fosters no desires
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who fosters no desires for this world or for the next, has no inclinations, and is unshackled ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has cut all
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has cut all fetters, who never trembles, is independent and unshackled ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has cut the
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has cut the strap and the thong, the chain with all that pertains to it, who has burst the bar, and is awakened ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has left what
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has left what gives pleasure and what gives pain, who is cold, and free from all germs (of renewed life), the hero who has conquered all the worlds ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has no interests,
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has no interests, and when he has understood (the truth), does not say How, how? and who has reached the depth of the Immortal ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has traversed this
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has traversed this miry road, the impassable world and its vanity, who has gone through, and reached the other shore, is thoughtful, guileless, free from doubts, free from attachment, and content ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world is above good and evil, above the bondage of both, free from grief from sin, and from impurity ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world,
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world, leaving all desires, travels about without a home, and in whom all concupiscence is extinct ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is bright like
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is bright like the moon, pure, serene, undisturbed, and in whom all gaiety is extinct ... Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is free from
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is free from anger, dutiful, virtuous, without appetite, who is subdued, and has received his last body ...