The Way

Books: Sacred Books Of The East

The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four words;

the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to

see.



This is the way, there is no other that leads to the purifying of

intelligence. Go on this path! This is the confusion of Mara, the

tempter.



If you go on this way, you will make an end of pain! The way preached by

me, when I had under tood the removal of the thorns in the flesh.



You yourself must make an effort. The Tathagatas (Buddhas) are only

preachers. The thoughtful who enter the way are freed from the bondage

of Mara.



"All created things perish," he who knows and sees this becomes passive

in pain; this is the way to purity.



"All created things are grief and pain," he who knows and sees this

becomes passive in pain; this is the way that leads to purity.



"All forms are unreal," he who knows and sees this becomes passive in

pain; this is the way that leads to purity.



He who does not rouse himself when it is time to rise, who, though young

and strong, is full of sloth, whose will and thought are weak, that lazy

and idle man never finds the way to knowledge.



Watching his speech, well restrained in mind, let a man never commit any

wrong with his body! Let a man but keep these three roads of action

clear, and he will achieve the way which is taught by the wise.



Through zeal knowledge is gained, 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.



Cut down the whole forest of desires, not a tree only! Danger comes out

of the forest of desires. When you have cut down both the forest of

desires and its undergrowth, then, Bhikshus, you will be rid of the

forest and of desires!



So long as the desire of man towards women, even the smallest, is not

destroyed, so long is his mind in bondage, as the calf that drinks milk

is to its mother.



Cut out the love of self, like an autumn lotus, with thy hand! Cherish

the road of peace. Nirvana has been shown by Sugata (Buddha).



"Here I shall dwell in the rain, here in winter and summer," thus the

fool meditates, and does not think of death.



Death comes and carries off that man, honored for his children and

flocks, his mind distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village.



Sons are no help, nor a father, nor relations; there is no help from

kinsfolk for one whom death has seized.



A wise and well-behaved man who knows the meaning of this should quickly

clear the way that leads to Nirvana.