Theragāthā 220

Verses of the Senior Monks 6.11

The Book of the Sixes

Chapter One

Nhātakamuni

1 “Struck by a wind ailment

while dwelling in a forest grove,

you’ve entered a tough resort for gathering alms—

how will you get by, monk?”

2 “Pervading this bag of bones

with abundant rapture and happiness,

putting up with what’s tough,

I’ll dwell in the forest.

3 Developing the seven awakening factors,

the faculties and the powers,

endowed with subtle absorptions,

I’ll dwell without defilements.

4 Freed from corruptions,

my pure mind is unclouded.

Frequently reviewing this,

I’ll meditate without defilements.

5 Those defilements that were found in me,

internally and externally,

are all cut off without remainder,

and will not arise again.

6 The five aggregates are fully understood,

they remain, but their root is cut.

I have reached the ending of suffering,

now there’ll be no more future lives.”