Chapter 15

Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 197–208

15. Happiness

197 Let us live so very happily,

loving among the hostile.

Among hostile humans,

let us live with love.

198 Let us live so very happily,

healthy among the ailing.

Among ailing humans

let us live healthily.

199 Let us live so very happily,

content among the greedy.

Among greedy humans,

let us live content.

200 Let us live so very happily,

we who have nothing.

We shall feed on rapture,

like the gods of sublime luminosity.

201 Victory breeds enmity;

the defeated sleep badly.

The peaceful sleep at ease,

having left victory and defeat behind.

202 There is no fire like greed,

no crime like hate,

no suffering like the aggregates,

no bliss beyond peace.

203 Hunger is the worst illness,

conditions are the worst suffering.

When one has known this as it is,

extinguishment is the ultimate happiness.

204 Health is the ultimate blessing;

contentment, the ultimate wealth;

trust is the ultimate family;

extinguishment, the ultimate happiness.

205 Having drunk the nectar of seclusion

and the nectar of peace—

free of stress, free of evil,

drink the joyous nectar of truth.

206 It’s good to see the noble ones,

staying with them is always good.

Were you not to see fools,

you’d always be happy.

207 For one who consorts with fools

grieves long.

Painful is living with fools,

like being stuck with your enemy.

Happy is living with an attentive one,

like meeting with your kin.

208 Therefore:

An attentive one, wise and learned,

a behemoth of virtue, true to their vows, noble:

follow a true and intelligent person such as this,

as the moon tracks the path of the stars.