Dhammapada 14

Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 179–196

14. The Buddhas

179 He whose victory may not be undone,

a victory unrivaled in all the world;

by what track would you trace that Buddha,

who leaves no track in his infinite range?

180 Of craving, the weaver, the clinger, he has none:

so where can he be traced?

By what track would you trace that Buddha,

who leaves no track in his infinite range?

181 The attentive intent on absorption,

who love the peace of renunciation,

the Buddhas, ever mindful,

are envied by even the gods.

182 It’s hard to gain a human birth;

the life of mortals is hard;

it’s hard to hear the true teaching;

the arising of Buddhas is hard.

183 Not to do any evil;

to embrace the good;

to purify one’s mind:

this is the instruction of the Buddhas.

184 Patient acceptance is the ultimate fervor.

Extinguishment is the ultimate, say the Buddhas.

No true renunciate injures another,

nor does an ascetic hurt another.

185 Not speaking ill nor doing harm;

restraint in the monastic code;

moderation in eating;

staying in remote lodgings;

commitment to the higher mind—

this is the instruction of the Buddhas.

186 Even if it were raining money,

you’d not be sated in sensual pleasures.

An astute person understands that sensual pleasures

offer little gratification and much suffering.

187 Thus they find no delight

even in celestial pleasures.

A disciple of the fully awakened Buddha

delights in the ending of craving.

188 So many go for refuge

to mountains and forest groves,

to shrines in tended parks;

those people are driven by fear.

189 But such refuge is no sanctuary,

it is no supreme refuge.

By going to that refuge,

you’re not released from all suffering.

190 One gone for refuge to the Buddha,

to his teaching and to the Saṅgha,

sees the four noble truths

with right understanding:

191 suffering, suffering’s origin,

suffering’s transcendence,

and the noble eightfold path

that leads to the stilling of suffering.

192 Such refuge is a sanctuary,

it is the supreme refuge.

By going to that refuge,

you’re released from all suffering.

193 It’s hard to find a thoroughbred man:

they’re not born just anywhere.

A family where that attentive one is born

prospers in happiness.

194 Happy, the arising of Buddhas!

Happy, the teaching of Dhamma!

Happy is the harmony of the Saṅgha,

and the striving of the harmonious is happy.

195 When a person venerates the worthy—

the Buddha or his disciple,

who have transcended proliferation,

and have left behind grief and lamentation,

196 quenched, fearing nothing from any quarter—

the merit of one venerating such as these,

cannot be calculated by anyone,

saying it is just this much.