Theragāthā 214

Verses of the Senior Monks 6.5

The Book of the Sixes

Chapter One

1 When a man lives heedlessly,

craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper.

They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur

greedy for fruit in a forest grove.

2 Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving,

this attachment to the world,

their sorrow grows,

like grass in the rain.

3 But whoever prevails over this wretched craving,

so hard to get over in the world,

their sorrows fall from them,

like a drop from a lotus-leaf.

4 I say this to you, good people,

all those who have gathered here:

dig up the root of craving,

as you’d dig up the grass in search of roots.

Don’t let Māra break you again and again,

like a stream breaking a reed.

5 Act on the Buddha’s words,

don’t let the moment pass you by.

For if you miss your moment

you’ll grieve when sent to hell.

6 Negligence is always dust;

dust follows right behind negligence.

Through diligence and knowledge,

pluck out the dart from yourself.