Udāna 59

Heartfelt Sayings 6.9

Hastening By

1 So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while oil lamps were burning.

2 And many moths were falling down and crashing down into the lamps, coming to grief and ruin. The Buddha saw the moths coming to grief.

3 Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

4 “Hastening by, they miss the essence,

sprouting ever more new bonds.

Like moths falling in the flame,

some have become fixed in what is seen or heard.”