Bhikkhuvagga: The Monk

  1. Good is restraint over the eye; good is restraint over the ear; good is restraint over the nose; good is restraint over the tongue.
  2. Good is restraint in the body; good is restraint in speech; good is restraint in thought. Restraint everywhere is good. The monk restrained in every way is freed from all suffering.

  3. He who has control over his hands, feet and tongue; who is fully controlled, delights in inward development, is absorbed in meditation, keeps to himself and is contented — him do people call a monk.

  4. That monk who has control over his tongue, is moderate in speech, unassuming and who explains the Teaching in both letter and spirit — whatever he says is pleasing.

  5. The monk who abides in the Dhamma, delights in the Dhamma, meditates on the Dhamma, and bears the Dhamma well in mind — he does not fall away from the sublime Dhamma.

  6. One should not despise what one has received, nor envy the gains of others. The monk who envies the gains of others does not attain to meditative absorption.

  7. A monk who does not despise what he has received, even though it be little, who is pure in livelihood and unremitting in effort — him even the gods praise.

  8. He who has no attachment whatsoever for the mind and body, who does not grieve for what he has not — he is truly called a monk.

  9. The monk who abides in universal love and is deeply devoted to the Teaching of the Buddha attains the peace of Nibbana, the bliss of the cessation of all conditioned things.

  10. Empty this boat, O monk! Emptied, it will sail lightly. Rid of lust and hatred, you shall reach Nibbana.

  11. Cut off the five, abandon the five, and cultivate the five. The monk who has overcome the five bonds is called one who has crossed the flood. [24]

  12. Meditate, O monk! Do not be heedless. Let not your mind whirl on sensual pleasures. Heedless, do not swallow a red-hot iron ball, lest you cry when burning, “O this is painful!”

  13. There is no meditative concentration for him who lacks insight, and no insight for him who lacks meditative concentration. He in whom are found both meditative concentration and insight, indeed, is close to Nibbana.

  14. The monk who has retired to a solitary abode and calmed his mind, who comprehends the Dhamma with insight, in him there arises a delight that transcends all human delights.

  15. Whenever he sees with insight the rise and fall of the aggregates, he is full of joy and happiness. To the discerning one this reflects the Deathless. [25]

  16. Control of the senses, contentment, restraint according to the code of monastic discipline — these form the basis of holy life here for the wise monk.

  17. Let him associate with friends who are noble, energetic, and pure in life, let him be cordial and refined in conduct. Thus, full of joy, he will make an end of suffering.

  18. Just as the jasmine creeper sheds its withered flowers, even so, O monks, should you totally shed lust and hatred!

  19. The monk who is calm in body, calm in speech, calm in thought, well-composed and who has spewn out worldliness — he, truly, is called serene.

  20. By oneself one must censure oneself and scrutinize oneself. The self-guarded and mindful monk will always live in happiness.

  21. One is one’s own protector, one is one’s own refuge. Therefore, one should control oneself, even as a trader controls a noble steed.

  22. Full of joy, full of faith in the Teaching of the Buddha, the monk attains the Peaceful State, the bliss of cessation of conditioned things.

  23. That monk who while young devotes himself to the Teaching of the Buddha illumines this world like the moon freed from clouds.

“Bhikkhuvagga: The Monk” (Dhp XXV), translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.25.budd.html

 

Bhikkhuvagga: Monks

360-361

Restraint with the eye is good,
good is restraint with the ear.
Restraint with the nose is good,
good is restraint with the tongue.
Restraint with the body is good,
good is restraint with speech.
Restraint with the heart is good,
good is restraint everywhere.
A monk everywhere restrained
is released from all suffering & stress.
362

Hands restrained,
feet restrained
speech restrained,
supremely restrained —
delighting in what is inward,
content, centered, alone:
he’s what they call
a monk.

363

A monk restrained in his speaking,
giving counsel unruffled,
declaring the message & meaning:
sweet is his speech.

364

Dhamma his dwelling,
Dhamma his delight,
a monk pondering Dhamma,
calling Dhamma to mind,
does not fall away
from true Dhamma.

365-366

Gains:
don’t treat your own with scorn,
don’t go coveting those of others.
A monk who covets those of others
attains
no concentration.

Even if he gets next to nothing,
he doesn’t treat his gains with scorn.
Living purely, untiring:
he’s the one
that the devas praise.

367

For whom, in name & form
in every way,
there’s no sense of mine,
& who doesn’t grieve
for what’s not:
he’s deservedly called
a monk.

368

Dwelling in kindness, a monk
with faith in the Awakened One’s teaching,
would attain the good state,
the peaceful state:
stilling-of-fabrications ease.

369

Monk, bail out this boat.
It will take you lightly when bailed.
Having cut through passion, aversion,
you go from there to Unbinding.

370

Cut through five,
let go of five,
& develop five above all.
A monk gone past five attachments
is said to have crossed the flood.

371

Practice jhana, monk,
and don’t be heedless.
Don’t take your mind roaming
in sensual strands.
Don’t swallow — heedless —
the ball of iron aflame.
Don’t burn & complain: ‘This is pain.’

372

There’s no jhana
for one with no discernment,
no
discernment
for one with no jhana.
But one with both jhana
&
discernment:
he’s on the verge
of Unbinding.

373-374

A monk with his mind at peace,
going into an empty dwelling,
clearly seeing the Dhamma aright:
his delight is more
than human.

However it is,
however it is he touches
the arising-&-passing of aggregates:
he gains rapture & joy:
that, for those who know it,
is deathless,
the Deathless.

375-376

Here the first things
for a discerning monk
are guarding the senses,
contentment,
restraint in line with the Patimokkha.
He should associate with admirable friends.
Living purely, untiring,
hospitable by habit,
skilled in his conduct,
gaining a manifold joy,
he will put an end
to suffering & stress.

377

Shed passion
& aversion, monks —
as a jasmine would,
its withered flowers.

378

Calmed in body,
calmed in speech,
well-centered & calm,
having disgorged the baits of the world,
a monk is called
thoroughly
calmed.

379

You yourself should reprove yourself,
should examine
yourself.
As a self-guarded monk
with guarded self,
mindful, you dwell at ease.

380

Your own self is
your own mainstay.
Your own self is
your own guide.
Therefore you should
watch over yourself —
as a trader, a fine steed.

381

A monk with a manifold joy,
with faith in the Awakened One’s teaching,
would attain the good state,
the peaceful state:
stilling-of-fabrications ease.

382

A young monk who strives
in the Awakened One’s teaching,
brightens the world
like the moon set free from a cloud.

“Bhikkhuvagga: Monks” (Dhp XXV), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.25.than.html

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