Thag 17.2

Sāriputtattheragāthā

“Yathācārī yathāsato satīmā, Yatasaṅkappajjhāyi appamatto; Ajjhattarato samāhitatto, Eko santusito tamāhu bhikkhuṁ.

Sāriputta

“One who’s mindful as per their conduct and mindfulness, diligent as per their intentions and meditation, happy inside, serene, solitary, contented: that is what they call a mendicant.

Allaṁ sukkhaṁ vā bhuñjanto, Na bāḷhaṁ suhito siyā; Ūnūdaro mitāhāro, Sato bhikkhu paribbaje.

When eating fresh or dried food, one shouldn’t be overly replete. A mendicant should wander mindfully, with empty stomach, taking limited food.

Cattāro pañca ālope, abhutvā udakaṁ pive; Alaṁ phāsuvihārāya, pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

Four or five mouthfuls before you’re full, drink some water; this is enough for a resolute mendicant to live in comfort.

Kappiyaṁ tañce chādeti, cīvaraṁ idamatthikaṁ; Alaṁ phāsuvihārāya, pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

If they cover themselves with a robe that’s allowable and fit for purpose; this is enough for a resolute mendicant to live in comfort.

Pallaṅkena nisinnassa, jaṇṇuke nābhivassati; Alaṁ phāsuvihārāya, pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

When sitting cross-legged, the rain doesn’t fall on the knees; this is enough for a resolute mendicant to live in comfort.”

Yo sukhaṁ dukkhato adda, dukkhamaddakkhi sallato; Ubhayantarena nāhosi, kena lokasmi kiṁ siyā.

“When you’ve seen happiness as suffering, and suffering as a dart, and that there’s nothing between the two— what keeps you in the world? What would you become?

Mā me kadāci pāpiccho, kusīto hīnavīriyo; Appassuto anādaro, kena lokasmi kiṁ siyā.

Thinking, ‘May I have nothing to do with those of bad wishes, lazy, lacking energy, unlearned, lacking regard for others’— what keeps you in the world? What would you become?”

Bahussuto ca medhāvī, sīlesu susamāhito; Cetosamathamanuyutto, api muddhani tiṭṭhatu.

“An intelligent, learned person, steady in ethics, devoted to serenity of heart— let them stand at the head.”

Yo papañcamanuyutto, papañcābhirato mago; Virādhayī so nibbānaṁ, yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.

“A beast who likes to proliferate, enjoying proliferation, fails to win extinguishment, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Yo ca papañcaṁ hitvāna, nippapañcapathe rato; Ārādhayī so nibbānaṁ, yogakkhemaṁ anuttaraṁ.

But one who gives up proliferation, enjoying the state of non-proliferation, wins extinguishment, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.”

Gāme vā yadi vāraññe, Ninne vā yadi vā thale; Yattha arahanto viharanti, Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ.

“Whether in the village or the wilderness, in a valley or the uplands, wherever the perfected ones live is a delightful place.”

Ramaṇīyāni araññāni, yattha na ramatī jano; Vītarāgā ramissanti, na te kāmagavesino.

“Delightful are the wildernesses where no people delight. Those free of greed will delight there, not those who seek sensual pleasures.”

Nidhīnaṁva pavattāraṁ, yaṁ passe vajjadassinaṁ; Niggayhavādiṁ medhāviṁ, tādisaṁ paṇḍitaṁ bhaje; Tādisaṁ bhajamānassa, seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.

“Regard one who sees your faults as a guide to a hidden treasure. Stay close to one so intelligent and astute who curbs you when you need it. Sticking close to such an impartial person, things get better, not worse.”

Ovadeyyānusāseyya, asabbhā ca nivāraye; Satañhi so piyo hoti, asataṁ hoti appiyo.

“Advise and instruct; curb wickedness: for you shall be loved by the good, and disliked by the bad.”

Aññassa bhagavā buddho, dhammaṁ desesi cakkhumā; Dhamme desiyamānamhi, sotamodhesimatthiko.

“The Blessed One, the Buddha, the seer was teaching Dhamma to another. As he taught the Dhamma, I lent an ear to get the meaning.

Taṁ me amoghaṁ savanaṁ, vimuttomhi anāsavo.

My listening wasn’t wasted: I’m freed, without defilements.”

Neva pubbenivāsāya, napi dibbassa cakkhuno; Cetopariyāya iddhiyā, cutiyā upapattiyā; Sotadhātuvisuddhiyā, paṇidhī me na vijjati”.

“Not for knowledge of past lives, nor even for clairvoyance; not for psychic powers, or encompassing the minds of others, nor for knowing people’s passing away and being reborn; not for purifying the power of clairaudience, did I have any wish.”

“Rukkhamūlaṁva nissāya, muṇḍo saṅghāṭipāruto; Paññāya uttamo thero, upatissova jhāyati.

“His only shelter is the foot of a tree; shaven, wrapped in his outer robe, the senior monk foremost in wisdom, Upatissa himself practices absorption.

Avitakkaṁ samāpanno, sammāsambuddhasāvako; Ariyena tuṇhībhāvena, upeto hoti tāvade.

When in a meditation free of placing the mind, a disciple of the Buddha is at that moment blessed with noble silence.

Yathāpi pabbato selo, acalo suppatiṭṭhito; Evaṁ mohakkhayā bhikkhu, pabbatova na vedhati”.

As a rocky mountain is unwavering and well grounded, so when delusion ends, a monk, like a mountain, doesn’t tremble.”

“Anaṅgaṇassa posassa, niccaṁ sucigavesino; Vālaggamattaṁ pāpassa, abbhamattaṁva khāyati.

“To the man who has not a blemish, who is always seeking purity, even a hair-tip of evil seems as big as a stormcloud.”

Nābhinandāmi maraṇaṁ, nābhinandāmi jīvitaṁ; Nikkhipissaṁ imaṁ kāyaṁ, sampajāno patissato.

“I don’t long for death; I don’t long for life; I will lay down this body, aware and mindful.

Nābhinandāmi maraṇaṁ, nābhinandāmi jīvitaṁ; Kālañca paṭikaṅkhāmi, nibbisaṁ bhatako yathā”.

I don’t long for death; I don’t long for life; I await my time, like a worker waiting for their wages.”

“Ubhayena midaṁ maraṇameva, Nāmaraṇaṁ pacchā vā pure vā; Paṭipajjatha mā vinassatha, Khaṇo vo mā upaccagā.

“Both what came before and what follows after are nothing but death, not freedom from death. Practice, don’t perish— don’t let the moment pass you by.

Nagaraṁ yathā paccantaṁ, guttaṁ santarabāhiraṁ; Evaṁ gopetha attānaṁ, khaṇo vo mā upaccagā; Khaṇātītā hi socanti, nirayamhi samappitā”.

Just like a frontier city, is guarded inside and out, so you should ward yourselves— don’t let the moment pass you by. For if you miss your moment you’ll grieve when sent to hell.”

“Upasanto uparato, mantabhāṇī anuddhato; Dhunāti pāpake dhamme, dumapattaṁva māluto.

“Calm and still, thoughtful in counsel, not restless— he shakes off bad qualities as the gale shakes leaves off a tree.

Upasanto uparato, mantabhāṇī anuddhato; Appāsi pāpake dhamme, dumapattaṁva māluto.

Calm and still, thoughtful in counsel, not restless— he plucks off bad qualities as the gale shakes leaves off a tree.

Upasanto anāyāso, vippasanno anāvilo; Kalyāṇasīlo medhāvī, dukkhassantakaro siyā”.

Calm and free of despair, clear and unclouded, of good morals, intelligent: one would make an end of suffering.”

“Na vissase ekatiyesu evaṁ, Agārisu pabbajitesu cāpi; Sādhūpi hutvā na asādhu honti, Asādhu hutvā puna sādhu honti.

“Some householders, and even some renunciants, are not to be trusted. Some who were good later become bad; while some who were bad become good.”

Kāmacchando ca byāpādo, thinamiddhañca bhikkhuno; Uddhaccaṁ vicikicchā ca, pañcete cittakelisā.

“Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness, and doubt: these are the five mental stains for a monk.”

Yassa sakkariyamānassa, asakkārena cūbhayaṁ; Samādhi na vikampati, appamādavihārino.

“Whether they’re honored or not honored, or both, their immersion doesn’t waver as they abide in the immeasurables.

Taṁ jhāyinaṁ sātatikaṁ, sukhumadiṭṭhivipassakaṁ; Upādānakkhayārāmaṁ, āhu sappuriso iti.

They persistently practice absorption with subtle view and discernment. Rejoicing in the ending of grasping, they’re said to be a true person.”

Mahāsamuddo pathavī, pabbato anilopi ca; Upamāya na yujjanti, satthu varavimuttiyā.

“The oceans and the earth, the mountains and the wind— no simile can do justice to the Teacher’s magnificent liberation.”

Cakkānuvattako thero, mahāñāṇī samāhito; Pathavāpaggisamāno, na rajjati na dussati.

“The senior monk who keeps the wheel rolling, he is very wise and serene. Like earth, like water, like fire, he is neither attracted nor repelled.

Paññāpāramitaṁ patto, mahābuddhi mahāmati; Ajaḷo jaḷasamāno, sadā carati nibbuto.

He has attained the perfection of wisdom, so intelligent and thoughtful. He is bright, but seems to be dull; he always wanders, quenched.”

Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā, … pe bhavanetti samūhatā.

“I’ve served the Teacher and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions. The heavy burden is laid down, the leash to existence is eradicated.

Sampādethappamādena, esā me anusāsanī; Handāhaṁ parinibbissaṁ, vippamuttomhi sabbadhī”ti.

Persist with diligence: this is my instruction. Come, I’ll be fully quenched— I am everywhere free.”