“Restraint of the eye is good; good is restraint of the ear; restraint of the nose is good; good is restraint of the tongue.”
Cakkhunā saṁvaro sādhu, sādhu sotena saṁvaro; Ghānena saṁvaro sādhu, sādhu jivhāya saṁvaro.
Chapter 25: Mendicants
Bhikkhuvagga
Verses 360–382 · 23 verses · English by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0)
Twenty-three verses on the mendicant, meaning the monastic practitioner, and much of it is practical: restraint in the body, in speech and at the bowl, and contentment with what is giving. The chapter has less doctrine than chapter 24 and more description of how a day of practice is arranged.
“Restraint of the body is good; good is restraint of speech; restraint of mind is good; everywhere, restraint is good. The mendicant restrained everywhere is released from all suffering.”
Kāyena saṁvaro sādhu, sādhu vācāya saṁvaro; Manasā saṁvaro sādhu, sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro; Sabbattha saṁvuto bhikkhu, sabbadukkhā pamuccati.
“One restrained in hand and foot, and in speech, the supreme restraint; happy inside, serene, solitary, content, I call a mendicant.”
Hatthasaṁyato pādasaṁyato, Vācāsaṁyato saṁyatuttamo; Ajjhattarato samāhito, Eko santusito tamāhu bhikkhuṁ.
“When a mendicant of restrained mouth, thoughtful in counsel, not restless, explains the text and its meaning, their words are sweet.”
Yo mukhasaṁyato bhikkhu, mantabhāṇī anuddhato; Atthaṁ dhammañca dīpeti, madhuraṁ tassa bhāsitaṁ.
“Delighting in the teaching, enjoying the teaching, contemplating the teaching, a mendicant who recollects the teaching doesn’t fall away from the true teaching.”
Dhammārāmo dhammarato, dhammaṁ anuvicintayaṁ; Dhammaṁ anussaraṁ bhikkhu, saddhammā na parihāyati.
“A well-off mendicant ought not look down on others, nor should they be envious. A mendicant who envies others does not achieve immersion.”
Salābhaṁ nātimaññeyya, nāññesaṁ pihayaṁ care; Aññesaṁ pihayaṁ bhikkhu, samādhiṁ nādhigacchati.
“If a mendicant is poor in offerings, the well-to-do ought not look down on them. For the gods indeed praise them, who are tireless and pure of livelihood.”
Appalābhopi ce bhikkhu, salābhaṁ nātimaññati; Taṁ ve devā pasaṁsanti, suddhājīviṁ atanditaṁ.
“One who has no sense of ownership in the whole realm of name and form, who does not grieve for that which is not, is said to be a mendicant.”
Sabbaso nāmarūpasmiṁ, yassa natthi mamāyitaṁ; Asatā ca na socati, sa ve “bhikkhū”ti vuccati.
“A mendicant who meditates on love, devoted to the Buddha’s teaching, would realize the peaceful state, the blissful stilling of conditions.”
Mettāvihārī yo bhikkhu, pasanno buddhasāsane; Adhigacche padaṁ santaṁ, saṅkhārūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ.
“Bail out this boat, mendicant! When bailed out it will float lightly. Having cut off desire and hate, you shall reach extinguishment.”
Siñca bhikkhu imaṁ nāvaṁ, sittā te lahumessati; Chetvā rāgañca dosañca, tato nibbānamehisi.
“Five to cut, five to drop, and five more to develop. When a mendicant slips five chains they’re said to have crossed the flood.”
Pañca chinde pañca jahe, pañca cuttari bhāvaye; Pañca saṅgātigo bhikkhu, “oghatiṇṇo”ti vuccati.
“Practice absorption, don’t be negligent! Don’t let the mind delight in the senses! Don’t heedlessly swallow a hot iron ball! And when it burns, don’t cry, “Oh, the pain!””
Jhāya bhikkhu mā pamādo, Mā te kāmaguṇe ramessu cittaṁ; Mā lohaguḷaṁ gilī pamatto, Mā kandi “dukkhamidan”ti dayhamāno.
“No absorption for one without wisdom, no wisdom for one without absorption. But one with absorption and wisdom— they have truly drawn near to extinguishment.”
Natthi jhānaṁ apaññassa, paññā natthi ajhāyato; Yamhi jhānañca paññā ca, sa ve nibbānasantike.
“A mendicant who enters an empty hut with mind at peace finds a superhuman delight as they rightly discern the Dhamma.”
Suññāgāraṁ paviṭṭhassa, santacittassa bhikkhuno; Amānusī rati hoti, sammā dhammaṁ vipassato.
“Whenever they are mindful of the rise and fall of the aggregates, they feel rapture and joy: that is freedom from death for one who knows.”
Yato yato sammasati, khandhānaṁ udayabbayaṁ; Labhatī pītipāmojjaṁ, amataṁ taṁ vijānataṁ.
“This is the very start of the path for a wise mendicant here: guarding the senses, contentment, and restraint in the monastic code.”
Tatrāyamādi bhavati, idha paññassa bhikkhuno; Indriyagutti santuṭṭhi, pātimokkhe ca saṁvaro.
“Mix with spiritual friends, who are tireless and pure of livelihood. Share what you have with others, being skillful in your conduct. And when you’re full of joy, you’ll make an end to suffering.”
Mitte bhajassu kalyāṇe, suddhājīve atandite; Paṭisanthāravutyassa, ācārakusalo siyā; Tato pāmojjabahulo, dukkhassantaṁ karissati.
“As a jasmine sheds its withered flowers, O mendicants, shed greed and hate.”
Vassikā viya pupphāni, maddavāni pamuñcati; Evaṁ rāgañca dosañca, vippamuñcetha bhikkhavo.
“Calm in body, calm in speech, peaceful and serene; a mendicant who’s spat out the world’s bait is said to be one at peace.”
Santakāyo santavāco, santavā susamāhito; Vantalokāmiso bhikkhu, “upasanto”ti vuccati.
“Urge yourself on, reflect on yourself. A mendicant self-controlled and mindful will always dwell in happiness.”
Attanā codayattānaṁ, paṭimaṁsetha attanā; So attagutto satimā, sukhaṁ bhikkhu vihāhisi.
“Self is indeed the lord of self, for who else would be one’s lord? Self is indeed the home of self, so restrain yourself, as a merchant his thoroughbred steed.”
Attā hi attano nātho, ko hi nātho paro siyā; Attā hi attano gati, tasmā saṁyamamattānaṁ; Assaṁ bhadraṁva vāṇijo.
“A monk full of joy trusting in the Buddha’s teaching, would realize the peaceful state, the blissful stilling of conditions.”
Pāmojjabahulo bhikkhu, pasanno buddhasāsane; Adhigacche padaṁ santaṁ, saṅkhārūpasamaṁ sukhaṁ.
“A young mendicant devoted to the Buddha’s teaching, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds.”
Yo have daharo bhikkhu, yuñjati buddhasāsane; Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti, abbhā muttova candimā. Bhikkhuvaggo pañcavīsatimo.