The Pairs

Mind precedes its objects. They are mind-governed and mind-made. To
speak or act with a defiled mind is to draw pain after oneself, like a
wheel behind the feet of the animal drawing it.

Mind precedes its objects. They are mind-governed and mind-made. To
speak or act with a peaceful mind, is to draw happiness after oneself,
like an inseparable shadow.

I have been insulted! I have been hurt! I have been beaten! I have been
robbed! Anger does not cease in those who harbour this sort of thought.

I have been insulted! I have been hurt! I have been beaten! I have been
robbed! Anger ceases in those who do not harbour this sort of thought.

Occasions of hatred are certainly never settled by hatred. They are
settled by freedom from hatred. This is the eternal law.

Others may not understand that we must practice self-control, but
quarreling dies away in those who understand this fact.

The Tempter masters the lazy and irresolute man who dwells on the
attractive side of things, ungoverned  in his senses, and unrestrained
in his food, like the wind overcomes a rotten tree.

But the Tempter cannot master a man who dwells on the distasteful side
of things, self- controlled in his senses, moderate in eating, resolute
and full of faith, like the wind cannot move a mountain crag.

The man who wears the yellow-dyed robe but is not free from stains
himself, without self- restraint and integrity, is unworthy of the robe.

But the man who has freed himself of stains and has found peace of mind
in an upright life, possessing self-restraint and integrity, he is
indeed worthy of the dyed robe.

To see the essence in the unessential and to see the essence as
unessential means one can never get to the essence, wandering  as one is
in the road of wrong intentions.

But to see the essence in the essential and the unessential as the
unessential it is means one does get to the essence, being on the road
of right intentions.

In the same way that rain breaks into a house with a bad roof, desire
breaks into the mind that has not been practicing meditation.

While in the same way that rain cannot break into a well-roofed house,
desire cannot break into a mind that has been practicing meditation
well.

Here and beyond he suffers. The wrong-doer suffers both ways. He suffers
and is tormented to see his own depraved behaviour.

Here and beyond he is glad. The doer of good is glad both ways. He is
glad and rejoices to see his own good deeds.

Here and beyond he is punished. The wrong-doer is punished both ways. He
is punished by the thought, "I have done evil", and is even more
punished when he comes to a bad state.

Here and beyond he rejoices. The doer of good rejoices both way. He
rejoices at the thought, "I have done good", and rejoices even more when
he comes to a happy state.

Even if he is fond of quoting appropriate texts, the thoughtless man who
does not put them into practice himself is like cowherd counting other
people's cows, not a partner in the Holy Life.

Even if he does not quote appropriate texts much, if he follows the
principles of the Teaching by getting rid of greed, hatred and delusion,
deep of insight and with a mind free from attachment, not clinging to
anything in this world or the next - that man is a partner in the Holy Life.

 Attention

Attention leads to immortality. Carelessness leads to death. Those who
pay attention will not die, while the careless are as good as dead   already.

So having clearly understood the value of attention, wise men take
pleasure in it, rejoicing in what the saints have practiced.

Those who meditate with perseverance, constantly working hard at it, are
the wise who experience Nirvana, the ultimate freedom from chains.

When a man is resolute and recollected, pure of deed and persevering,
when he is attentive and self-controlled and lives according to the
Teaching, his reputation is bound to grow.

By resolution and attention, by discipline and self-control, a clever
man may build himself an island that no flood can overthrow.

Foolish, ignorant people indulge in careless lives, whereas a clever man
guards his attention as his most precious possession.

Don't indulge in careless behaviour. Don't be the friend of sensual
pleasures. He who meditates attentively attains abundant joy.

When a wise man has carefully rid himself of carelessness and climbed
the High Castle of Wisdom, sorrowless he observes sorrowing people, like
a clear-sighted man on a mountain top looking down on the people with
limited vision on the ground below.

Careful amidst the careless, amongst the sleeping wide-awake, the
intelligent man leaves them all behind, like a race-horse does a mere
hack.

It was by attention that Indra attained the highest place among the
gods. People approve of attention, while carelessness is always
condemned.

A bhikkhu taking pleasure in being attentive, and recognising the danger
of carelessness, makes progress like a forest fire, consuming all
obstacles large or small in his way.

A bhikkhu taking pleasure in being attentive, and recognising the danger
of carelessness, is incapable of falling away. In fact he is already
close to Nirvana.

 Happiness

Happy indeed we live who are free from hatred among those who still
hate. In the midst of hate-filled men, we live free from hatred.

Happy indeed we live who are free from disease among those still
diseased. In the midst of diseased men, we live free from disease.

Happy indeed we live who are free from worry among those who are still
worried. In the midst of worried men, we live free from worry.

Happy indeed we live who have nothing of our own. We shall feed on joy,
just like the radiant devas.

A victor only breeds hatred, while a defeated man lives in misery, but a
man at peace within lives happily, abandoning up ideas of victory and
defeat.

There is no fire like desire. There is no weakness like anger. There is
no suffering like the khandhas. There is no happiness greater than
peace.

Hunger is the supreme disease. Mental activity is the supreme suffering.
When one has grasped this as it really is, nirvana is the supreme
happiness.

Health is the supreme possession. Contentment is the supreme wealth. A
trustworthy friend is the supreme relation. Nirvana is the supreme
happiness.

After enjoying the taste of solitude and the taste of peace, one is
freed from distress and evil, as one enjoys the taste of spiritual joy.
 

It is good to meet with the saints. Living with them is always sweet. By
not meeting fools one can be happy all the time.

A man who keeps company with a fool, will suffer for it a long time. It
is always painful to live with fools, like with an enemy, but a wise man
is good to live with, like meeting up with relatives.

Therefore, if he is a man of understanding and penetration, learned and
habitually moral, devout and noble, one should cultivate the company of
that just and wise man, in the same way as the moon keeps to a path
among the stars.

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