Chapter 2

Diligence is the path to the deathless (Nirvana); heedlessness is the path to death. Those who are diligent do not die; those who are heedless are already as good as dead.

Those who have grown in diligence, having clearly grasped this, take joy in diligence and rejoice in the knowledge of the noble ones.

These wise ones, meditative and steady, always exerting strong effort, reach Nirvana, the highest happiness.

If a diligent person rouses themselves, is mindful, acts purely, behaves with care, exercises restraint, and lives according to the dharma, their glory will grow.

By rousing themselves, by diligence, by restraint and self-control, the wise person can build an island that no flood can sweep away.

Fools, people of poor judgment, give themselves over to heedlessness. The wise person guards diligence as their most precious jewel.

Do not give yourself over to heedlessness, nor to the pleasures of love and lust. The one who is diligent and meditative gains abundant joy.

When the learned drive away heedlessness through diligence, the wise, climbing the high terraces of wisdom, look down upon the foolish; serenely they regard the toiling crowd, as one standing on a mountain looks down on those standing on the plain.

Diligent among the heedless, awake among the sleeping, the wise person moves ahead like a swift racer leaving the slow horse behind.

It was through diligence that Maghavan (Indra) rose to lordship over the gods. People praise diligence; heedlessness is always blamed.

A bhikkhu who delights in diligence and sees heedlessness as a danger moves forward like fire, burning up every fetter, small or great.

A bhikkhu who delights in reflection and sees heedlessness as a danger cannot fall back from their perfected state—they are close to Nirvana.