Chapter 21

If by giving up a small pleasure one can gain a great one, let the wise person give up the small pleasure and look to the greater.

Whoever tries to gain happiness for himself by causing pain to others becomes entangled in the bonds of hatred and will never be free from it.

What ought to be done is left undone, and what ought not to be done is done; in restless, careless people, cravings only keep growing.

But for those whose mindfulness is constantly directed toward the body, who refuse to do what should not be done and steadily do what should be done—in such watchful and wise people, cravings come to an end.

A true Brahmana goes untouched by guilt, even if he has killed mother and father and two warrior kings, and destroyed a kingdom with all its people.

A true Brahmana goes untouched by guilt, even if he has killed mother and father, two saintly kings, and a distinguished man besides.

The disciples of Gotama (the Buddha) are always wide awake, and day and night their thoughts are set on the Buddha.

The disciples of Gotama are always wide awake, and day and night their thoughts are set on the dharma.

The disciples of Gotama are always wide awake, and day and night their thoughts are set on the community.

The disciples of Gotama are always wide awake, and day and night their thoughts are set on the body.

The disciples of Gotama are always wide awake, and day and night their minds delight in compassion.

The disciples of Gotama are always wide awake, and day and night their minds delight in meditation.

It is hard to leave the world and become a monk; hard, too, to enjoy worldly life. The monastery is hard, household life is painful, living among equals (sharing everything in common) is painful, and the wandering mendicant meets with hardship. Therefore let no one wander as a homeless mendicant, and hardship will not pursue him.

Wherever a person who is faithful, virtuous, renowned, and prosperous chooses to settle, he is respected.

Good people shine from far away, like the snow-covered mountains; bad people are invisible, like arrows shot in the night.

The one who steadily practices sitting alone and sleeping alone, who, mastering himself, finds joy alone in the ending of all cravings—he lives as if dwelling in a forest.