Chapter 14
THE BUDDHA
179
By what track can you trace
that trackless Buddha of limitless range,
whose victory nothing can undo,
whom none of the vanquished defilements
can ever pursue?
180
By what track can you trace
the trackless Buddha of limitless range,
in whom exists no longer
then entangling and embroiling craving
that perpetuates becoming?
181
Those wise ones who are devoted
to meditation and who delight
in the calm of renunciation--
such mindful ones,
Supreme Buddhas,
even the gods hold dear.
182
Hard is it to be born a man;
hard is the life of mortals.
Hard is it to gain the opportunity
of hearing the Sublime Truth,
and hard to encounter
is the arising of the Buddhas.
183
To avoid all evil,
to cultivate good,
and to cleanse one's mind--
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
184
Enduring patience
is the highest austerity.
"Nibbana is supreme," say the Buddhas.
He is not a true monk
who harms another,
nor a true renunciate
who oppresses others.
185
Not despising,
not harming,
restraint according
to the code of monastic discipline,
moderation in food,
dwelling in solitude,
devotion to meditation --
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
186-187
There is no satisfying sensual desires,
even with a rain of gold coins.
For sensual pleasures
give little satisfaction and much pain.
Having understood this,
the wise man finds no delight
even in heavenly pleasures.
The disciple of the Supreme Buddha
delights in the destruction of craving.
188
Driven only by fear,
do men go for refuge to many places --
the hills, woods, groves,
trees and shrines.
189
Such, indeed, is no safe refuge;
such is not the refuge supreme.
Not by resorting to such a refuge
is one released from all suffering.
190-191
He who has gone for refuge
to the Buddha,
his Teaching and his Order,
penetrates with transcendental wisdom
the Four Noble Truths --
suffering,
the cause of suffering,
the cessation of suffering,
and the Noble Eightfold Path
leading to the cessation of suffering.*
192
This indeed is the safe refuge,
this is the refuge supreme.
Having gone to such a refuge,
one is released from all suffering.
193
Hard to find is the thoroughbred man
(the Buddha);he is not born everywhere.
Where such a wise man is born,
that clan thrives happily.
194
Blessed is the birth of the Buddhas,
blessed is the enunciation
of the sacred Teaching;
blessed is the harmony in the Order,
and blessed is the spiritual pursuit
of the united truth-seekers.
195-196
He who reveres
those worthy of reverence,
the Buddhas and their disciples,
who have transcended all obstacles
and passed beyond the reach of sorrow
and lamentation --
he who reveres
such peaceful and fearless ones,
his merit non can compute
by any measure.
*The Order
The Order of the Noble ones who have reached the four supramundane stages, and the monastic Order.
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