{"collection":"Buddhism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/dhp/4.htm","path":"bud/dhp/4.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bud/dhp/4.htm","text":"Who will penetrate this earth\n& this realm of death\nwith all its gods?\nWho will ferret out\nthe well-taught Dhamma-saying,\nas the skillful flower-arranger\nthe flower?\nThe learner-on-the-path\nwill penetrate this earth\n& this realm of death \nwith all its gods.\nThe learner-on-the-path\nwill ferret out \nthe well-taught Dhamma-saying,\nas the skillful flower-arranger\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the flower.\n46:\nKnowing this body\nis like foam,\nrealizing its nature\n-- a mirage --\ncutting out\nthe blossoms of Mara,\nyou go where the King of Death\ncan't see.\nThe man immersed in\ngathering blossoms,\nhis heart distracted:\ndeath sweeps him away --\nas a great flood,\na village asleep.\nThe man immersed in\ngathering blossoms,\nhis heart distracted,\ninsatiable in sensual pleasures:\nthe End-Maker holds him\nunder his sway.\n49:\nAs a bee -- without harming\nthe blossom,\nits color,\nits fragrance --\ntakes its nectar & flies away:\nso should the sage\ngo through a village.\n50:\nFocus,\nnot on the rudenesses of others,\nnot on what they've done\nor left undone,\nbut on what you\nhave & haven't done\nyourself.\n51-52:\nJust like a blossom,\nbright colored\nbut scentless:\na well-spoken word\nis fruitless\nwhen not carried out.\nJust like a blossom,\nbright colored\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 & full of scent:\na well-spoken word\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 is fruitful\nwhen well carried out.\n53*:\nJust as from a heap of flowers\nmany garland strands can be made,\neven so\none born & mortal\nshould do\n-- with what's born & is mortal --\nmany a skillful thing.\nNo flower's scent\ngoes against the wind --\nnot sandalwood,\njasmine,\ntagara.\nBut the scent of the good\ndoes go against the wind.\nThe person of integrity\nwafts a scent\nin every direction.\nSandalwood, tagara,\nlotus, & jasmine:\nAmong these scents,\nthe scent of virtue\nis unsurpassed.\nNext to nothing, this fragrance\n-- sandalwood, tagara -- \nwhile the scent of the virtuous\nwafts to the gods,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 supreme.\n57*:\nThose consummate in virtue,\ndwelling in heedfulness,\nreleased through right knowing:\nMara can't follow their tracks.\n58-59:\nAs in a pile of rubbish\ncast by the side of a highway\na lotus might grow\nclean-smelling\npleasing the heart,\nso in the midst of the rubbish-like,\npeople run-of-the-mill & blind,\nthere dazzles with discernment\nthe disciple of the Rightly\nSelf-Awakened One.","title":"Dhammapada IV: Blossoms","type":"page"}