{"collection":"Buddhism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/thag/thag2.htm","path":"bud/thag/thag2.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bud/thag/thag2.htm","text":"Note: Unless otherwise indicated, these suttas were translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.\nDays & nights\nfly past.\nLife\ncomes to an end.\nThe span of mortals\nruns out,\nlike the water of a piddling stream.\nBut the fool doing evil deeds\ndoesn't realize that later\nit's bitter for him:\nevil for him\nthe result.\nThis swarthy woman\n[preparing a corpse for cremation]\n-- crow-like, enormous --\nbreaking a thigh & then the other\nthigh,\nbreaking an arm & then the other\narm,\ncracking open the head,\nlike a pot of curds,\nshe sits with them heaped up beside her.\nWhoever, unknowing,\nmakes acquisitions\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -- the fool -- \nreturns over & over\nto suffering & stress.\nSo, discerning,\ndon't make acquisitions.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 May I never lie\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 with my head cracked open\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 again.\nWhat needs to be done\nwith firm persistence,\nwhat needs to be done\nby someone who hopes for Awakening,\nthat I will do.\nI will not fail.\nSee: persistence & striving!\nYou show me the path:\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the straight,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the plunge into Deathlessness.\nI, through sagacity,\nwill reach it, know it,\nas the stream of the Ganges,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the sea.\nShedding five hindrances\nso as to reach the unexcelled rest\nfrom the yoke,\ntaking the Dhamma as mirror\nfor knowing & seeing myself,\nI reflected on this body --\nthe whole thing,\ninside & out,\nmy own & others'.\nHow vain & empty it looked!\nJust as a fine thoroughbred steed\nstumbling, regains its stance,\nfeeling all the more urgency,\n& draws its burden\nundaunted.\nIn the same way, remember me:\nconsummate in vision,\na disciple of the Rightly\nSelf-awakened One,\nthe Awakened One's thoroughbred child,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 his son.\nMen of integrity\nhave been attended to,\nthe Dhamma repeatedly\nlistened to.\nHaving listened,\nI followed the straight way,\nthe plunge into Deathlessness.\nPassion for becoming,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 having been killed by me,\nno further such passion\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 is found in me.\nIt neither was\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 nor will be\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 nor is found in me\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 even now.\nIt's not for sleeping,\nthe night garlanded\nwith zodiac stars.\nThe night, for one who knows,\nis for staying awake.\nIf I were to fall from my elephant's shoulder,\nand a tusker trampled me,\ndeath in battle would be better for me,\nthan that I, defeated,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 survive.","title":"Theragatha II","type":"page"}