THE MIND


T I T L E (1) :
The flickering , fickle mind,
Difficult to guard, difficult to control,
The wise man straightens,
As a fletcher straightens an arrow.

T I T L E (2) :
Like a fish drawn its watery abode
And thrown upon land,
Even so does the mind flutter,
Hence should the realm of passions be shunned.

T I T L E (3) :
Good is it to control the mind
Which is hard to check and swift
And flits wherever it desires.
A subdued mind is conducive to happiness.

T I T L E (4) :
Hard to perceive and extremely subtle is this mind,
It roams wherever it desires.
Let the wise man guard it;
A guarded mind is conducive to happiness.

T I T L E (5) :
Faring afar, solitary, incorporeal
Lying in the body, is the mind.
Those who subdue it are freed
From the bond od Mara.

T I T L E (6) :
He whose mind is inconstant,
He who knows not the true doctrine,
He whose confidence wavers -
The wisdom of such a one is never fulfilled.

T I T L E (7) :
He who is vigilant,
He whose mind is not overcome by lust and hatred,
He who has discarded both good and evil -
For such a one there is no fear.

T I T L E (8) :
Realizing that body is fragile as a pot,
Establishing one's mind as firm as a fortified city,
Let one attack let one guard one's conqust
And afford no rest to Mara.

T I T L E (9) :
Soon, alas! will this body lie
Upon the ground, unheeded,
Devoid of consciousness,
Even as useless log.

T I T L E (10) :
Whatever harm a foe may do to a foe,
Or a hater to a hater,
An ill-directed mind
Can harm one even more.

T I T L E (11) :
What neither mother ,nor father,
Nor any other relative can do,
A well-directed mind does
And thereby elevates one.


Source : The Buddha's in the Dhammapada by Sathienphong Wannapok


       

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