14. The Chapter about Patience (PDHP239-260)

Patna Dhammapada

14. The Chapter about Patience

Enduring patience is the supreme austerity, Nibbāna is supreme say the Buddhas,

for one gone forth does not hurt another, nor does an ascetic harass another.

Those sages without violence, constantly restrained in body,

go to the deathless Nibbāna, having gone there they do not grieve.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,

those who day and night have a mind that delights in non-violence.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,

those who day and night have a mind that delights in cultivation.

Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,

those who day and night constantly have mindfulness of the body.

Those wise ones intent on meditation, who delight in the peace of renunciation,

even the gods are envious of them, the Sambuddhas, the ones who are mindful.

Whether in the wilds or village, whether on low or on high ground,

wherever the Arahats live, that ground is surely delightful.

If, for even one living being, one with an uncorrupt mind, has loving-kindness, there is wholesomeness in that,

but the one with compassion in mind for all living beings, that noble one makes abundant merit.

Those who conquered the earth, crowded with beings, those royal seers who went round sacrificing:

the horse sacrifice, the man sacrifice, the stick-casting, the soma offering, the unobstructed—

compared to the one who develops his mind with loving-kindness, they do not partake of even a sixteenth part,

just as the whole host of stars do not partake of the radiance of the moon.

Then he who with a mind of loving-kindness has compassion for all living beings,

having loving-kindness towards all beings, he has no one who is hated.

For he who every day and night delights in a mind of non-violence,

having loving-kindness towards all beings, he has no one who is hated.

For he who every day and night has a mind that delights in cultivation,

having loving-kindness towards all beings, he has no one who is hated.

For he who every day and night constantly has mindfulness of the body,

having loving-kindness towards all beings, he has no one who is hated.

He who neither kills, nor has killed, conquers, nor has conquered,

having loving-kindness towards all beings, he has no one who is hated.

For not by hatred do hatreds cease at any time in this place,

they only cease with non-hatred, this truth is surely eternal.

The others do not understand that we should be successful here,

but for those here who do understand, through that, their dissensions do cease.

Let us live truly happily, without hatred, amongst those who have hatred,

amongst humans who have hatred let us live without hatred.

Let us live truly happily, without longing, amongst those who are longing,

amongst humans who are longing let us live without longing.

We live truly happily enough having no possessions ourselves,

amongst those with possessions let us live having no possessions.

One should see it as a bubble, one should see it as a mirage,

looking on the world in this way the King of Death does not see one.

This body is worn out, a nest of disease, perishing,

the putrid body comes to destruction, for life ends in death.

Having seen an old man, one afflicted and sick, having seen one deceased, after not long for the student,

anxiety, sharp and extensive, arose, and the wise one cut the household bonds.

The Chapter about Patience