24. Affection (T210.24)

What contravenes the spiritual life one accords with it;
What accords with the spiritual life one contravenes it;
Leaving the real good one grasps at the pleasant
—Such is according with craving.

Do not seek to be with the beloved
Nor should one have unbeloved.
The meeting with the beloved is painful;
Meeting with the unbeloved is also painful.

Therefore create not any endearment
Affection and hatred originate from evil.
For those who are free from bonds,
There is neither affection nor hatred.

Endearment begets sorrow,
Endearment begets fear
For him free from endearment
Whence sorrow, whence fear?

Attachment begets sorrow,
Attachment begets fear.
For him free from attachment
Whence sorrow, whence fear?

Craving bets sorrow,
Craving begets fear.
For him liberated, without craving;
Whence sorrow, whence fear?

He who desires the Dharma, endowed with virtue,
Who is truthful and shameful,
Who goads himself to be near the Way,
Him do people hold dear.

He who externalizes not his desire state,
Who speaks having first rectified his thoughts,
Whose mind is free from lust;
Will stop the stream and cross over.

As one who has gone on a long journey,
And returns safe from afar;
His kinsfolk are well and happy,
Rejoicing to see him return.

Likewise, he who delights in merit-making,
Having gone from here to there
Will receive the blessing of his merit
Just as kinsmen’s rejoicing in his return.

Rise up and follow the holy teachings,
Restrain from what is unskillful.
When you meet one close to the Way, devote to him;
Do not get close to those away from the Way.

Those near the Way and those not,
Will go to different places:
Those near the Way will ascend to heaven;
Those not will fall into hell.

Translated from the Chinese by Bhikkhu Kuala Lumpur Dhammajoti

From his book The Chinese Version of Dharmapada, Translated with introduction and annotations.

Published here with the kind permission of the author.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.