Chapter on Non-Negligence (DHP21-32)

Collection of Minor Texts

Verses of Dhamma

Chapter on Non-Negligence

Non-negligence is the path of the Deathless,

negligence is the path of death.

Those who are not negligent never die,

those who are negligent are like the dead.

This is what the wise distinctly know

about non-negligence.

They rejoice in non-negligence,

enjoying the territory of the noble ones.

Those who meditate continuously,

who always persevere,

Steadfast, they touch Nibbāna—

the unsurpassable safety.

Glory increases for those who are proactive and mindful,

with pure and careful conduct,

self-restrained, living the Dhamma,

and not negligent.

By being proactive and not negligent,

self-restrained and self-controlled,

a wise person makes an island

which no flood can submerge.

Fools and idiots commit

to negligence,

whereas a wise person protects non-negligence

as the greatest wealth.

Do not commit to negligence

or to involvement in sensuality;

for one who meditates without negligence

attains abundant bliss.

When a wise person dispels negligence

by practicing non-negligence,

then having ascended in the palace of wisdom,

sorrowless, they look at this sorrowful generation,

as a wise person on a mountain

looks down at the fools on the ground.

Not negligent amidst the negligent,

wide awake amidst the sleeping—

like a swift horse leaving behind a feeble one,

the wise leave them behind and move on.

By means of non-negligence

Maghavā became the best of the angels;

they praise non-negligence,

whereas negligence is always criticized.

A monk who approves of non-negligence

and sees the danger in negligence

proceeds like a fire—

burning up fetters, small and large.

A monk who approves of non-negligence

and sees the danger in negligence

cannot decline

and is close to Nibbāna.