Going to the Far Shore (SN46.17)

Linked Discourses 46.17

2. Sick

Going to the Far Shore

“Mendicants, when these seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.

What seven?

The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.

These seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.

Few are those among humans¹

who cross to the far shore.

The rest just run

around on the near shore.

When the teaching is well explained,

the people who practice accordingly

will cross over

Death’s dominion so hard to pass.

Rid of dark qualities,

an astute person would develop the bright.

Having left home for homelessness

in seclusion, where joy is hard,

they’d long for satisfaction there.

Forsaking sensual pleasures, owning nothing,

an astute person would cleanse themselves

of mental corruptions.

And those whose minds are rightly developed

in the awakening factors;

who, letting go of attachments,

delight in not grasping—

with defilements ended, brilliant,

they are quenched in this world.”