Dhamma Literati

Jaravagga Verse 153: I, who have been seeking the builder of this house (body), failing to attain Enlightenment (Bodhi nana or Sabbannuta nana) which would enable me to find him, have wandered through innumerable births in samsara. To be born again and again is, indeed, dukkha!

Jaravagga Verse 152: This man of little learning grows old like an ox; only his flesh grows but not his wisdom.

Jaravagga Verse 151: The much ornamented royal carriages do wear out, the body also grows old, but the Dhamma of the Virtuous does not decay. Thus, indeed, say the Virtuous among themselves.

Jaravagga Verse 150: This body (lit., the city) is built up with bones which are covered with flesh and blood; within this dwell (lit., are deposited) decay and death, pride and detraction (of others’ virtues and reputation).

Jaravagga Verse 149: Like gourds thrown away in autumn are these dove-grey bones; what pleasure is there in seeing them?

Jaravagga Verse 148: This body is worn out-with age, it is the seat of sickness, it is subject to decay. This putrid body disintegrates; life, indeed, ends in death.

Jaravagga Verse 147: Look at this dressed up body, a mass of sores, supported (by bones), sickly, a subject of many thoughts (of sensual desire). Indeed, that body is neither permanent nor enduring.

Jaravagga Verse 146: Why is there laughter? Why is there joy although (the world) is always burning? Shrouded in darkness why not seek the light?

Dandavagga Verse 145: Farmers channel the water; fletchers straighten the arrows; carpenters work the timber; the wise tame themselves.

Dandavagga Verse 144: As splendid horse touched with whip, be ardent, deeply moved, by faith and virtue, effort too, by meditation, Dhamma’s search, by knowledge, kindness, mindfulness; abandon dukkha limitless!

Dandavagga Verse 143: Rare in this world is the kind of person who out of a sense of shame restrains from doing evil and keeps himself awake like a good horse that gives no cause to be whipped.

Dandavagga Verse 142: Though he is gaily decked, if he is calm, free from moral defilements, and has his senses controlled, if he is established in Magga Insight, if he is pure and has laid aside enmity towards all beings, he indeed is a brahmana, a samana, and a bhikkhu.

Dandavagga Verse 141: Not going naked, nor having matted hair, nor smearing oneself with mud, nor fasting, nor sleeping on bare ground, nor covering oneself with dust, nor striving by squatting can purify a being, who has not yet overcome doubt.

Dandavagga Verse 140: Or else his houses may be consumed by fire; and when the body breaks up, the unwise one is reborn in hell.

Dandavagga Verse 139: Or trouble from those in authority, or grave accusation; the loss of relatives, or the destruction of possessions.

Dandavagga Verse 138: He may suffer severe pain, loss, or injury to the body; or he may be afflicted by serious illness, or fall into mental disturbance.

Dandavagga Verse 137: He who does harm with weapons to those who are harmless and should not be harmed will soon come to any of these ten evil consequences.

Dandavagga Verse 136: A fool while doing evil deeds does not know them as being evil; but that fool suffers for his evil deeds like one who is burnt by fire.

Dandavagga Verse 135: As with a stick the cowherd drives his cattle to the pasture, so also, ageing and death drive the life of beings.

Dandavagga Verse 134: If you can keep yourself calm and quiet like a broken gong which is no longer resonant, you are sure to realize Nibbana, there will be no harshness in you.