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CHAPTER 25 THE BHIKSHU (MENDICANT) “The Bhikshu who acts with kindness and is calm in the doctrine of Buddha will reach the quiet place (Nirvâna), cessation of natural desires, and happiness. O Bhikshu, empty this boat! If emptied, it will go quickly; having cut off passion and hatred, thou will go to Nirvâna. Cut off the five (senses), leave the five, and rise above the five. A Bhikshu, who has escaped from the five fetters, he is called Oghatinna, ‘saved from the flood.’ Meditate, O Bhikshu, and be not heedless! Do not direct thy thought to what gives pleasure that thou may not for thy heedlessness have to swallow the iron ball (in hell), and that thou may not cry out when burning, ‘This is pain.’ Without knowledge, there is no meditation, without meditation, there is no knowledge: he who has knowledge and meditation is near unto Nirvâna. A Bhikshu who has entered his empty house and whose mind is tranquil, feels a more than human delight when he sees the law [Dharma] clearly. As soon as he has considered the origin and destruction of the elements (khandha) of the body, he finds happiness and joy which belong to those who know the immortal (Nirvâna).” CHAPTER 26 THE BRÂHMANA (ARHAT) “Stop the stream valiantly, drive away the desires, O Brâhmana! When you have understood the destruction of all that was made, you will understand that which was not made. If the Brâhmana has reached the other shore in both laws (in restraint and contemplation), all bonds vanish from him who has obtained knowledge. He for whom there is neither this nor that shore, nor both, him, the fearless and unshackled, I call indeed a Brâhmana. He who is thoughtful, blameless, settled, dutiful, without passions, and who has attained the highest end, him I call indeed a Brâhmana. The Sun is bright by day, the Moon shines by night, the Brâhmana is bright in his meditation; but Buddha, the Awakened, is bright with splendor day and night. […]”
