-38_ The Wise

 

[1]

If you meet someone who shows you a thing to be cast out, even like one who tells you of a secret treasure, seek such a

 

¹ Kusa grass has in India a sacred character. To eat food with the tip of Kusa blade is taken symbolically here as an act of asceticism. 

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wise sage though he censures you. In such a seeking only good will come to you and not evil.

 

[2]

 

He will rebuke, he will command, he will prevent wrong doing. Such a person is loved by the good, he is disliked by the wicked.

 

[3]

 

Seek not a friend who is full of evil, seek not a friend who is among the vilest of men, seek your friend who is to your good, who is among the best of men.

 

[4]

 

One who drinks deep of the Divine Law lives happy in the serenity of his soul. The wise always finds delight in the Divine Law as declared by those who have the Realisation.

 

[5]

 

The diggers bend the water to their will, the arrow-makers bend their arrow to their will, the carpenters bend the wood to their will, even so the wise bends his self to his will. 

[6]

 

As a solid rock is not shaken by the blast, even so the wise is not shaken by praise and blame.

 

[7]

 

As a deep lake is serene and clear, even so the wise listens to the Divine Law and attains serenity.

 

[8]

 

The wise may go anywhere, but being wise they do not prattle of desires and longings. Whether touched by happiness or sorrow, the wise do not show any ups and downs.

 

[9]

 

Not for one's own sake nor for the sake of others, shall one desire for a son or wealth or a kingdom. One must not either through the evil path desire for one's prosperity. Then one becomes virtuous and wise and righteous. 

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[10]

 

Few are they among men who reach the other shore, ordinary creatures run up and down along this shore only.

 

[11]

 

And they who follow the Divine Law as ordained, reach the other shore beyond the impassable domain of Death.

 

[12]

 

Leaving the way of darkness, the wise man must cleave to the way of light. Leaving home, homeless he must come into the solitude where there are no pleasures.

 

[13]

 

There he must seek happiness, abandoning desires, possessing nothing, the wise man must cleanse himself of all the impurities of the mind.

 

[14]

 

Those whose mind is well grounded on all the degrees of Enlightenment, freed from all attachment, who delight in detachment, shorn of appetites, resplendent, in this world itself, attain the Supreme Nirvana. 

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