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VIGILANCE [1] Vigilance is the way to immortality. Negligence the way to Death. The vigilant never dies; the negligent is already dead. [2] They know this thoroughly well, the wise in vigilance and they rejoice in their vigilance, ever in the presence of the Great Ones. [3] They who are intelligent, meditative, persevering, combat ceaselessly against themselves, reach the Nirvana that is supreme felicity. [4] He who is full of zeal, he who is mindful, he who is pure in deed, and acts thoughtfully, who is self-controlled and lives in accordance with the Law sees his fame ever growing. [5] By his zeal and vigilance and discipline and self-control, the intelligent man should create an island for himself which no flood can overwhelm. [6] The stupid, devoid of intelligence, give themselves to negligence. The intelligent guards vigilance as the supreme treasure. [7] Do not give yourself to negligence nor to the enjoyment of the passions. It is the vigilant, given to meditation, that attains the vast happiness. [8] The wise dispel negligence by vigilance, they climb to the heights of wisdom and griefless themselves they contemplate from a hilltop as it were the ignorant ones grieving on the plains. Page - 202 [9] Vigilant among the negligent, wide awake among the slumberous, one intelligent goes fast like a steed that leaves behind a faint mount. [10] By vigilance Indra has become supreme among the gods. Vigilance is praiseworthy. Negilgence is always blameworthy. [11] The Bhikkhu who is given to vigilance and who shuns negligence moves forward like a fire consuming all bonds, great or small. [12] The Bhikkhu who is given
to vigilance and who shuns negligence never goes astray, he moves near unto
Nirvana. Page - 203
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