THE FOOL

                                                                                                            

[1]

 

Long is the night to him who is awake, long is a league to the weary. Long is the cycle of life to the senseless person who knows not the true Law. 

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[2]

 

If one does not find in his quest someone superior or even equal to himself, then he must resolutely go on all alone; no help can come from the senseless person.

 

[3]

 

I have sons, I have riches – so says the senseless man and worries himself. Even one's own self does not belong to oneself, how can then sons and riches so belong?

 

[4]

 

The senseless who recognises his senselessness is wise to that extent, but the senseless who considers himself wise is indeed senseless.

 

[5]

 

The senseless person may serve a wise man throughout his life, but he will not know the Right Law, even as a ladle does not know the taste of the soup.

 

[6]

 

An intelligent person may serve the wise one just for a moment but he will immediately have the knowledge of the Right Law, even as the tongue has the taste of the soup.

 

[7]

 

The senseless, wrong-minded as he is, acts himself as his own enemy, he does wrong acts that bear bitter fruits.

 

[8]

 

That act is not the right act by doing which you repent, the fruits of which you enjoy weeping and shedding tears.

 

[9]

 

That act is the right act by dong which you do not repent, whose fruits you enjoy with a glad and happy mind.

 

[10]

 

So long as the evil bears no fruit, the senseless man finds it sweet as honey, he plunges into suffering as soon as the evil bears its fruits. 

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[11]

 

Month after month the senseless person may take his food with the tip of a blade of grass,¹ yet he will not be worth even a sixteenth part of those who have understood the Law.

 

[12]

 

A wrong act done, even like fresh milk, does not at once turn sour, but it pursues the senseless man consuming him like a fire smouldering under ashes.

 

[13]

 

Whatever knowledge a senseless man gains serves only to bring calamity to him, turns his head and kills his brighter side.

 

[14]

 

The senseless man desires to realise the unreal, to be placed in front among the Adepts, he desires lordship at home and worship abroad.

 

[15]

 

"Those who are in the world and those who are outside it both must applaud whatever I do, they must obey me"­ – thus the desire, thus the conceit of the senseless one goes on increasing.

 

[16]

 

One way leads to gain, quite another towards Nirvana. The Bhikkhu, the disciple of the Buddha knows this and does not seek honour, he cultivates withdrawal.

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