Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
How very happily we live,
free from hostility
among those who are hostile.
Among hostile people,
free from hostility we dwell.
How very happily we live,
free from misery
among those who are miserable.
Among miserable people,
free from misery we dwell.
How very happily we live,
free from busyness
among those who are busy.
Among busy people,
free from busyness we dwell.
How very happily we live,
we who have nothing.
We will feed on rapture
like the Radiant gods.
Winning gives birth to hostility.
Losing, one lies down in pain.
The calmed lie down with ease,
having set
winning & losing
aside.
There's no fire like passion,
no loss like anger,
no pain like the aggregates,
no ease other than peace.
Hunger: the foremost illness.
Fabrications: the foremost pain.
For one knowing this truth
as it actually is,
Unbinding
is the foremost ease.
Freedom from illness: the foremost good fortune.
Contentment: the foremost wealth.
Trust: the foremost kinship.
Unbinding: the foremost ease.
Drinking the nourishment,
the flavor,
of seclusion & calm,
one is freed from evil, devoid
of distress,
refreshed with the nourishment
of rapture in the Dhamma.
It's good to see Noble Ones.
Happy their company -- always.
Through not seeing fools
constantly, constantly
one would be happy.
For, living with a fool,
one grieves a long time.
Painful is communion with fools,
as with an enemy --
always.
Happy is communion
with the enlightened,
as with a gathering of kin.
So:
the enlightened man --
discerning, learned,
enduring, dutiful, noble,
intelligent, a man of integrity:
follow him
-- one of this sort --
as the moon, the path
of the zodiac stars.