~*~^~*~
The thirst of thoughtless man grows like
a creeper; he would run from life to life,
Like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest.
Whomsoever this fierce poisonous thirst
Overcomes, sure his sufferings increase
But from him, who overcomes the thirst
Sufferings fall off, like water drops from
a lotus leaf!
It’s difficult to conquer thirst as a tree
Even though one has cut it down, it is firm
So long as its roots are safe in the earth
And grows again, unless feeders of thirst
Are destroyed, his pain will return again.
A man of lust runs about like a snared hare
Held in fetters and bonds, he will undergo
Pain in life again and again for a long time.
If thou see the creeper of passion springing
Up, cut its root by means of knowledge!
Wise people do not call that a strong fetter
which is made of iron; passionately strong
is the care for precious stones and wealth,
for sons and wife and for pleasures of lust!
Those who are slaves to passion run down
The stream of desires, as a spider runs down
The web which he has made himself; when
They have cut this, at last, the wise people
Go onwards free from cares leaving all pain!
He who has reached the consummation, who
Does not tremble with fears of death or loss,
Who is without thirst and without sin, truly
He has broken all the thorns of life on earth
This will be his last body, as he gets Nirvana
He is called a great sage and lovable great man!
I’ve conquered all I know all in all conditions
Of life I am free from taint; I have left all, and
Through destruction of thirst I am free; having
Learned my self whom should I treat as my teacher
Having absorbed in the consciousness of universe
I am moving the wheel of righteousness!
~*~
-2004
(*From teachings of Lord Buddha: Dammapada.
This was a revised version of my old poem on
Lord Buddha : The Enlightened One}
