English
The Chapter on Heedfulness 21. Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless, Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful do not die, The heedless are as if dead. 22. Having thus distinctly known this, The wise delight in heedfulness. They rejoice in heedfulness, Rejoicing in the domain of the Noble Ones. 23. Those meditators, constantly striving, Always with firm effort, The wise touch Nibbāna, The unsurpassed security from bondage. 24. For one who is energetic, mindful, Pure in action, acting with discernment, Self-restrained, living by Dhamma, And heedful, glory increases. 25. By energy, by heedfulness, By self-restraint, by taming, Let the wise one make an island, Which no flood can overwhelm. 26. Fools, people of dull wit, Indulge in heedlessness. But the wise one guards heedfulness, As a supreme treasure. 27. Do not indulge in heedlessness, Do not indulge in sensual delight. For the heedful one, meditating, Attains abundant bliss. 28. When the wise one drives away heedlessness By heedfulness, Having ascended the palace of wisdom, Sorrowless, he surveys the sorrowing populace. Like one standing on a mountain, He looks upon the fools on the ground. 29. Heedful among the heedless, Wide awake among the sleeping, The wise one advances, Like a swift horse leaving behind a weak one. 30. By heedfulness, Magha (Indra) Attained supremacy among the gods. Heedfulness is praised, Heedlessness is always blamed. 31. A bhikkhu delighting in heedfulness, Or seeing danger in heedlessness, Burns up all fetters, Small and large, like a fire. 32. A bhikkhu delighting in heedfulness, Or seeing danger in heedlessness, Is incapable of decline, He is indeed in the presence of Nibbāna. The Chapter on Heedfulness, the second, is finished.