The Fool

60. Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law.

60. The night feels long to someone who is awake. A mile feels long to someone who is tired. Life feels long to foolish people who do not know the true law.

61. If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no companionship with a fool.

61. If a traveler meets no one better than or equal to him, he should firmly continue his journey alone. There is no companionship with a fool.

62. "These sons belong to me, and this wealth belongs to me," with such thoughts a fool is tormented. He himself does not belong to himself; how much less sons and wealth?

62. "These sons belong to me, and this wealth belongs to me." Such thoughts torment a fool. He does not even belong to himself. How much less can his sons and wealth belong to him?

63. The fool who knows his foolishness, is wise at least so far. But a fool who thinks himself wise, he is called a fool indeed.

63. The fool who knows he is foolish is wise at least in that respect. But a fool who thinks he is wise is truly a fool.

64. If a fool be associated with a wise man even all his life, he will perceive the truth as little as a spoon perceives the taste of soup.

64. If a fool spends his whole life with a wise man, he will still understand no more of the truth than a spoon tastes the soup.

65. If an intelligent man be associated for one minute only with a wise man, he will soon perceive the truth, as the tongue perceives the taste of soup.

65. If an intelligent man spends even one minute with a wise man, he will soon understand the truth, just as the tongue tastes soup.

66. Fools of little understanding have themselves for their greatest enemies, for they do evil deeds which must bear bitter fruits.

66. Fools with little understanding are their own worst enemies. This is because they do evil deeds that must bring bitter consequences.

67. That deed is not well done of which a man must repent, and the reward of which he receives crying and with a tearful face.

67. A deed is not well done if someone must regret it and face its consequences crying, with a tearful face.

68. No, that deed is well done of which a man does not repent, and the reward of which he receives gladly and cheerfully.

68. No, a deed is well done when a man does not regret it and receives its reward gladly and cheerfully.

69. As long as the evil deed done does not bear fruit, the fool thinks it is like honey; but when it ripens, then the fool suffers grief.

69. As long as an evil deed has not borne fruit, the fool thinks the deed is sweet as honey. But when the deed’s fruit ripens, the fool suffers grief.

70. Let a fool month after month eat his food (like an ascetic) with the tip of a blade of Kusa grass, yet he is not worth the sixteenth particle of those who have well weighed the law.

70. A fool may eat month after month with the tip of a blade of Kusa grass (like an ascetic). Yet he is not worth one sixteenth as much as those who have carefully considered the law.

71. An evil deed, like newly-drawn milk, does not turn (suddenly); smouldering, like fire covered by ashes, it follows the fool.

71. An evil deed, like freshly drawn milk, does not turn sour at once. The deed follows the fool, smoldering like fire covered by ashes.

72. And when the evil deed, after it has become known, brings sorrow to the fool, then it destroys his bright lot, nay, it cleaves his head.

72. And when an evil deed becomes known and brings sorrow to the fool, it destroys his good fortune. More than that, the deed splits his head open.

73. Let the fool wish for a false reputation, for precedence among the Bhikshus, for lordship in the convents, for worship among other people!

73. Let the fool wish for an undeserved reputation and for the highest rank among the Bhikshus. Let him wish to rule the monasteries and to be worshipped by other people!

74. "May both the layman and he who has left the world think that this is done by me; may they be subject to me in everything which is to be done or is not to be done," thus is the mind of the fool, and his desire and pride increase.

74. "May both laypeople and those who have left worldly life think that I did this. May they obey me in everything to be done or left undone." This is how a fool thinks, and his desire and pride grow.

75. "One is the road that leads to wealth, another the road that leads to Nirvana;" if the Bhikshu, the disciple of Buddha, has learnt this, he will not yearn for honour, he will strive after separation from the world.

75. "One road leads to wealth, another to Nirvana." If the Bhikshu, a disciple of Buddha, understands this difference, he will not seek honour. Instead, he will strive to separate himself from the world.