Various Topics

290. If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.

290. If giving up a small pleasure leads to a greater pleasure, a wise man should give up the small pleasure and seek the greater one.

291. He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred.

291. Anyone who seeks pleasure by causing others pain becomes trapped in hatred and will never be free from hatred.

292. What ought to be done is neglected, what ought not to be done is done; the desires of unruly, thoughtless people are always increasing.

292. What should be done is neglected. What should not be done is done. The desires of undisciplined, thoughtless people keep growing.

293. But they whose whole watchfulness is always directed to their body, who do not follow what ought not to be done, and who steadfastly do what ought to be done, the desires of such watchful and wise people will come to an end.

293. But consider those who always focus all their attention on their bodies. They avoid what should not be done and steadily do what should be done. The desires of such watchful and wise people will come to an end.

294. A true Brahmana goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two valiant kings, though he has destroyed a kingdom with all its subjects.

294. A true Brahmana remains unharmed, even though he has killed his father and mother and two brave kings. He remains unharmed even though he has destroyed a kingdom with all its subjects.

295. A true Brahmana goes scatheless, though he have killed father and mother, and two holy kings, and an eminent man besides.

295. A true Brahmana remains unharmed, even though he has killed his father and mother, two holy kings, and an eminent man as well.

296. The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on Buddha.

296. The disciples of Gotama (Buddha) are always fully awake, and their thoughts are always focused on Buddha, day and night.

297. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the law.

297. The disciples of Gotama are always fully awake. Day and night, their thoughts are always focused on the teachings.

298. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on the church.

298. The disciples of Gotama are always fully awake. Day and night, their thoughts are always focused on the community of disciples.

299. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their thoughts day and night are always set on their body.

299. The disciples of Gotama are always fully awake. Day and night, their thoughts are always focused on their bodies.

300. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in compassion.

300. The disciples of Gotama are always fully awake. And their minds always find joy in compassion, day and night.

301. The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in meditation.

301. The disciples of Gotama are always fully awake. Day and night, their minds always delight in meditation.

302. It is hard to leave the world (to become a friar), it is hard to enjoy the world; hard is the monastery, painful are the houses; painful it is to dwell with equals (to share everything in common) and the itinerant mendicant is beset with pain. Therefore let no man be an itinerant mendicant and he will not be beset with pain.

302. It is hard to leave worldly life (to become a monk). It is hard to enjoy worldly life. Monastery life is hard, and life at home is painful. Living with equals (sharing everything in common) is painful, and a wandering monk who lives by begging faces pain. Therefore, no one should become a wandering monk who lives by begging, and they will not face pain.

303. Whatever place a faithful, virtuous, celebrated, and wealthy man chooses, there he is respected.

303. Wherever a faithful, virtuous, well-known, and wealthy man chooses to go, he is respected.

304. Good people shine from afar, like the snowy mountains; bad people are not seen, like arrows shot by night.

304. Good people shine from far away, like snow-covered mountains. Bad people go unseen, like arrows shot at night.

305. He alone who, without ceasing, practises the duty of sitting alone and sleeping alone, he, subduing himself, will rejoice in the destruction of all desires alone, as if living in a forest.

305. Only a man who continually fulfills the duty of sitting and sleeping alone, mastering himself, will rejoice in ending all desires. He will rejoice alone, as if living in a forest.