The Bhikshu (Begging Monk)

360. Restraint in the eye is good, good is restraint in the ear, in the nose restraint is good, good is restraint in the tongue.

360. Restraint in what you see is good. Restraint in what you hear is good. Restraint in what you smell is good. Restraint of the tongue is good.

361. In the body restraint is good, good is restraint in speech, in thought restraint is good, good is restraint in all things. A Bhikshu, restrained in all things, is freed from all pain.

361. Restraint in the body is good. Restraint in speech is good. Restraint in thought is good. Restraint in all things is good. A Bhikshu who practices restraint in all things is freed from all pain.

362. He who controls his hand, he who controls his feet, he who controls his speech, he who is well controlled, he who delights inwardly, who is collected, who is solitary and content, him they call Bhikshu.

362. A man controls his hands, his feet, and his speech. He has firm self-control, finds joy within, and is focused, solitary, and content. Such a man is called a Bhikshu.

363. The Bhikshu who controls his mouth, who speaks wisely and calmly, who teaches the meaning and the law, his word is sweet.

363. A Bhikshu who controls his speech, speaks wisely and calmly, and teaches the meaning and the law has sweet words.

364. He who dwells in the law, delights in the law, meditates on the law, follows the law, that Bhikshu will never fall away from the true law.

364. A Bhikshu who lives by the teaching, delights in it, meditates on it, and follows it will never abandon the true teaching.

365. Let him not despise what he has received, nor ever envy others: a mendicant who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

365. He should not look down on what he has received or ever envy others. A monk who envies others does not find peace of mind.

366. A Bhikshu who, though he receives little, does not despise what he has received, even the gods will praise him, if his life is pure, and if he is not slothful.

366. Even if a Bhikshu receives little, the gods will praise him if he does not look down on what he receives. But his life must also be pure, and he must not be lazy.

367. He who never identifies himself with name and form, and does not grieve over what is no more, he indeed is called a Bhikshu.

367. A person who never identifies with name and form and does not grieve over what is gone is truly called a Bhikshu.

368. The Bhikshu who acts with kindness, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha, will reach the quiet place (Nirvana), cessation of natural desires, and happiness.

368. The Bhikshu who acts with kindness and finds calm in Buddha’s teachings will reach the peaceful state (Nirvana). This is the end of natural desires and a state of happiness.

369. O Bhikshu, empty this boat! if emptied, it will go quickly; having cut off passion and hatred thou wilt go to Nirvana.

369. Bhikshu, empty this boat! If emptied, the boat will move quickly. Once you have cut off passion and hatred, you will reach Nirvana.

370. Cut off the five (senses), leave the five, rise above the five. A Bhikshu, who has escaped from the five fetters, he is called Oghatinna, ‘saved from the flood.’

370. Cut off the five (senses), leave the five behind, and rise above the five. A Bhikshu who has escaped the five fetters is called Oghatinna, ‘saved from the flood.’

371. Meditate, O Bhikshu, and be not heedless! Do not direct thy thought to what gives pleasure that thou mayest not for thy heedlessness have to swallow the iron ball (in hell), and that thou mayest not cry out when burning, ‘This is pain.’

371. Meditate, Bhikshu, and stay alert! Do not focus your thoughts on pleasure, so that your carelessness may not force you to swallow the iron ball (in hell). And so that, as you burn, you may not cry out, ‘This is pain.’

372. Without knowledge there is no meditation, without meditation there is no knowledge: he who has knowledge and meditation is near unto Nirvana.

372. Without knowledge, there is no meditation. Without meditation, there is no knowledge. Anyone who has both knowledge and meditation is close to Nirvana.

373. A Bhikshu who has entered his empty house, and whose mind is tranquil, feels a more than human delight when he sees the law clearly.

373. A Bhikshu who has entered his empty house and whose mind is calm feels joy beyond human experience when he sees the law clearly.

374. As soon as he has considered the origin and destruction of the elements (khandha) of the body, he finds happiness and joy which belong to those who know the immortal (Nirvana).

374. As soon as he reflects on how the body's elements (khandha) arise and pass away, he finds happiness and joy. This happiness and joy belong to those who know the immortal (Nirvana).

375. And this is the beginning here for a wise Bhikshu: watchfulness over the senses, contentedness, restraint under the law; keep noble friends whose life is pure, and who are not slothful.

375. And here is where a wise Bhikshu begins: guarding the senses, being content, and practicing restraint under the law. Keep noble friends who lead pure lives and are not lazy.

376. Let him live in charity, let him be perfect in his duties; then in the fulness of delight he will make an end of suffering.

376. Let him live with kindness and carry out his duties perfectly. Then, filled with joy, he will bring suffering to an end.

377. As the Vassika plant sheds its withered flowers, men should shed passion and hatred, O ye Bhikshus!

377. Just as the Vassika plant sheds its withered flowers, men should shed passion and hatred, Bhikshus!

378. The Bhikshu whose body and tongue and mind are quieted, who is collected, and has rejected the baits of the world, he is called quiet.

378. A Bhikshu whose body, speech, and mind are calm, who is composed and has rejected the world's temptations, is called peaceful.

379. Rouse thyself by thyself, examine thyself by thyself, thus self-protected and attentive wilt thou live happily, O Bhikshu!

379. Stir yourself to action through your own efforts. Examine yourself for yourself. By protecting yourself and staying attentive in this way, you will live happily, Bhikshu!

380. For self is the lord of self, self is the refuge of self; therefore curb thyself as the merchant curbs a good horse.

380. You are your own master and your own refuge. So control yourself as a merchant controls a good horse.

381. The Bhikshu, full of delight, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha will reach the quiet place (Nirvana), cessation of natural desires, and happiness.

381. The Bhikshu, full of joy and calm in Buddha's teachings, will reach the peaceful place (Nirvana). There, natural desires end, and happiness is found.

382. He who, even as a young Bhikshu, applies himself to the doctrine of Buddha, brightens up this world, like the moon when free from clouds.

382. Even a young Bhikshu who devotes himself to Buddha’s teachings brightens this world, like the moon free from clouds.