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360
It is good to restrain the eye.
It is good to restrain the ear.
It is good to restrain the nose.
It is good to restrain the tongue.
361
It is good to be restrained in body.
It is good to be restrained in speech.
It is good to be restrained in the mind.
It is good to be restrained
in everything.
The renunciate who is restrained
in every way will realise freedom
from suffering.
362
One who is rightly disciplined
in all actions,
who is composed,
contented and delights in
solitary contemplation –
such is a renunciate.
363
It is pleasing to hear
the words of a renunciate
who is wise, not inflated,
whose mind is composed
and whose speech is contained
and clear in meaning.
364
One who abides in Dhamma,
who delights in Dhamma,
who contemplates Dhamma,
who memorises Dhamma
does not lose the Way.
365
Bemoaning your own lot
or envying the gains of others
obstructs peace of mind.
366
But, being contented
even with modest gains
pure in livelihood and energetic,
you will be held in high esteem.
367
True renunciates
regard the entire body-mind
without any thought of ‘I’ or ‘mine’
and are devoid of longing
for what they do not have.
368
A renunciate who
abides in loving-kindness
with a heart full of devotion
for the Buddha’s teaching
will find peace, stillness and bliss.
369
Bale out the water from your boat;
cut loose from the defiling passions
of lust and hatred;
unencumbered, sail on
towards liberation.
370
One who has
cut off coarse attachments,
cut off subtle attachments,
who cultivates the spiritual faculties,
is the one who finds freedom
from delusion.
371
Be careful !
Do not neglect meditation,
nor allow the mind
to dwell on sensuality
lest you might heedlessly swallow
a red-hot ball of iron
and find yourself crying out,
“why am I suffering?”
372
Concentration does not arise
without understanding,
nor understanding
without concentration.
One who knows both
approaches liberation.
373
A happiness transcending ordinary bliss
is experienced by those renunciates
who have entered into seclusion
with tranquil heart
and clear understanding of the Way.
374
When those who are wise
dwell in contemplation
on the transient nature
of the body-mind,
and of all conditioned existence,
they experience joy and delight
seeing through
to the inherently secure.
375 - 376
This then is the beginning
for a renunciate
who takes up the training:
wisely control your faculties,
commit yourself to the instruction,
seek contentment;
cultivate the company of those
who support your aspiration
for energetic practice of the teachings.
The beauty of pure conduct
conditions whole-hearted well-being
giving rise to complete
freedom from remorse.
377
As old flowers fall
from a jasmine plant
let lust and hatred
fall away.
378
I call them the peaceful ones,
who are calm in body,
in speech and in mind,
and who are thoroughly purged
of all worldly obsessions.
379
Scrutinise yourself.
Examine yourself.
With right attention
to self-assessment
you will live at ease.
380
We are our own protection;
we are indeed our own secure abiding;
how could it be otherwise?
So with due care
we attend to ourselves.
381
A monk, a nun, who cultivates
a joyous disposition
and is filled with
confidence in the Way
will find peace, stillness and bliss.
382
Yet still a youth, a renunciate
fully devoted to the Way
lights up the world
like the moon emerging from clouds.
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