GEMSTONES OF THE GOOD DHAMMA – PART 11: CITTAVAGGA – MIND

GEMSTONES OF THE GOOD DHAMMA – PART 11: CITTAVAGGA – MIND

96. Cittena niyati loko
cittena parikissati
cittassa ekadhammassa
sabb’eva vasam anvagu.

The world is led around by mind,
by mind the world is plagued.
Mind is itself the single thing
which brings all else beneath its sway.

97. Manopubbangama dhamma
manosettha manomaya
Manasa ce pasannena
bhasati va karoti va
tato nam sukhamanveti
chaya va anapayini.

Mind precedes all things;
mind is their chief, mind is their maker.
If one speaks or does a deed
with a mind that is pure within,
happiness then follows along
like a never departing shadow.

98. Sududdasam sunipunam
yatthakamanipatinam
cittam rakkhetha medhavi
cittam guttam sukhavaham.

Difficult to detect and very subtle,
the mind seizes whatever it wants;
so let a wise man guard his mind,
for a guarded mind brings happiness.

99. Dunniggahassa lahuno
yatthakamanipatino
cittassa damatho sadhu
cittam dantam sukhavaham.

Wonderful it is to train the mind
so swiftly moving, seizing whatever it wants.
Good is it to have a well-trained mind,
for a well-trained mind brings happiness.

100. Phandanam capalam cittam
durakkham dunnivarayam
ujum karoti medhavi
usukaro’va tejanam.

As a fletcher straightens an arrow,
even so one who is wise
will straighten out the fickle mind,
so unsteady and hard to control.

101. Na tam mata pita kayira
aññe vapi ca nataka
sammapanihitam cittam
seyyaso nam tato kare

No mother nor father nor
any other kin can do
greater good for oneself
than a mind directed well.

102. Anabhijjhalu vihareyya
avyapannena cetasa
sato ekaggacittassa
ajjhattam susamahito.

Love without covetous greed,
fill your mind with benevolence.
Be mindful and one-pointed,
inwardly stable and concentrated.

103. Pañca kamaguna loke
manochattha pavedita
ettha chandam virejetva
evam dukkha pamuccati.

There are five strands of sensual pleasure
with the mind as the sixth;
by overcoming desire for these
one will be freed from suffering.

104. Mama selupamam cittam
thitam nanupakampati
virattam rajaniyesu
kuppaniye na kuppati
mam’evam bhavitam cittam
kuto mam dukkham essati.

My mind is firm like a rock,
unattached to sensual things,
no shaking in the midst
of a world where all is shaking.
My mind has thus been well-developed,
so how can suffering come to me?

105. Yo caram va yo tittham va
nisinno udava sayam
vitakkam samayitvana
vitakkopasame rato
bhabbo so tadiso bhikkhu
phutthum sambodhim uttamam.

Whether he walks or stands
or sits or lies, a monk
should take delight in
controlling all thoughts.
Such a monk is qualified
to reach supreme enlightenment.