NINE BEATITUDES FROM THE DHAMMAPADA AND KINDRED HYMNS 1 Most blessèd do we here abide, Amid the wrathful, far remote from wrath; Among the men of wrath which sorely hate us, Lo, how from hatred free we dwell! Most blessed make we our abode Amid th' desirous, void of all desire; Among the covetous and fierce of greed, Austere, we lead in desireless calm our life! 4 Most blessed verily do we live our life Filled full, ay, drunken deep with holy joy,- 5 [Yea, wondrous blessèd is the bliss of heaven 6 But every victory begetteth hate, For he thou overcomest is not blessed; No fire doth burn like passions' bitter fire; No losing throw men know, or thrust, like hate's; No fatal pang like to this body of death; No blessedness higher than serene repose! 8 The deadliest sickness is our natural greed, The damning evil-the elements of this flesh; This throughly know, lo, heaven to earth come down, 9 [These compact powers of life be transitory, Like aught that wrought hath been, they are undone : IV. THE TWO SCORE AND ONE CONDITIONS OF FROM THE MAHA-PARINIBBANA-SUTTA, OR THE BOOK Now soon after he had gone, the Blessèd One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said: "Go forth now, Ananda, and gather together in the Assembly Hall such of the Brethren as dwell nigh to Rajagaha," which is, being interpreted, the palace of the king. And he did even so, and returned to the Blessèd One, and made their assembly known to him, saying: The company of the Brethren, O my Lord, is gathered together; let the Blessèd One do as seemeth most fitting to him. And the Blessed One arose, and went to the Assembly Hall, and when he had sat him down, he opened his mouth and spake unto the Brethren, saying: I. I will teach you, O my Brethren, seven conditions of welfare for a holy Brotherhood. Hearken ye, and attend the while I speak. 'Even so, Lord,' made answer of one accord the Brethren to the Blessed One; and he spake the blessed words which do follow :— (Community Social Rules) (1) So long, O Brethren, as the Brethren gather them together in full and frequent assemblies; (2) So long as they gather them together of one accord, and rise of one accord, and perform all the duties of the Brotherhood in perfect accord one with another ; (3) So long as the Brethren shall set forth nothing that hath not been prescribed aforetime, and set at nought no thing which hath been aforetime established, and dwell agreeably to the statutes and the testimonies of the Brotherhood, as now laid down ; (4) So long as the Brethren honor and highly esteem and give reverence and maintenance unto the elder Brethren of tried experience and long continuance, the fathers and masters of the Brotherhood, and do dutifully hearken unto their godly admonition ; (5) So long as the Brethren fall not a prey unto that craving, which springing up within them and ravening, would give occasion to more lives, world without end; (6) So long as the Brethren take their delight in living much alone; (7) So long as the Brethren do so train their minds that good and holy men shall have resort unto them, and those who come shall dwell at ease; So long may the holy Brotherhood hope not to decline, but to wax the rather in goodly prosperity, so long as these seven conditions shall obtain continually among the assembly of the Brethren, so long as they are duly exercised in these conditions, So long may the Brethren hope that their sacred Order decline not, but their welfare endure forever. II. In other seven conditions of welfare will I instruct you, O my Brethren. Hearken ye, and attend the while I speak. And upon their agreeing expressly thereto, he spake the blessed words which do follow: (Community Individual Rules) (1) So long as the Brethren shall not occupy any gainful business, neither attach themselves therewith, nor be leastwise drawn at all thereto; (2) So long as the Brethren shall not make foolish talk their use and wont, neither be themselves attached thereto, nor be partakers therein; (3) So long as the Brethren shall not yield to slothful ease, neither be attached thereto, nor ensue the same; (4) So long as the Brethren shall not frequent the idle and vain and wilful ways of the world, nor be attached to them, nor yield to contentment therein; (5) So long as the Brethren shall not incline to sinful lusts, neither entertain their quest, nor consider leastwise the lures thereof; (6) So long as the Brethren shall not become the friends of sinners, neither their companions, nor the wellwishers of their fellowship; (7) So long as the Brethren shall neither tarry nor halt on their way to Nirvana-which is heaven, even the calm large freedom of the spirit-for that they have attained unto any excellent thing of lesser worth; So long may the holy Brotherhood hope not to decline, but to wax the rather in goodly prosperity, so long as these seven conditions shall obtain continually among the assembly of the Brethren, so long as they are duly exercised in these conditions, So long may the Brethren hope that their sacred Order decline not, but their welfare endure forever. III. In other seven conditions of welfare will I instruct you, O my Brethren. Hearken ye, and attend the while I speak. And upon their agreeing expressly thereto, he spake the blessed words which do follow: (Characteristic Temper of Virtue) (1) So long as the Brethren shall be filled full of blessèd faith, (2) Be meek in heart;— (3) Fearful of sin; (4) Replete with learning; (5) Quickened of the will to do well; (6) Alert in mind; (7) And brimming over with wisdom; So long may the holy Brotherhood hope not to decline, but to wax the rather in goodly prosperity, so long as these seven conditions shall obtain continually among the assembly of the Brethren, so long as they are duly exercised in these conditions, So long may the Brethren hope that their sacred Order decline not, but their welfare endure forever. IV. In other seven conditions of welfare will I instruct you, O my Brethren. Hearken ye, and attend the while I speak. And upon their agreeing expressly thereto, he spake the blessed words which do follow: (Moral Exercise) So long as the Brethren shall exercise themselves diligently in the sevenfold higher wisdom, yea, even in these elements thereof : (1) In the keen swiftness of the good mind; (2) The eager quest after truth; (3) The quick will to do well; (4) The exceeding joy of the heart; (5) Goodwill and peace of soul; (6) Earnest rapture of the fixed mind;— (7) The dwelling apart of the spirit in serene So long may the holy Brotherhood hope not to decline, but to wax the rather in goodly prosperity, so long as these seven conditions shall obtain continually among the assembly of the Brethren, so long as they are duly exercised in these conditions, So long may the Brethren hope that their sacred Order decline not, but their welfare endure forever. V. In other seven conditions of welfare will I instruct you, O my Brethren. Hearken ye, and attend the while I speak. And upon their agreeing expressly thereto, he spake the blessed words which do follow: (Metaphysical Exercise) So long as the Brethren shall exercise themselves diligently in the sevenfold insight that cometh of earnest godly thought, yea, even in the elements thereof: (1) The clear perceiving of the transiency of all things that are; |