“ ‘Thus, concerning this impure body of the aggregates, Just as one with overweening pride who admires its form Exhibits a childish mind, So do the ignorant cling to and move around with this pot of vomit.
“ ‘From its nose leaks a kind of mucous. From its mouth foul odors always rise. The eyes get clogged with dust, and people are subject to parasites. Who would have attachment to and admiration for that?
“ ‘As an analogy, though a fool holding charcoal Announces, “I will make this white,” He grows exhausted, as it will never become something white. Thus, the childish are subject to the arrogance of mistaken thought.
“ ‘In this way, a person who cares about hygiene And exclaims, “I will make this body clean,” May wash at a hundred bathing ghats, Yet it never becomes clean before it is destroyed by the power of the Lord of Death.’ ”
“This human existence is very difficult to find, So do not commit sins for the sake of the body. Do not expose yourself to the dangers of this body, Which is food for charnel-ground dwellers and jackals.
“Arousing craving for this cunning body, The childish are always deluded and go astray. Since this body is, in fact, ungrateful, One experiences sensations of suffering day and night.
“A machine always suffering with sickness and the like, This body is filled with vomit and mucous. Since it is always tormented with hunger and thirst, What wise person would arouse craving for the body?
“The body is insatiable like the depths of the earth. Though it is like a hostile executioner, it is pampered by the childish. Committing evil for the sake of the body, They thus experience the sensations of suffering.
“This body is not solid like a diamond, So do not commit evil for the sake of the body. Having understood death, quickly perform meritorious deeds! Likewise, arouse faith in the Buddha’s teaching.
“For as long as this body is honored With food, drink, ointments, and garments, If it steadily deteriorates despite attempts to make it endure, Why make such useless efforts for it?
“As you have found this appearance of the Sage, Extremely difficult to find for a hundred eons, And have aroused faith in the Buddha’s teachings, Do not descend to the lower realms!
“If one who has lived there for tens of millions of years Must still relinquish such attachments, Then need it be said that one who is unable to do so In one hundred years will not find happiness?
“Some uninhibited people say, ‘Having found this human existence, which is so hard to find, We should have fun and enjoy this time of youth, And experience the joys of seeking wealth.’
“But how can there be any joy in seeking wealth When we experience such miseries for the sake of protecting it? Therefore, the wise should relinquish all attachment And find contentment in just the bare necessities.
“Enjoyments are like an illusion and like a dream. They deceive childish people. They arise one moment and perish the next. What wise person would arouse craving for possessions?
“They are illusion-like and similar to watching an actor; They are like any of the myriad cities of the gandharvas. Such enjoyments deceive the childish. Thus, the childish wrongly seek them and go astray.
“When desired possessions pursued with a hundred miseries Bring incomparable harm to the body And may then be seized under the command of a king, What wise person would arouse joy for them?
“While remaining aloof from one’s children and spouse, One’s wrongly obtained wealth may be seized by a king. Knowing evils such as this, Wise people do not arouse craving for the home.
“Ever covetous and seeking enjoyments, One is disrespectful toward one’s father and mother. One is not loving toward one’s children and spouse But nonetheless harbors constant attachment to them.
“A covetous woman who exclaims, ‘My enjoyments will decline,’ Will never discover gratitude. A wise person does not confide in covetous people Who seek wealth through cunning and deception.
“Beings are fooled by deceitful, covetous women And delighted by words that express an intent to fulfill others’ wishes. Despite their confidence, one should not confide in them, Though they display affections like a child.
“Covetous women who are active in the world May teach scholars about medicine and treatises, Thereby deceiving them with words like a prostitute, But at bottom they are unpleasant and very harsh.
“Covetous women are never friendly partners. They are without relatives and without close friends. They nonetheless put on a show for the sake of money. The wise should not confide in covetous people.
“Not committing any deed for the sake of covetous women and enjoyments, One fully engenders a mind that is utterly inexhaustible. Therefore, the wise gain perfect understanding And find contentment in even the barest of necessities.
“Gold, pearls, jewels, and coral— For the virtuous, these things arise as if from bubbles. When they are not recognized as having the nature of illusion, People argue and fight for the sake of these things.
“The one who is called Maitreya will appear here. And at the time of that tathāgata’s appearance, This earth will be totally filled with gold. Whence will he appear on that occasion?
“The appearance of the five sensual pleasures Is of the nature of deception, creating confusion and delusion. As an analogy, it is like desiring the water That seems to appear in a mirage, at midday in the hot season.
“Once this single eon has elapsed, this world, Which is of the nature of space, will turn into space. Even mountains will burn and be destroyed. Where do they come from? Where do they go?
“Fountains, ponds, lakes, and oceans Will dry up and cease to exist. Likewise, desired things hoarded are without essence. What wise person would take joy in them?
“Wise people with strength of mind Always examine the drawbacks of the home. When one has experienced the taste of these, Why would one not relinquish them?
“Through a mix of karma one seeks enjoyments And provides for children along with a spouse. But in times when one suffers intensely, Children and spouse provide no refuge.
“When one accepts doing various deeds, Children and spouses will be neglected. But when one experiences suffering all alone, They do not accept your predicament.
“Dejected people accept these things for the sake of happiness. In this way, they become disheartened with suffering. In this horror of the three worlds, there are no friends, And likewise no children, spouse, or relatives.
“The multitude of parents, siblings, children, spouses, Servants, wealth, and relatives Do not transmigrate because the Lord of Death has come; The childish transmigrate in the wake of their karmic deeds.
“People all depart in the wake of their karmic deeds. Through karmic deeds, they are transported to worldly abodes. Knowing the nature of the karma of this rebirth, The wise perform virtuous deeds.
“When they have gone to hell, they will have no refuge. Thus, the wise do not commit evil misdeeds For the sake of parents, siblings, loved ones, children, Kinsmen, and maternal relatives.
“Apart from exhausting all that karma, A person is not liberated from the most frightful terrors. Therefore, those who are fearful of misdeeds Should concentrate and eliminate all misdeeds.
“In any case, apart from the deeds one performs, The Lord of Death, the horse of the Lord of Death, And the throng of friends, relatives, siblings, Parents, children, and spouse will offer no protection.
EN
“You have attained a human body, but having attained it, You have not set about relinquishing misdeeds. Alas! You now experience unbearable suffering. This is but the ripening of nonvirtuous karmic action.
EN
“Without having conviction in the ripening of karmic action, You create nonvirtue through your own mind. For this, one answers ‘I did not do anything at all.’ Then the Dharma king Lord of Death states the following:
EN
“ ‘The karma you yourself committed ripens within you. Having come here due to your own karma, Just as you previously committed undesirable deeds, So you now experience this suffering.
EN
“ ‘At this time, your parents and your spouse Also do not escape the torments of suffering. You will be liberated by well-performed actions. Accordingly, you should completely abandon the home.
EN
“ ‘Striving for the goal of peace with the wish to abandon The punishments of transgressions involving fetters and bludgeons, You should fear the home and thus abandon it! You should practice the Dharma, the teaching of one who is wise about the world.
EN
“ ‘The home is the root of manifold miseries that blaze forth. Ever ablaze once it has arisen in the mind, It is terrifying like a pit of hot coals. What wise person would arouse craving for that?
EN
“ ‘Home life brings the sorrows of children and spouse. The enjoyments of home life likewise bring sorrow. The drawbacks of these, moreover, are immeasurable. In this regard, the home should be totally abandoned.
EN
“ ‘The teachings of spiritual guides bring joy. Without needing to sow or plough, they cause happiness and satisfaction. The root of manifold miseries is the home. Joy for the fool, it is not enjoyable to the wise.
EN
“ ‘This body of skin, ligaments and nerves, flesh, and bones Creates the notion my spouse. Deluded, childish people develop attachment to it, Not knowing that the spouse is like an illusion.
EN
“ ‘Knowing the drawbacks of the home, Those with insight thus abandon the joys they desire. Having affirmed the notion that Dharma is medicine, They swiftly leave the home without attachment.’ ”
EN
“Desiring the qualities of a buddha, We cultivate the resolve for awakening. Hey! This discovery, this great discovery, Is the best of all discoveries!
EN
“The resolve for awakening is joyful. Those who here cultivate this resolve, Which brings happiness to all sentient beings, Will live a good life.
EN
“Whoever cultivates this resolve, Which benefits all sentient beings, Will be overjoyed when they see That all sentient beings are joyful.
EN
“Those who delight in the resolve for awakening Will become illuminators of the world, With bodies like gold And fully adorned with the special marks.
EN
“The resolve for awakening is a great resolve. It is the supreme happiness among all sentient beings. It is the most excellent of all qualities. It pacifies all illness.
EN
“Sentient beings of little merit Do not wish for the resolve for awakening. They do not think of it in saṃsāra, And the resolve for awakening makes them weary.
EN
“If the merits of the resolve for awakening Were to assume physical form, They would fill the whole expanse of space And exceed even that.
EN
“If someone were to fill with jewels As many buddha fields as there are grains of sand In the Ganges River, As an offering to the Protector of the World,
EN
“This offering would be surpassed When someone with joined palms Directs their resolve toward awakening, Because that does not have a limit.
EN
“What is the resolve for awakening like? Transmitted by the exalted Seer, There is no other offering like it. There is nothing so magnificent.
EN
“The best of medicines for being without illness, The resolve for awakening possesses all good qualities. It thoroughly quells all illnesses. It makes all sentient beings happy.
EN
“Having witnessed the suffering of sentient beings Tormented by the three fires, The wise practice for immeasurable eons, Never becoming discouraged.
EN
“Those who perform practices dedicated to awakening Are heroes comparable to the king of physicians. Protecting beings from suffering, They always abandon discouragement.
EN
“These heroes seek the qualities of a buddha. They never give up that resolve Throughout all their rebirths in transmigration, And they also teach this discipline.
EN
“We who delight in this resolve Become the best of humans, Just like the Lion of the Śākyas. We properly discover what is to be discovered.”
EN
“If the leader, the supreme Victorious One, The Buddha, the protector, does not reveal his smile without cause, Why do you smile, Blessed One? I speak out of heartfelt kindness and with the intention to benefit the world.
EN
“Why do you reveal this smile today? Please give us the supreme jewel of your superb advice, A treasury of wealth for the poor. Please quickly offer these eyes for the blind in the world.”
“ ‘Thus, concerning this impure body of the aggregates, Just as one with overweening pride who admires its form Exhibits a childish mind, So do the ignorant cling to and move around with this pot of vomit.
“ ‘From its nose leaks a kind of mucous. From its mouth foul odors always rise. The eyes get clogged with dust, and people are subject to parasites. Who would have attachment to and admiration for that?
“ ‘As an analogy, though a fool holding charcoal Announces, “I will make this white,” He grows exhausted, as it will never become something white. Thus, the childish are subject to the arrogance of mistaken thought.
“ ‘In this way, a person who cares about hygiene And exclaims, “I will make this body clean,” May wash at a hundred bathing ghats, Yet it never becomes clean before it is destroyed by the power of the Lord of Death.’ ”
“This human existence is very difficult to find, So do not commit sins for the sake of the body. Do not expose yourself to the dangers of this body, Which is food for charnel-ground dwellers and jackals.
“Arousing craving for this cunning body, The childish are always deluded and go astray. Since this body is, in fact, ungrateful, One experiences sensations of suffering day and night.
“A machine always suffering with sickness and the like, This body is filled with vomit and mucous. Since it is always tormented with hunger and thirst, What wise person would arouse craving for the body?
“The body is insatiable like the depths of the earth. Though it is like a hostile executioner, it is pampered by the childish. Committing evil for the sake of the body, They thus experience the sensations of suffering.
“This body is not solid like a diamond, So do not commit evil for the sake of the body. Having understood death, quickly perform meritorious deeds! Likewise, arouse faith in the Buddha’s teaching.
“For as long as this body is honored With food, drink, ointments, and garments, If it steadily deteriorates despite attempts to make it endure, Why make such useless efforts for it?
“As you have found this appearance of the Sage, Extremely difficult to find for a hundred eons, And have aroused faith in the Buddha’s teachings, Do not descend to the lower realms!
“If one who has lived there for tens of millions of years Must still relinquish such attachments, Then need it be said that one who is unable to do so In one hundred years will not find happiness?
“Some uninhibited people say, ‘Having found this human existence, which is so hard to find, We should have fun and enjoy this time of youth, And experience the joys of seeking wealth.’
“But how can there be any joy in seeking wealth When we experience such miseries for the sake of protecting it? Therefore, the wise should relinquish all attachment And find contentment in just the bare necessities.
“Enjoyments are like an illusion and like a dream. They deceive childish people. They arise one moment and perish the next. What wise person would arouse craving for possessions?
“They are illusion-like and similar to watching an actor; They are like any of the myriad cities of the gandharvas. Such enjoyments deceive the childish. Thus, the childish wrongly seek them and go astray.
“When desired possessions pursued with a hundred miseries Bring incomparable harm to the body And may then be seized under the command of a king, What wise person would arouse joy for them?
“While remaining aloof from one’s children and spouse, One’s wrongly obtained wealth may be seized by a king. Knowing evils such as this, Wise people do not arouse craving for the home.
“Ever covetous and seeking enjoyments, One is disrespectful toward one’s father and mother. One is not loving toward one’s children and spouse But nonetheless harbors constant attachment to them.
“A covetous woman who exclaims, ‘My enjoyments will decline,’ Will never discover gratitude. A wise person does not confide in covetous people Who seek wealth through cunning and deception.
“Beings are fooled by deceitful, covetous women And delighted by words that express an intent to fulfill others’ wishes. Despite their confidence, one should not confide in them, Though they display affections like a child.
“Covetous women who are active in the world May teach scholars about medicine and treatises, Thereby deceiving them with words like a prostitute, But at bottom they are unpleasant and very harsh.
“Covetous women are never friendly partners. They are without relatives and without close friends. They nonetheless put on a show for the sake of money. The wise should not confide in covetous people.
“Not committing any deed for the sake of covetous women and enjoyments, One fully engenders a mind that is utterly inexhaustible. Therefore, the wise gain perfect understanding And find contentment in even the barest of necessities.
“Gold, pearls, jewels, and coral— For the virtuous, these things arise as if from bubbles. When they are not recognized as having the nature of illusion, People argue and fight for the sake of these things.
“The one who is called Maitreya will appear here. And at the time of that tathāgata’s appearance, This earth will be totally filled with gold. Whence will he appear on that occasion?
“The appearance of the five sensual pleasures Is of the nature of deception, creating confusion and delusion. As an analogy, it is like desiring the water That seems to appear in a mirage, at midday in the hot season.
“Once this single eon has elapsed, this world, Which is of the nature of space, will turn into space. Even mountains will burn and be destroyed. Where do they come from? Where do they go?
“Fountains, ponds, lakes, and oceans Will dry up and cease to exist. Likewise, desired things hoarded are without essence. What wise person would take joy in them?
“Wise people with strength of mind Always examine the drawbacks of the home. When one has experienced the taste of these, Why would one not relinquish them?
“Through a mix of karma one seeks enjoyments And provides for children along with a spouse. But in times when one suffers intensely, Children and spouse provide no refuge.
“When one accepts doing various deeds, Children and spouses will be neglected. But when one experiences suffering all alone, They do not accept your predicament.
“Dejected people accept these things for the sake of happiness. In this way, they become disheartened with suffering. In this horror of the three worlds, there are no friends, And likewise no children, spouse, or relatives.
“The multitude of parents, siblings, children, spouses, Servants, wealth, and relatives Do not transmigrate because the Lord of Death has come; The childish transmigrate in the wake of their karmic deeds.
“People all depart in the wake of their karmic deeds. Through karmic deeds, they are transported to worldly abodes. Knowing the nature of the karma of this rebirth, The wise perform virtuous deeds.
“When they have gone to hell, they will have no refuge. Thus, the wise do not commit evil misdeeds For the sake of parents, siblings, loved ones, children, Kinsmen, and maternal relatives.
“Apart from exhausting all that karma, A person is not liberated from the most frightful terrors. Therefore, those who are fearful of misdeeds Should concentrate and eliminate all misdeeds.
“In any case, apart from the deeds one performs, The Lord of Death, the horse of the Lord of Death, And the throng of friends, relatives, siblings, Parents, children, and spouse will offer no protection.
EN
“You have attained a human body, but having attained it, You have not set about relinquishing misdeeds. Alas! You now experience unbearable suffering. This is but the ripening of nonvirtuous karmic action.
EN
“Without having conviction in the ripening of karmic action, You create nonvirtue through your own mind. For this, one answers ‘I did not do anything at all.’ Then the Dharma king Lord of Death states the following:
EN
“ ‘The karma you yourself committed ripens within you. Having come here due to your own karma, Just as you previously committed undesirable deeds, So you now experience this suffering.
EN
“ ‘At this time, your parents and your spouse Also do not escape the torments of suffering. You will be liberated by well-performed actions. Accordingly, you should completely abandon the home.
EN
“ ‘Striving for the goal of peace with the wish to abandon The punishments of transgressions involving fetters and bludgeons, You should fear the home and thus abandon it! You should practice the Dharma, the teaching of one who is wise about the world.
EN
“ ‘The home is the root of manifold miseries that blaze forth. Ever ablaze once it has arisen in the mind, It is terrifying like a pit of hot coals. What wise person would arouse craving for that?
EN
“ ‘Home life brings the sorrows of children and spouse. The enjoyments of home life likewise bring sorrow. The drawbacks of these, moreover, are immeasurable. In this regard, the home should be totally abandoned.
EN
“ ‘The teachings of spiritual guides bring joy. Without needing to sow or plough, they cause happiness and satisfaction. The root of manifold miseries is the home. Joy for the fool, it is not enjoyable to the wise.
EN
“ ‘This body of skin, ligaments and nerves, flesh, and bones Creates the notion my spouse. Deluded, childish people develop attachment to it, Not knowing that the spouse is like an illusion.
EN
“ ‘Knowing the drawbacks of the home, Those with insight thus abandon the joys they desire. Having affirmed the notion that Dharma is medicine, They swiftly leave the home without attachment.’ ”
EN
“Desiring the qualities of a buddha, We cultivate the resolve for awakening. Hey! This discovery, this great discovery, Is the best of all discoveries!
EN
“The resolve for awakening is joyful. Those who here cultivate this resolve, Which brings happiness to all sentient beings, Will live a good life.
EN
“Whoever cultivates this resolve, Which benefits all sentient beings, Will be overjoyed when they see That all sentient beings are joyful.
EN
“Those who delight in the resolve for awakening Will become illuminators of the world, With bodies like gold And fully adorned with the special marks.
EN
“The resolve for awakening is a great resolve. It is the supreme happiness among all sentient beings. It is the most excellent of all qualities. It pacifies all illness.
EN
“Sentient beings of little merit Do not wish for the resolve for awakening. They do not think of it in saṃsāra, And the resolve for awakening makes them weary.
EN
“If the merits of the resolve for awakening Were to assume physical form, They would fill the whole expanse of space And exceed even that.
EN
“If someone were to fill with jewels As many buddha fields as there are grains of sand In the Ganges River, As an offering to the Protector of the World,
EN
“This offering would be surpassed When someone with joined palms Directs their resolve toward awakening, Because that does not have a limit.
EN
“What is the resolve for awakening like? Transmitted by the exalted Seer, There is no other offering like it. There is nothing so magnificent.
EN
“The best of medicines for being without illness, The resolve for awakening possesses all good qualities. It thoroughly quells all illnesses. It makes all sentient beings happy.
EN
“Having witnessed the suffering of sentient beings Tormented by the three fires, The wise practice for immeasurable eons, Never becoming discouraged.
EN
“Those who perform practices dedicated to awakening Are heroes comparable to the king of physicians. Protecting beings from suffering, They always abandon discouragement.
EN
“These heroes seek the qualities of a buddha. They never give up that resolve Throughout all their rebirths in transmigration, And they also teach this discipline.
EN
“We who delight in this resolve Become the best of humans, Just like the Lion of the Śākyas. We properly discover what is to be discovered.”
EN
“If the leader, the supreme Victorious One, The Buddha, the protector, does not reveal his smile without cause, Why do you smile, Blessed One? I speak out of heartfelt kindness and with the intention to benefit the world.
EN
“Why do you reveal this smile today? Please give us the supreme jewel of your superb advice, A treasury of wealth for the poor. Please quickly offer these eyes for the blind in the world.”
Sutraya