The Chapter about Happiness
Let us live truly happily, without hatred, amongst those who have hatred,
amongst humans who have hatred let us live without hatred.
Let us live truly happily, without sickness, amongst those who are sick,
amongst humans who have sickness let us live without sickness.
Let us live truly happily, without longing, amongst those who are longing,
amongst humans who are longing let us live without longing.
We live truly happily enough having no possessions ourselves,
we will feed on joy like the gods of Streaming Light.
The victor generates hatred, the defeated one finds suffering,
the one at peace lives happily, having abandoned victory and defeat.
There is no fire like passion, there is no offence like hatred,
there is no suffering like the components of mind and body, no happiness other than peace.
Hunger is the supreme sickness, conditions are the supreme suffering,
knowing this as it really is, know Nibbāna is the supreme good.
Health is the supreme gain, content the supreme wealth,
confidence the supreme kin, Nibbāna the supreme good.
Savouring the taste of solitude, and the taste of peace,
he is fearless, faultless, savouring the joyful taste of Dhamma.
Meeting with the noble is good, living together with them is always pleasant,
through not meeting foolish people one will constantly be happy.
For he who consorts with fools grieves for a long time,
dwelling with fools is always suffering as it is with enemies,
the wise one dwells happily as with an assembly of kin.
therefore,
the firm, the wise and the learned,
the virtuous, dutiful and noble –
accompany such a true and intelligent person
as the moon accompanies the course of the stars.
- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti
- Editor: Aminah Borg-Luck
Happiness
So very happily we live,
Without hostility among the hostile.
Among the hostile, we dwell peaceably.
So very happily we live,
Healthy among the ill.
Among the ill, we dwell in health.
So very happily we live,
Without ambition among the ambitious.
Among the ambitious, we dwell without ambition.
So very happily we live,
We who possess nothing.
We will feed on delight,
Like the radiant gods.
Victory gives birth to enmity.
The defeated lie in suffering.
Having renounced victory and defeat,
The calm one rests at ease.
There is no fire like passion.
There is no evil like ill will.
There is no suffering like the aggregates.
There is no happiness higher than peace.
Hunger is the greatest illness.
Conditioned things are the greatest suffering.
For the one who knows reality as it is,
Nibbāna is the supreme happiness.
Health is the finest possession.
Contentment is the greatest wealth.
Those trusted are the best relatives.
Nibbāna is the supreme happiness.
Having drunk the nectar of solitude and tranquility,
One becomes free of evil and fear,
Drinking the nectar of Dhamma delight.
Seeing the noble ones is good;
Their company is always pleasant.
Free from seeing fools,
One would be happy always.
By associating with fools one grieves a long time.
Living with fools is like living with an enemy;
always afflictive.
Living with the wise is like a gathering of relatives;
always a joy.
Therefore:
Follow the good, the intelligent,
One clever, wise, learned, committed in virtue,
well-practicing, and noble,
As the moon follows the path of stars.
- Translator: Peter Feldmeier
- Editor: Aminah Borg-Luck
Happiness
Happy indeed we live, friendly amidst the hostile. Amidst hostile men we dwell free from hatred.
Happy indeed we live, friendly amidst the afflicted (by craving). Amidst afflicted men we dwell free from affliction.
Happy indeed we live, free from avarice amidst the avaricious. Amidst the avaricious men we dwell free from avarice.
Happy indeed we live, we who possess nothing. Feeders on joy we shall be, like the Radiant Gods.
Victory begets enmity; the defeated dwell in pain. Happily the peaceful live, discarding both victory and defeat.
There is no fire like lust and no crime like hatred. There is no ill like the aggregates (of existence) and no bliss higher than the peace (of Nibbana).
Hunger is the worst disease, conditioned things the worst suffering. Knowing this as it really is, the wise realize Nibbana, the highest bliss.
Health is the most precious gain and contentment the greatest wealth. A trustworthy person is the best kinsman, Nibbana the highest bliss.
Having savored the taste of solitude and peace (of Nibbana), pain-free and stainless he becomes, drinking deep the taste of the bliss of the Truth.
Good is it to see the Noble Ones; to live with them is ever blissful. One will always be happy by not encountering fools.
Indeed, he who moves in the company of fools grieves for longing. Association with fools is ever painful, like partnership with an enemy. But association with the wise is happy, like meeting one’s own kinsmen.
Therefore, follow the Noble One, who is steadfast, wise, learned, dutiful and devout. One should follow only such a man, who is truly good and discerning, even as the moon follows the path of the stars.
- Translator: Ācāriya Buddharakkhita
- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato