dhp.21-32 Dhammapada

Heedfulness is the deathless state, heedlessness the state of the dead,
the heedful do not die, but those who are heedless are as if dead.

The wise, understanding this difference in regard to heedfulness,
rejoice in heedfulness, delight in the domain of the Noble Ones.

Those who meditate all the time, constant and firm in their effort,
those wise ones reach Nibbāna, the unsurpassed release from all bonds.

For he who is active, mindful,
pure in deeds, considerate,
self-controlled, living by Dhamma,
heedful, fame greatly increases.

Through activity, heedfulness, through self-control and through restraint,
the sage should make an island that no flood waters can overcome.

The foolish and stupid people cultivate heedlessness,
but the sagacious one guards heedfulness just as his greatest wealth.

Do not cultivate heedlessness, do not be acquainted with delight in sensual pleasure,
for the heedful one, meditating, surely attains great happiness.

When the wise one eliminates heedlessness with his heedfulness,
and mounts the palace of wisdom, griefless, he looks on grieving people;
the wise one, like one standing on a mountain, looks down on the fools, who are standing on the plains.

Heedful amongst the heedless ones, wakeful amongst the ones who sleep,
like a swift horse who abandons a weak horse, the true sage moves on.

Through heedfulness Maghavā attained leadership of the gods,
the good praise heedfulness, but heedlessness is always blamed.

A monastic who delights in heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness,
advances like burning fire against the fetter, small or large.
A monastic who delights in heedfulness, seeing danger in heedlessness,
is unable to fall away: he is well-nigh to Nibbāna.

Vigilance is the path to the deathless state.
Negligence is the path to death.
The vigilant do not die;
The negligent are as if already dead.

Knowing this distinction,
Those wise in vigilance rejoice therein,
Delighting in the field of the noble ones.

Absorbed in meditation,
with perseverance and constant effort,
The wise touch Nibbāna,
that ultimate shelter from bondage.

For one who is vigilant and restrained,
Who is energetic and mindful,
Who acts carefully and purely,
Who lives the Dhamma,
Fame grows.

Through effort, vigilance, restraint, and self-
control,
The wise one makes himself an island that a flood
could not overwhelm.

The ignorant and foolish give themselves to
negligence,
While the wise protect vigilance as the supreme
treasure.

Do not give yourself to negligence
Or be intimate with sensual pleasure.
Being meditative and vigilant,
One attains great happiness.

When the wise one expels negligence by vigilance,
Having ascended to the stronghold of wisdom,
And free from sorrow,
He observes the sorrowing crowd,
As a sage, standing on a mountain,
Observes fools on the plain.

Vigilant among the negligent,
Wide awake among the sleeping,
The deeply wise one goes forth,
Like a swift horse who leaves the nag behind.

By vigilance,
Indra went to the highest seat among the gods.
Vigilance they praise; negligence is ever-derided.

The monk, devoted to vigilance and seeing the
danger in negligence,
Goes forth like a fire burning every fetter,
gross and subtle.

The monk, devoted to vigilance and seeing the
danger in negligence,
Is close to Nibbāna and cannot regress.

Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful die not. The heedless are as if dead already.

Clearly understanding this excellence of heedfulness, the wise exult therein and enjoy the resort of the Noble Ones.

The wise ones, ever meditative and steadfastly persevering, alone experience Nibbana, the incomparable freedom from bondage.

Ever grows the glory of him who is energetic, mindful and pure in conduct, discerning and self-controlled, righteous and heedful.

By effort and heedfulness, discipline and self-mastery, let the wise one make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.

The foolish and ignorant indulge in heedlessness, but the wise one keeps his heedfulness as his best treasure.

Do not give way to heedlessness. Do not indulge in sensual pleasures. Only the heedful and meditative attain great happiness.

Just as one upon the summit of a mountain beholds the groundlings, even so when the wise man casts away heedlessness by heedfulness and ascends the high tower of wisdom, this sorrowless sage beholds the sorrowing and foolish multitude.

Heedful among the heedless, wide-awake among the sleepy, the wise man advances like a swift horse leaving behind a weak jade.

By Heedfulness did Indra become the overlord of the gods. Heedfulness is ever praised, and heedlessness ever despised.

The monk who delights in heedfulness and looks with fear at heedlessness advances like fire, burning all fetters, small and large.

The monk who delights in heedfulness and looks with fear at heedlessness will not fall. He is close to Nibbana.