sn.45.34 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Going Beyond

At Savatthī. “Bhikkhus, these eight things, when developed and cultivated, lead to going beyond from the near shore to the far shore. What eight? Right view … right concentration. These eight things, when developed and cultivated, lead to going beyond from the near shore to the far shore.”

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:

“Few are those among humankind
Who go beyond to the far shore.
The rest of the people merely run
Up and down along the bank.

“When the Dhamma is rightly expounded
Those who practise in accord with the Dhamma
Are the people who will go beyond
The realm of Death so hard to cross.

“Having left behind the dark qualities,
The wise man should develop the bright ones.
Having come from home into homelessness,
Where it is hard to take delight—

“There in seclusion he should seek delight,
Having left behind sensual pleasures.
Owning nothing, the wise man
Should cleanse himself of mental defilements.

“Those whose minds are well developed
In the factors of enlightenment,
Who through nonclinging find delight
In the relinquishment of grasping:
Those luminous ones with taints destroyed
Are fully quenched in the world.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Going to the Far Shore

At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, when these eight things are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.
What eight?
They are right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.
When these eight things are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.”
That is what the Buddha said.
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“Few are those among humans
who cross to the far shore.
The rest just run
around on the near shore.
When the teaching is well explained,
those who practice accordingly
are the ones who will cross over
Death’s domain so hard to pass.
Rid of dark qualities,
an astute person should develop the bright.
Leaving home behind
for the seclusion so hard to enjoy,
you should try to find delight there,
having left behind sensual pleasures.
With no possessions, an astute person
should cleanse themselves of mental corruptions.
And those whose minds are rightly developed
in the awakening factors;
letting go of attachments,
they delight in not grasping.
With defilements ended, brilliant,
they are extinguished in this world.”