snp.5.2 Suttanipata

“By what is the world enveloped?” said venerable Ajita,
“Why does it not become clear?
What do you say is its defilement? What is the world’s great fear?”

“The world is enveloped by ignorance, Ajita,” said the Gracious One,
“because of heedlessness and meanness it does not become clear.
Hunger is its defilement, I say; suffering is the world’s great fear.”

“Streams are flowing everywhere,” said venerable Ajita,
“What is the constraint for streams?
Tell me the restraint for streams; by what are the streams shut off?”

“Whatever streams there are in the world, Ajita,” said the Gracious One,
“mindfulness is the constraint for them.
That is the restraint for streams, I say; by wisdom they are shut off.”

“Wisdom and also mindfulness,” said venerable Ajita,
“and mind and body, dear Sir,
please tell me this when asked: where does this cease?”

“This question that was asked, Ajita, I can answer it! As to where mind and body ceases without remainder:
with the cessation of consciousness, in this place it ceases.”

“Those who have discerned the Teaching, and the many in training here,
when I ask the prudent one, please tell me their conduct, dear Sir.”

“He should not be greedy for sense pleasures, or be disturbed in mind.
Skilful in all things, the monk should wander mindfully.”

The Young Man Ajita’s Questions are Finished

Ajita
The world, by what it’s wrapped?
and why it shines not forth?
say too with what it’s smeared?
and what’s its greatest fear?

Buddha
The world is wrapped by Ignorance;
It shines not forth due to doubt and negligence;
Its smeared by longing,
And suffering is its greatest fear.

Ajita
The streams are flowing everywhere,
how can the streams be blocked,
say how the streams may be restrained?
by what the streams are dammed?

Buddha
Whatever streams are in the world,
they may be blocked by mindfulness—
that I say is streams’ restraint;
by wisdom they are dammed.

Ajita
So wisdom it is and mindfulness!
Now, sir, I ask you, tell me this:
the namer-mind, the bodily form—
where does it cease to be?

Buddha
That question asked by you
I tell about it now,
the namer-mind and bodily form
where they cease to be:
by cessation of the consciousness,
they wholly cease to be.

Ajita
Who have the Dharma measured up,
who train themselves, the multitude,
how, sir, do they behave themselves?
please answer what I speak.

Buddha
No greediness in pleasures of sense,
having a tranquil mind and clear,
skilled in all the Dharma’s ways—
that mindful bhikkhu who’s left home.