Zen in Ten: "The Miserly Go Not to the World of the Gods"
Dhammapada Verses 167-178: Lokavaggo: The Chapter About the World
Hello Dear Reader! This is the next post delineating the short verses in The Dhammapada, which is sometimes called the Buddhist Book of Proverbs. The Dhammapada is regarded as the most succinct expression of the Buddha's teachings found in the Pali canon. For your convenience, here are links to verses: 1-10, 11-20, 21-32, 33-43, 44-59, 60-75, 76-89, 90-99, 100-115, 116-128, 129-145, 146-156, and 157-166. This chapter is translated by Bhante Ānandajoti, an ordained Theravāda monk. Peace, Rev. Shoren Heather
One should not follow lowly things,
one should not abide heedlessly,
one should not follow a wrong view,
one should not foster worldliness.One should strive and not be heedless,
live by Dhamma, with good conduct,
living by Dhamma one will live
at ease in this world and the next.One should live by Dhamma, with good
conduct and not with bad conduct,
living by Dhamma one will live
at ease in this world and the next.One should see it as a bubble,
one should see it as a mirage,
looking on the world in this way
the King of Death does not see one.Come, look upon this world adorned
like a king’s gilded chariot,
where fools become depressed—there is
no bond for those who understand.Whoever was heedless before,
but then later is not heedless,
that one shines brightly on this world
like the moon released from a cloud.The person whose wicked deed is
covered over by a good deed—
that one shines brightly on this world
like the moon released from a cloud.This world is blind, few here
have true insight, as few
go to heaven as birds
that escape from the net.Geese go through the path of the sky,
through the heavens by their power,
the wise are led out of the world,
defeating Māra and his host.For the person speaking falsely
who transgresses in this one thing,
who has abandoned the next world,
there is no bad thing left undone.The miserly go not to the world of
the gods, fools surely do not praise giving,
but the wise one rejoices in giving,
and through that she is happy hereafter.Having sole sovereignty over
the earth, or going to heaven,
or lordship over the whole world—
better, the fruit of stream-entry.