25. The Bhikku  

Control of the eye is good,  
control of the ear is good,  
control of the nose is good,  
control of the tongue is good.

Control of the body is good,  
controlled speech is good,  
control in everything is good.
The self-controlled bhikku is the free bhikku.

He is the bhikku
whose hands and feet are controlled,  
who is alone, serene, happy with himself.

How sweet the words of the bhikku
who, controlling his tongue, speaks wisely  
of the Dhamma, in speech that is humble.

The bhikku who follows Dhamma,
delights in Dhamma, meditates on Dhamma,  
does not stray from the true path.

What he receives, he takes humbly;  
he does not envy others.
The envious bhikku is never serene.

Even the gods praise the bhikku
who takes humbly what little is given.
His life is pure and industrious.

He is the bhikku who owns nothing
as his, neither name nor form.
He does not grieve over that which is not.

That bhikku is tranquil
who has faith in the Dhamma.
Always gentle and equanimous,
he finds the holiest peace.

Make the boat light, bhikku!
Emptied, it will travel swifter.

Cast away passion and hate,
the road to Nirvana will be easier.

Cut off the five: egotism, doubt,
false holiness, lust, and hatred.
Destroy these five fetters,
and you will have crossed the stream of life.

Think, discriminate, bhikku!
There is no time to waste.

Forget the pleasures of the senses
lest, swallowing the flaming iron ball,  
you cry out, "I suffer!"

How can one without wisdom meditate?  
How can one without meditation be wise?
Both together, meditation and wisdom, lead to Nirvana.

When a tranquil bhikku enters an empty house,
he is delighted, if he has knowledge of the Dhamma.

When he realizes the birth and death of the body,
he is delighted, he experiences the delight of wisdom.

Let the wise bhikku begin thus:
controlling the senses, practicing equanimity,  
following discipline as laid down in the Dhamma,  
and choosing pure, noble, and industrious friends.

Let his life be a life of friendship.  
Let him perform his duties well.
Then will his happiness end his suffering.

O bhikku, be like the vassika plant  
that sheds its withered flowers.  
Shed passion and hate.
 
That bhikku is calm  
whose body is calm,
whose mind and speech are calm,
who has single-mindedly
refused the world's seductions.

Rouse yourself by your self,  
perfect yourself by your self.  
Only such vigilance, O bhikku,  
will bring you happiness.

You are your own refuge;  
there is no other refuge.
Like the merchant taming a fine horse,  
tame yourself, O bhikku.

Happy and peaceful is the bhikku  
who has faith in the Dhamma.
He alone finds the state of serenity  
where the world's flow ceases.

The young bhikku who ceaselessly  
follows the words of the Buddha,  
he shines on this world
like a moon escaped from cloud.