Religion

Psalms of the Brethren CLXXXIII: Gotama

by The Brethren of the Theragatha traditionally 6th–3rd century BCE; composition uncertain

Translated by Mrs. C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1913) · From Psalms of the Early Buddhists II: Psalms of the Brethren (1913)

Religion

Lo! as I fared through being, I came to the kingdom infernal,
So to the dolorous realm of the Petas, times without number.
Evil befell me again in manifold shapes of the beast-world.

Glad enough reborn as human, rarely I won to the heavens.
Yea, in the realms of vision, in realms where all sense was abolished
Have I been placed, and in realms ’twixt consciousness and the unconscious.

All this becoming lies clearly before me as void of real value,
Born of preceding conditions, unstable and constantly drifting.
So comprehending the coming to be of this self of me, heedful,
Came I at length to find Peace, yea, the Peace
[wherein I am resting].

MLA

Theragatha, The Brethren of the. “Psalms of the Brethren CLXXXIII: Gotama.” Translated by Mrs. C. A. F. Rhys Davids. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/theragatha-brethren/182/.

Chicago

Theragatha, The Brethren of the. “Psalms of the Brethren CLXXXIII: Gotama.” Translated by Mrs. C. A. F. Rhys Davids. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/theragatha-brethren/182/.

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