Psalms of the Brethren CCXLIII: Sona-Kolivisa

Who once in Anga’s realm was passing rich,
A squire to Anga’s king, lo! he to-day
Is of fair wealth in spiritual things.
Yea, past all ill hath Sona won his way.

Five cut thou off; Five leave behind, and Five
beyond these cultivate!
He who the Fivefold Bond transcends — a Brother
Flood-crossed is he called.

Seest thou a Brother with a rush-like mind,
[Stuck-up and empty], trifler, keen to taste
External things? Never will he attain
Fulness of growth within the moral code,
In mental training, or in insight’s grasp.

For such neglect that which they have to do,
But what should not be done they bring to pass.
In these conceited, desultory minds
Grow [the rank weeds of] the intoxicants.

In whom the constant governance of sense
Is well and earnestly begun, the things
That should be left undone they practise not;
Ever what should be done they bring to pass.
For them who live mindful and self-possessed,
The intoxicants wane utterly away.

In the straight Path, the Path that is declared,
See that ye walk, nor turn to right or left.
Let each himself admonish and incite;
Let each himself unto Nibbana bring!

When overtaxed and strained my energies,
The Master — can the world reveal his peer?—
Made me the parable about the lute,
And thus the Man who Sees taught me the Norm.

And I who heard his blessed word abide
Fain only and alway to do his will.
Calm I evolved and practised, equipoise,
That so to highest Good I might attain.
And now the Threefold Wisdom have I won,
And all the Buddha’s ordinance is done.

He who hath compassed yielding up the world,
And hath attained detachment of the mind,
Who hath achieved conquest of enmity,
And grasping rooted out that bringeth birth,

And death of craving hath attained and all
That doth bewilder and obscure the mind,
And of sensations marked the genesis: —
His heart is set at perfect liberty.

For such a Brother rightly freed, whose heart
Hath peace, there is no mounting up of deeds,
Nor yet remaineth aught for him to do.

Like to a rock that is a monolith,
And trembleth never in the windy blast,
So all the world of sights and tastes and sounds,
Odours and tangibles, yea, things desired,

And undesirable can ne’er excite
A man like him. His mind stands firm, detached,
And of all that he notes the passing hence.