Psalms of the Brethren CCXLIX: Parapariya

To a Brother came these musings
To the bhikkhu Parapariya,
As he sat alone, secluded,
World-detached and meditating:

What is there of course or order,
What is there in rite, or conduct,
Which may make a man accomplish
That which to himself is owing,
Nor work harm on any other?

Lo! the parts and powers of humans
Make for welfare and for evil:
Powers unguarded make for evil,
Guarded powers make for welfare.

One who guardeth parts and powers,
One who tendeth parts and powers,
He may do to self his duty,
Nor work harm on any other.

If he go with unrestrained
Power of sight among sense-objects,
All the evil ne’er discerning.
He doth not escape from sorrow.

If he go with unrestrained
Power of hearing sounds about him,
All the evil ne’er discerning,
He doth not escape from sorrow.

If in divers kinds of odours
He indulge, voluptuously,
Way of refuge ne’er discerning,
He doth not escape from sorrow.

Taste of sour and sweet and bitter
Relishing and pondering over,
Cleaving to desires of palate:
Ne’er his heart will be awakened.

Lovely, luring things of contact,
Touching, feeling, pondering over,
Lust-exciting, he impassioned
Findeth divers forms of sorrow.

Yea, who in these sense-impressions
Cannot guard the mind [recipient],
Sorrow thereby will pursue him,
E’en by way of all five senses.

Body full of blood and matter
And of plenteous other carrion,
So by human skill and wit is
Rendered fair like painted casket,

That the bitter suffering from it
Shows as sweetly satisfying,
Bound to what we hold beloved,
As a razor-blade, that’s hidden
Neath thick crust of honey-syrup,
Undiscerned [by the greedy].

He who dotes on form of woman,
Taste and touch and scent of woman,
Findeth divers shapes of sorrow.

All that emanates from woman,
Permeating [all men’s senses,] —
This and that man’s five gates [open,] —
’Gainst all these to make a barrier
If a man have grit and valiance,

He is wise and he is righteous,
He is clever and far-seeing;
For he may, at ease and cheerful,
Set himself to righteous duties.

When immersed in temporal profit,
If he shun vain undertakings,
If he judge it right to shun them,
He is earnest and far-seeing.

Is a work with good connected,
Is his love set on th’ Ideal,
Let him take the work and do it;
Other loves that Love surpasseth.

Many, manifold the methods
Whereby man his fellows cheateth;
Smiting, slaying, sore afflicting
He with violence oppresses.

As a strong man plying woodcraft,
Useth nail to smite a nail out,
So the wise and virtuous brethren
Use one power to smite out others: —

Faith and effort, concentration,
Mindfulness and wisdom plying,
Five by other Five outsmiting,
Goes the saint from flaws released.

He is wise and he is righteous;
He hath kept the Rule proclaimed
Wholly, fully by the Buddha.
He is happy, he doth prosper.