The Buddhas
This chapter gathers verses about the Buddhas and their instruction. One verse says: not to do any evil, to embrace the good, to purify one’s mind. Another lists not speaking ill, not doing harm, moderation in eating, remote lodgings and commitment to the higher mind. It says a human birth, hearing the true teaching and the arising of Buddhas are all hard to come by. People driven by fear take refuge in mountains, groves and shrines, but the verses say the refuge that releases from suffering is the Buddha, the teaching and the Saṅgha, the community, together with seeing the four noble truths.
A note on these verses. Verse 182 says a human birth is hard to gain; verses 181, 187 and 195–196 mention gods, celestial pleasures and incalculable merit; verse 185 refers to the monastic code; verse 184 mentions “extinguishment”, the end of suffering.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · public domain (CC0) · about 2 min · on SuttaCentral
179He whose victory may not be undone,a victory unrivaled in all the world;by what track would you trace that Buddha,who leaves no track in his infinite range?
180Of craving, the weaver, the clinger, he has none:so where can he be traced?By what track would you trace that Buddha,who leaves no track in his infinite range?
181The attentive intent on absorption,who love the peace of renunciation,the Buddhas, ever mindful,are envied by even the gods.
182It’s hard to gain a human birth;the life of mortals is hard;it’s hard to hear the true teaching;the arising of Buddhas is hard.
183Not to do any evil;to embrace the good;to purify one’s mind:this is the instruction of the Buddhas.Explained: Three lines of instruction
184Patient acceptance is the ultimate fervor.Extinguishment is the ultimate, say the Buddhas.No true renunciate injures another,nor does an ascetic hurt another.
185Not speaking ill nor doing harm;restraint in the monastic code;moderation in eating;staying in remote lodgings;commitment to the higher mind—this is the instruction of the Buddhas.
186Even if it were raining money,you’d not be sated in sensual pleasures.An astute person understands that sensual pleasuresoffer little gratification and much suffering.
187Thus they find no delighteven in celestial pleasures.A disciple of the fully awakened Buddhadelights in the ending of craving.
188So many go for refugeto mountains and forest groves,to shrines in tended parks;those people are driven by fear.
189But such refuge is no sanctuary,it is no supreme refuge.By going to that refuge,you’re not released from all suffering.
190One gone for refuge to the Buddha,to his teaching and to the Saṅgha,sees the four noble truthswith right understanding:
191suffering, suffering’s origin,suffering’s transcendence,and the noble eightfold paththat leads to the stilling of suffering.
192Such refuge is a sanctuary,it is the supreme refuge.By going to that refuge,you’re released from all suffering.
193It’s hard to find a thoroughbred man:they’re not born just anywhere.A family where that attentive one is bornprospers in happiness.
194Happy, the arising of Buddhas!Happy, the teaching of Dhamma!Happy is the harmony of the Saṅgha,and the striving of the harmonious is happy.
195When a person venerates the worthy—the Buddha or his disciple,who have transcended proliferation,and have left behind grief and lamentation,
196quenched, fearing nothing from any quarter—the merit of one venerating such as these,cannot be calculated by anyone,saying it is just this much.