Dhp21-32 — Chapter 12

Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 21–32

2. Diligence

Heedfulness is the state free of death;

heedlessness is the state of death.

The heedful do not die,

while the heedless are like the dead.

Understanding this distinction

when it comes to heedfulness,

the astute rejoice in heedfulness,

happy in the noble ones’ domain.

They who regularly meditate,

always staunchly vigorous;

the attentive realize extinguishment,

the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

For the hard-working and mindful,

pure of deed and attentive,

restrained, living righteously, and diligent,

their reputation only grows.

By hard work and diligence,

by restraint and by self-control,

a smart person would build an island

that the floods cannot overflow.

Fools and simpletons

devote themselves to negligence.

But the wise protect diligence

as their best treasure.

Don’t devote yourself to negligence,

or delight in erotic intimacy.

For if you’re diligent and meditate,

you’ll attain abundant happiness.

When the astute dispel negligence

by means of diligence,

ascending the palace of wisdom,

sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow,

as an attentive one on a mountain top

beholds the fools below.

Heedful among the heedless,

wide awake while others sleep—

a true sage leaves them behind,

like a swift horse passing a feeble.

Maghavā became chief of the gods

by means of diligence.

People praise diligence,

while negligence is always deplored.

A mendicant who loves diligence,

seeing fear in negligence—

advances like fire,

burning up fetters big and small.

A mendicant who loves diligence,

seeing fear in negligence—

such a one can’t decline,

and has drawn near to extinguishment.