Dhammapada 7- Arahants

A reading of the seventh chapter of the Dhammapada as translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The Dhammapada is a canonical Buddhist text written in a poetic style. Each chapter bears many listens over time, and is somewhat like the Tao Teh Ching, delivering ancient wisdom and inspiring the contemplative life. Listen at the beginning of your own meditation practice, or any time of day as a source of inspiration. Enjoy!

Transcript

Dhammapada 7 Arahants In one who has gone the full distance,

Is free from sorrow,

Is fully released in all respects,

Has abandoned all bonds,

No fever is found.

The mindful keep active,

Don't delight in settling back,

They renounce every home,

Every home,

Like swans taking off from a lake.

Not hoarding,

Having understood food,

Their pasture,

Emptiness and freedom without sign.

Their trail,

Like that of birds through space,

Can't be traced,

Effluents ended,

Independent of nutriment,

Their pasture,

Emptiness and freedom without sign.

Their trail,

Like that of birds through space,

Can't be traced.

He whose senses are steadied like stallions well trained by the charioteer,

His conceit abandoned,

Free of effluent,

Such,

Even devas adore him.

Like the earth,

He doesn't react,

Cultured,

Such,

Like Indra's pillar,

Like a lake free of mud,

For him,

Such,

There's no traveling on.

Calm is his mind,

Calm his speech and his deed.

One who's released through right knowing,

Pacified,

Such.

The man,

Faithless,

Beyond conviction,

Ungrateful,

Knowing the unmade,

A burglar who has severed connections,

Who's destroyed his chances,

Conditions,

Who eats vomit,

Has disgorged expectations,

The ultimate person.

In village or wilds,

Valley,

Plateau,

That place is delightful where arahants dwell.

Delightful wilds,

Where the crowds don't delight,

Those free from passion delight,

For they're not searching for sensual pleasures.