Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 209–220

16. The Beloved

dhp209:1 Applying yourself where you ought not,

dhp209:2 neglecting what you should be doing,

dhp209:3 forgetting your goal, you cling to what you hold dear,

dhp209:4 jealous of those devoted to their heart’s goal.

dhp210:1 Don’t ever get too close

dhp210:2 to those you like or dislike.

dhp210:3 For not seeing the liked is suffering,

dhp210:4 and so is seeing the disliked.

dhp211:1 Therefore don’t hold anything dear,

dhp211:2 for it’s bad to lose those you love.

dhp211:3 No ties are found in they who

dhp211:4 hold nothing loved or loathed.

dhp212:1 Sorrow springs from what we hold dear,

dhp212:2 fear springs from what we hold dear;

dhp212:3 one free from holding anything dear

dhp212:4 has no sorrow, let alone fear.

dhp213:1 Sorrow springs from attachment,

dhp213:2 fear springs from attachment;

dhp213:3 one free from attachment

dhp213:4 has no sorrow, let alone fear.

dhp214:1 Sorrow springs from relishing,

dhp214:2 fear springs from relishing;

dhp214:3 one free from relishing

dhp214:4 has no sorrow, let alone fear.

dhp215:1 Sorrow springs from desire,

dhp215:2 fear springs from desire;

dhp215:3 one free from desire

dhp215:4 has no sorrow, let alone fear.

dhp216:1 Sorrow springs from craving,

dhp216:2 fear springs from craving;

dhp216:3 one free from craving

dhp216:4 has no sorrow, let alone fear.

dhp217:1 One accomplished in virtue and vision,

dhp217:2 firmly principled, and truthful,

dhp217:3 doing oneself what ought be done:

dhp217:4 that’s who the people love.

dhp218:1 One eager to realize the ineffable

dhp218:2 would be filled with awareness.

dhp218:3 Their mind not bound to pleasures of sense,

dhp218:4 they’re said to be heading upstream.

dhp219:1 When a man returns safely

dhp219:2 after a long time spent abroad,

dhp219:3 family, friends, and loved ones

dhp219:4 celebrate his return.

dhp220:1 Just so, when one who has done good

dhp220:2 goes from this world to the next,

dhp220:3 their good deeds receive them there,

dhp220:4 as family welcomes home one they love.