Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 21–32

2. Diligence

dhp21:1 Heedfulness is the state free of death;

dhp21:2 heedlessness is the state of death.

dhp21:3 The heedful do not die,

dhp21:4 while the heedless are like the dead.

dhp22:1 Understanding this distinction

dhp22:2 when it comes to heedfulness,

dhp22:3 the astute rejoice in heedfulness,

dhp22:4 happy in the noble ones’ domain.

dhp23:1 They who regularly meditate,

dhp23:2 always staunchly vigorous;

dhp23:3 the attentive realize extinguishment,

dhp23:4 the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

dhp24:1 For the hard-working and mindful,

dhp24:2 pure of deed and attentive,

dhp24:3 restrained, living righteously, and diligent,

dhp24:4 their reputation only grows.

dhp25:1 By hard work and diligence,

dhp25:2 by restraint and by self-control,

dhp25:3 a smart person would build an island

dhp25:4 that the floods cannot overflow.

dhp26:1 Fools and simpletons

dhp26:2 devote themselves to negligence.

dhp26:3 But the wise protect diligence

dhp26:4 as their best treasure.

dhp27:1 Don’t devote yourself to negligence,

dhp27:2 or delight in erotic intimacy.

dhp27:3 For if you’re diligent and meditate,

dhp27:4 you’ll attain abundant happiness.

dhp28:1 When the astute dispel negligence

dhp28:2 by means of diligence,

dhp28:3 ascending the palace of wisdom,

dhp28:4 sorrowless, they behold this generation of sorrow,

dhp28:5 as an attentive one on a mountain top

dhp28:6 beholds the fools below.

dhp29:1 Heedful among the heedless,

dhp29:2 wide awake while others sleep—

dhp29:3 a true sage leaves them behind,

dhp29:4 like a swift horse passing a feeble.

dhp30:1 Maghavā became chief of the angels

dhp30:2 by means of diligence.

dhp30:3 People praise diligence,

dhp30:4 while negligence is always deplored.

dhp31:1 A mendicant who loves diligence,

dhp31:2 seeing fear in negligence—

dhp31:3 advances like fire,

dhp31:4 burning up fetters big and small.

dhp32:1 A mendicant who loves diligence,

dhp32:2 seeing fear in negligence—

dhp32:3 such a one can’t decline,

dhp32:4 and has drawn near to extinguishment.