The Book of the Sixteens

Chapter One

Koṇḍañña Who Understood

thag15.1:1 “My confidence grew as I heard the teaching, so full of flavor. Dispassion is what was taught, without any grasping at all.”

thag15.1:2 “There are so many pretty things in this vast territory. They disturb one’s thoughts, it seems to me, attractive, provoking lust.

thag15.1:3 Just as a rain cloud would settle the dust blown up by the wind, so thoughts settle down when seen with wisdom.

thag15.1:4 All conditions are impermanent— when this is seen with wisdom one grows disillusioned with suffering: this is the path to purity.

thag15.1:5 All conditions are suffering— when this is seen with wisdom one grows disillusioned with suffering: this is the path to purity.

thag15.1:6 All things are not-self— when this is seen with wisdom one grows disillusioned with suffering: this is the path to purity.”

thag15.1:7 “The senior monk awakened after the Buddha, Koṇḍañña, is keenly energetic. He has overcome the fear of birth and death, and has completed the spiritual journey.”

thag15.1:8 “There are floods, snares, and strong posts, and a mountain hard to crack; snapping the posts and snares, breaking the mountain so hard to break, crossing over to the far shore, a meditator is freed from Satan’s bonds.

thag15.1:9 When a mendicant is haughty and fickle, relying on bad friends, they sink down in the great flood, overcome by a wave.

thag15.1:10 But one not restless or fickle, alert, with senses restrained, intelligent, with good friends, makes an end of suffering.

thag15.1:11 With knobbly knees, thin and veiny, eating and drinking in moderation— this person’s spirit is undaunted.

thag15.1:12 Pestered by flies and mosquitoes in the wilds, the formidable forest, one should mindfully endure, like an elephant at the head of the battle.

thag15.1:13 I don’t long for death; I don’t long for life; I await my time, like a worker waiting for their wages.

thag15.1:14 I don’t long for death; I don’t long for life; I await my time, aware and mindful.

thag15.1:15 I’ve served the Teacher and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions. The heavy burden is laid down, the leash to existence is eradicated.

thag15.1:16 I’ve attained the goal for the sake of which I went forth from the lay life to homelessness— what use do I have for protégés?”

The Book of the Sixteens

Chapter One

Udāyī

thag15.2:1 Awakened as a human being, self-tamed and immersed in samādhi, following the spiritual path, he loves peace of mind.

thag15.2:2 Revered by people, gone beyond all things, even the angels honor him; so I’ve heard from the perfected one.

thag15.2:3 He has transcended all fetters, and escaped from entanglements. Delighting to renounce sensual pleasures, he’s freed like lustrous gold from stone.

thag15.2:4 That giant outshines all, like the Himalaya beside other mountains. Of all those named “giant”, he is truly named, supreme.

thag15.2:5 I shall extol the giant for you, for he does nothing monstrous. gentleness and harmlessness are two feet of the giant.

thag15.2:6 Mindfulness and awareness are his two other feet. Faith is the giant’s trunk, and equanimity his white tusks.

thag15.2:7 Mindfulness is his neck, his head is wisdom— investigation and thinking about principles. His belly is the sacred hearth of the Dhamma, and his tail is seclusion.

thag15.2:8 Practicing absorption, enjoying the breath, he is serene within. The giant is serene when walking, the giant is serene when standing,

thag15.2:9 the giant is serene when lying down, and when sitting, the giant is serene. The giant is restrained everywhere: this is the accomplishment of the giant.

thag15.2:10 He eats blameless things, he doesn’t eat blameworthy things. When he gets food and clothes, he avoids storing them up.

thag15.2:11 Having severed all bonds, fetters large and small, wherever he goes, he goes without concern.

thag15.2:12 A white lotus, fragrant and delightful, sprouts in water and grows there, but the water doesn’t cling to it.

thag15.2:13 Just so the Buddha is born in the world, and lives in the world, but the world doesn’t stick to him, as water does not stick to the lotus.

thag15.2:14 A great blazing fire dies down when the fuel runs out. And when the coals have gone out it’s said to be “quenched”.

thag15.2:15 This simile is taught by the discerning to express the meaning clearly. Great giants will understand what the giant taught the giant.

thag15.2:16 Free of greed, free of hate, free of delusion, undefiled; the giant, giving up his body, undefiled, will be fully quenched.