The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Rājadatta

thag5.1:1 I, a monk, went to a charnel ground and saw a woman’s body abandoned there, dumped in a cemetery, full of worms that devoured.

thag5.1:2 Some men were disgusted, seeing her dead and rotten; but sexual desire arose in me, I was as if blind to her oozing body.

thag5.1:3 Quicker than the cooking of rice I left that place! Mindful and aware, I retired to a discreet place.

thag5.1:4 Then the realization came upon me— the danger became clear, and I was firmly disillusioned.

thag5.1:5 Then my mind was freed— behold the clear rightness of the teaching! I’ve attained the three knowledges and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Subhūta

thag5.2:1 When a person, wishing for a certain outcome, applies themselves where they ought not; not achieving what they worked for, they say: “That’s a sign of my bad luck.”

thag5.2:2 When a misfortune is extracted and beaten, to surrender it in part would be like losing at dice; but to surrender it all you’d have to be blind, not seeing the even and the uneven.

thag5.2:3 You should only say what you would do; you shouldn’t say what you wouldn’t do. The wise will recognize one who talks without doing.

thag5.2:4 Just like a glorious flower that’s colorful but lacks fragrance; well-spoken speech is fruitless for one who does not act on it.

thag5.2:5 Just like a glorious flower that’s both colorful and fragrant, well-spoken speech is fruitful for one who acts on it.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Girimānanda

thag5.3:1 The heavens rain like a sweet song; my hut is roofed and pleasant, sheltered from the wind. I meditate there, peaceful: so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.

thag5.3:2 The heavens rain like a sweet song; my hut is roofed and pleasant, sheltered from the wind. I meditate there, my mind at peace: so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.

thag5.3:3 The heavens rain like a sweet song; my hut is roofed and pleasant, sheltered from the wind. I meditate there, free of greed: so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.

thag5.3:4 The heavens rain like a sweet song; my hut is roofed and pleasant, sheltered from the wind. I meditate there, free of hate: so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.

thag5.3:5 The heavens rain like a sweet song; my hut is roofed and pleasant, sheltered from the wind. I meditate there, free of delusion: so rain forth, heavens, if you wish.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Sumana (1st)

thag5.4:1 My mentor helped me to learn, hoping I would practice those teachings. Aspiring to freedom from death, I’ve done what had to be done.

thag5.4:2 I’ve realized the Dhamma, witnessing it for myself, not based on legends. With purified knowledge, free of doubt, I declare it in your presence.

thag5.4:3 I remember the lessons of the past, my clairvoyance is purified, I’ve realized my heart’s goal, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

thag5.4:4 Being diligent in the training, I learned your teachings well. All my defilements are ended; now I await only my return to God.

thag5.4:5 You advised me in noble observances; sympathetic, you helped teach me. Your instruction was not in vain— I, your pupil, am fully trained.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Vaḍḍha

thag5.5:1 Oh so well was the goad shown to me by my mother, on hearing whose words, advised by my mother, energetic and resolute, I realized supreme awakening.

thag5.5:2 I’m perfected, worthy of offerings, master of the three knowledges, <j>seer of freedom from death. I’ve conquered the army of Namuci, and live without defilements.

thag5.5:3 Those defilements that were found in me, internally and externally, are all cut off without remainder, and will not arise again.

thag5.5:4 My self-assured sister said this to me: ‘Now neither you nor I have any snarls.’

thag5.5:5 Suffering is at an end; this bag of bones is my last in this passage through life and death; now I await only my return to God.”

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Nadīkassapa

thag5.6:1 It was truly for my benefit that the Buddha went to the Nerañjara River. When I heard his teaching, I shunned wrong view.

thag5.6:2 I used to perform a diverse spectrum of sacrifices; I served the sacred flame, imagining, “This is purity.” I was a blind, ordinary person.

thag5.6:3 Caught in the thicket of wrong view, deluded by misapprehension. Thinking impurity was purity, I was blind and ignorant.

thag5.6:4 I’ve abandoned wrong view; all bonds of becoming are shattered. I give charity to those <j>worthy of a religious donation: I bow to the Realized One.

thag5.6:5 I’ve given up all delusion; craving for continued existence is shattered; the bondage of worldly life is finished; now I await only my return to God.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Gayākassapa

thag5.7:1 Three times a day— morning, midday, and evening— I plunged into the water at Gayā for the Gayā spring festival.

thag5.7:2 “Any bad things I’ve done in previous lives, I’ll now rinse away right here”— such was the view I used to hold.

thag5.7:3 Having heard the fine words, a passage meaningful and principled, I rationally reflected on the true, essential goal.

thag5.7:4 I’ve washed away all bad things; I’m stainless, clean, pristine; the pure heir of the pure one, a bosom son of the Buddha.

thag5.7:5 When I plunged into the eightfold stream, all bad things were rinsed away. I’ve attained the three knowledges and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Vakkali

thag5.8:1 “Struck by a wind ailment while dwelling in a forest grove, you’ve entered a tough place for gathering alms— how will you get by, monk?”

thag5.8:2 “Pervading this bag of bones with abundant rapture and happiness, putting up with what’s tough, I’ll dwell in the forest.

thag5.8:3 Developing mindfulness meditation, the faculties and the powers, developing the factors of awakening, I’ll dwell in the forest.

thag5.8:4 Having seen those who are energetic, resolute, always staunchly vigorous, harmonious and united, I’ll dwell in the forest.

thag5.8:5 Recollecting the Buddha— the best, the tamed, the serene— tireless all day and night I’ll dwell in the forest.”

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Vijitasena

thag5.9:1 I’ll cage you, mind, like an elephant in a stockade. Born of the flesh, that net of the senses, I won’t urge you to do bad.

thag5.9:2 Caged, you won’t go anywhere, like an elephant who can’t find an open gate. Loser mind, you won’t wander again and again, bullying, in love with wickedness.

thag5.9:3 Just as a strong trainer with a hook takes a wild, newly captured elephant and wins it over against its will, so I’ll win you over.

thag5.9:4 Just as a fine charioteer, skilled in the taming of fine horses, tames a thoroughbred, so I’ll tame you, firmly established in the five powers.

thag5.9:5 I’ll bind you with mindfulness; devout, I shall tame you; kept in check by harnessed energy, mind, you won’t go far from here.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Yasadatta

thag5.10:1 With fault-finding mind, the simpleton listens to the victor’s instruction. They’re as far from the true teaching as the earth is from the sky.

thag5.10:2 With fault-finding mind, the simpleton listens to the victor’s instruction. They fall away from the true teaching, like the moon in the waning fortnight.

thag5.10:3 With fault-finding mind, the simpleton listens to the victor’s instruction. They wither away in the true teaching, like a fish in a little puddle.

thag5.10:4 With fault-finding mind, the simpleton listens to the victor’s instruction. They don’t thrive in the true teaching, like a rotten seed in a field.

thag5.10:5 But one with contented mind who listens to the victor’s instruction— having wiped out all defilements; having witnessed the unshakable; having arrived at ultimate peace— the undefiled are fully extinguished.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Soṇa of the Sharp Ears

thag5.11:1 I’ve received ordination; I am liberated, without defilements; I’ve seen the Blessed One myself, and even stayed together with him.

thag5.11:2 The Blessed One, the Teacher, spent much of the night in the open; then he, who is so skilled in meditation, entered his dwelling.

thag5.11:3 Spreading his outer robe, Gotama made his bed, like a lion in a rocky cave, with fear and dread given up.

thag5.11:4 Then, with lovely enunciation, Soṇa, a disciple of the Buddha, recited the true teaching before the best of Buddhas.

thag5.11:5 When he has completely understood <j>the five aggregates, developed the direct route, and arrived at ultimate peace, undefiled, he’ll be fully quenched.

The Book of the Fives

Chapter One

Kosiya

thag5.12:1 Whatever attentive one, <j>understanding their teacher’s words, stays with them, their fondness growing; that astute person is indeed devoted— knowing the teachings, they’re distinguished.

thag5.12:2 When extreme stresses arise, one who does not tremble, but reflects instead, that astute person is indeed strong— knowing the teachings, they’re distinguished.

thag5.12:3 Steady as the ocean, imperturbable, their wisdom is deep, they see the subtle meaning; that astute person is indeed unfaltering— knowing the teachings, they’re distinguished.

thag5.12:4 They’re very learned, <j>and have memorized the teaching, living in line with the teaching— that astute person is indeed such— knowing the teachings, they’re distinguished.

thag5.12:5 They know the meaning of what is said, and act accordingly; that astute person is indeed a master of meaning— knowing the teachings, they’re distinguished.