CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

CRAVING.

334. Even as a creeper groweth, Creatures that are indolent Find their craving ever grow; Like a monkey in the forest Seeking fruit from bough to bough, So they wander to and fro.[1]

335. He who yields to sordid craving That thro' all the world doth go, Like the gadding vine that spreadeth, That man's sorrows ever grow.

336. He who quiets sordid craving, Hard in this world to allay, Like the dewdrop from the lotus, All his sorrows fall away.

337. Lo! to all of ye assembled This the good advice I tell: "Dig ye up the root of craving, As men dig the scented grass. Let not Death so oft assail ye, Even as the rushing torrent O'er the river reeds doth pass."

338. If the root be still uninjured, Trees cut down will spring again; If the root of craving liveth, Still there is rebirth of pain.

339. When the six and thirty currents[2] Bring one under pleasure's sway, Thoughts, like waves, with passion surging. Sweep him all confused away.

340. Everywhere those streams are flowing; Now the creeper of desire Plants its roots and standeth fast; Cut it ere it riseth higher, Cut it with the axe of wisdom, Root the creeper up at last.

341. Restless, wanton is men's craving; They who wander to and fro In the restless search for pleasure Birth and death must undergo.

342. They who in the trap of craving, Like a hare run to and fro, By the fetters' bonds entangled, Long must sorrow undergo.

343. Beings, in the trap of craving Like a hare run to and fro: Mendicants who hope for freedom Must their passions all forego.

344. Whoso, free from human passions, Junglewards to run is fain;[3] Who, from lust emancipated, To his lust runs back again; Lo! the man infatuated Plunges into bonds of pain.

345. Not by ties of wood or iron Nor of rope (the wise men say) Are men held in bondage strong; But for jewels, wives and children, They who passionately crave, They are held in bondage long.

346. But the downward-dragging chain, Yielding, hard to loose again-- This is bondage real (they say): Who this chain of craving breaks, Free from lust, the world forsakes.

347. They who yield to their desires Down the stream of craving swim; As we see the spider run In the net himself hath spun. Wise men cut the net and go Free from craving, free from woe.

348. Loose all behind, between, before;[4] Cross thou unto the other shore;[5] With thy mind on all sides free Birth and death no more shalt see.

349. He whose mind is tossed with doubt, Seeing bliss in passion's surge, Makes his craving grow the longer, Rivets all his bonds the stronger.

350. He who joys in calming doubt, And the loathsome contemplates,[6] Soon will Māra's bondage leave, Every fetter soon will cleave.

351. He who hath attained the goal, Fearless, free from lust and sin, Who hath plucked out every thorn,[7] Nevermore will be reborn.

352. Free from lust, to nothing clinging, Who is skilful to interpret All the wealth of sacred lore; All the mass of letters knowing (Whether after or before),[8] This indeed is his last body, He's a Master of The Wisdom, Mighty Being, He indeed is born no more.

353. Conqueror of all am I! Knowing all, from all conditions Of existence I am free; By the slaying of desire I have ended craving's fire. Who could then my teacher be? I have now forsaken all, I myself, by mine own knowledge. Whom should I my teacher call?[9]

354. To give The Norm all gifts transcends; To taste The Norm is sweetest far; No joy can with its joy compare; Who raving slays all sorrow ends.

355. Wealth harms the fool; not him who runs To win the goal intent; By lust of wealth the fool harms self With harm for others meant.

356. Weeds are the ruin of the fields; This world by lust is spoiled; Then great the fruit of gifts to those By lust who are not soiled.

357. Weeds are the ruin of the fields; This world is spoiled by hate; To those by hatred undefiled The fruit of gifts is great.

358. Weeds are the ruin of the fields; Deluded are mankind; Then great the fruit of gifts to those Whom folly doth not blind.

359. Weeds are the ruin of the fields; Craving pollutes the world; Then great the fruit of gifts to those By craving not enthralled.[10]

[1] In the round of rebirth.

[2] The six sense-organs and the six objects of sense (twelve) are affected by three desires of each, generally taken as _Kāmatanhā_, _Rūpatanhā_, _Arūpatanhā_, desire for existence in the world of desire, in the worlds of form, in the worlds of the formless (abstract), thus making thirty-six varieties.

[3] The jungle of passion.

[4] Past, present and future ties.

[5] Cross the stream to _Nibbāna_.

[6] One of the meditation exercises, to inspire loathing for the body and its corrupt nature.

[7] Cf. above v. 275.

[8] _Nirutti-pada-kovido_: skilled in the true meaning of the language (Pali) in which the Buddha taught.

[9] This was the reply of the Buddha to an ascetic who, struck by the Master's radiance after attaining _Nibbāna_, inquired who was His teacher and what was the cause of His joy.

[10] _Bhoga_, _rāga_, _dosa_, _moha_, _iccha_, riches, lust, hate, delusion, craving, are five of the hindrances to the saintly life.