If a person holds oneself dear,
let one watch oneself carefully.
The wise should be watchful
during at least one of the three watches.
Let each person first direct oneself to what is right;
then let one teach others; thus the wise will not suffer.
If a person makes oneself as one teaches others to be,
then being well-controlled, that one might guide others,
since self-control is difficult.
Self is the master of self;
who else could be the master?
With self well-controlled
a person finds a master such as few can find.
The wrong done by oneself, born of oneself,
produced by oneself, crushes the fool,
just as a diamond breaks even a precious stone.
The one whose vice is great brings oneself down
to that condition where one's enemy wishes one to be,
just as a creeper overpowers the entangled sala tree.
Bad actions and actions harmful to ourselves are easy to do;
what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.
The fool who scorns the teaching of the saintly,
the noble, and the virtuous, and follows wrong ideas,
bears fruit to one's own destruction,
like the fruits of the katthaka reed.
By oneself is wrong done; by oneself one suffers;
by oneself is wrong left undone; by oneself is one purified.
Purity and impurity come from oneself;
no one can purify another.
Let no one neglect one's own duty
for the sake of another's, however great;
let a person after one has discerned one's own duty,
be always attentive to this duty.
Purity and impurity come from oneself; no one can purify another. True to the core of the words. Thanks for putting it on Poem Hunter. 10
For anything, there can not be two truths; Always, there only one truth. This is it about life. Both good as well as bad are within self.Thanks for sharing the philosophical message.
Whatever the value of the wisdom expressed here the poetic value is nearly bankrupt. A sermon devoid of music, metaphor or an enveloping atmosphere of aesthetic transference. I'm sympathetic to the content but not impressed by the handling of the vehicle.
In eastern philosophical thought search for divine started with search for self. These finest thoughts became basis for a virtuous and productive gentry. Lord Buddha's insights were one of the greatest. Thanks for putting it on.
Purity and impurity come from oneself; no one can purify another.......greatest verse of self purification; salute to the great Buddha
Freedom of poetic imaginations had motivated the person who took birth. Buddhist wisdom had given immense knowledge. Blooming lotus pond had greeted. Memorable perception of the past is highlighted and this poem is very interestingly penned. A person should feel self. This poem is deeply philosophical...10
Let no one neglect one's own duty for the sake of another's, however great; let a person after one has discerned one's own duty, be always attentive to this duty. Nice poem, a great teacher, you are.
Self is the master of self; who else could be the master? With self well-controlled a person finds a master such as few can find. A great poem of Gautama Buddha! I bow down with humility. Thank you for posting this wonderful philosophy of Buddha - the enlightened One!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Watch oneself carefully! ! With righteous morals! With peace and love. Thanks for sharing this poem with us.