Collected Works (Vol. II)

46 ORACLES Il. EARNESTNESS,. Amata’s! path is Earnestness, Dispersion Death’s disciples tread : The earnest never die, the vain are even as already dead. Who understand, have travelled far on con- centration’s path, delight In concentration, have their joy, knowing the Noble Ones aright. In meditation firmly fixed, by constant strenu- ous effort high, They to Nibbana? come at last, the incom- parable security. Whose mind is strenuous and reflects ; whose deeds are circumspect and pure, His thoughts aye fixed on Law, the fame of |. that concentred shall endure. By Earnestness, by centred thought, by self- restraint, by suffering long, Let the wise man an island build against the fatal current strong. Fools follow after vanity, those men of evil wisdonr’s sect ; But the wise man doth earnestness, a precious talisman, protect. Follow not vanity, nor seek the transient pleasures of the sense : The earnest one who meditates derives the highest rapture thence. When the wise man by Earnestness hath Vanity to chaos hurled '{e mounts to wisdom’s palace, looks serene upon the sorrowing world. 1 Sanskrit, Amrita, the ‘' Elixir of Life” and food of the gods. 2 Sanskrit, Nirvana. See Childers’ Dictionary for etymological discussion, Pah The signification is too difficult a question to settle | ofthand in a note, Mighty is wisdom: as a man climbs high upon the hills ice-crowned, Surveys, aloof, the toiling folk far distant on the dusty ground. Among the sleepers vigilant, among the thoughtless eager-eyed The wise speeds on ; the racer so passes the hack with vigorous stride. By earnestness did Maghava? attain of Gods to be the Lord. Praise is one-pointed thought’s reward ; Dis- persion is a thing abhorred. The Bhikkhu who in Earnestness delights, who fears dispersions dire, His fetters all, both great and small, burning he moves about the fire. The Bhikkhu who in Earnestness delights, Dispersion sees with fear, He goes not to Destruction ; he unto Nibbana draweth near. Ilf. THE ARROW, Just as the fletcher shapes his shaft straightly, so shapes his thought the saint, For that is trembling, weak, impatient of direction or restraint. Mara’s dominion to escape if thought im- petuously tries Like to a fish from water snatched thrown on the ground it trembling lies. Where’er it listeth runneth thought, the tame- less trembling consciousness. Well is it to restrain :—a mind so stilled and tamed brings happiness. Hard to perceive, all-wandering, subtle and eager do they press, } Thoughts; let the wise man guard his thoughts; well guarded thoughts bring happiness. 1 Indra, the Indian Zeus,