Oracles

DHAMMAPADA I43 The Bhikkhu who in Earnestness delights, Dispersion sees with fear, He goes not to Destruction ; he unto Nirvana draweth near. III 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 impetuously tries Like to a fish from water snatched thrown on the ground it trembling lies. Where’er it listeth runneth thought, the tameless 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. Moving alone, far-travelling, bodiless, hidden i’th’ heart, who trains His thought and binds it by his will shall be released from Mara’s chains.