Dasabalaa (2) Sutta

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Samyutta Nikaya >> Nidana-Vagga >> Nidana-samyutta >> 12.22: Dasabalaa (2) Sutta - Ten Powers (excerpt)

Translated from the Pali by Maurice O'Connell Walshe

"It is not by that which is low, [1] monks, that the highest is attained; it is by the highest that the highest is attained. Most excellent [2] is the holy life. The teacher has come to you face to face. Therefore stir up energy, monks, to gain what has not been gained, to attain what has not been attained, to realize what has not been realized. Then this our leaving the world [3] will not prove a barren thing, but fruitful and productive of results. So too the requisites [4] we enjoy — robe, alms, lodging, medicine in sickness — trifling as they are, will be very fruitful for us, very profitable. For thus, monks, you must train yourselves: perceiving his own benefit [5] a man should exert himself tirelessly, [6] perceiving the benefit to others, he should exert himself tirelessly, perceiving the benefit to both, he should exert himself tirelessly." [7]