Section 14
Chapter 14: The Buddha explained simply
The Dhammapada by Buddhist tradition
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179. He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest no one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless? 180. He whom no desire with its snares and poisons can lead astray, by what track can you lead him, the…
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Chapter XIV. The Buddha (The Awakened)
179. He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest no
one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened,
the Omniscient, the trackless?
180. He whom no desire with its snares and poisons can lead astray,
by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the
trackless?
181. Even the gods envy those who are awakened and not forgetful, who
are given to meditation, who are wise, and who delight in the repose of
retirement (from the world).
182. Difficult (to obtain) is the conception of men, difficult is the
life of mortals, difficult is the hearing of the True Law, difficult is
the birth of the Awakened (the attainment of Buddhahood).
183. Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that
is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.
184. The Awakened call patience the highest penance, long-suffering the
highest Nirvana; for he is not an anchorite (pravragita) who strikes
others, he is not an ascetic (sramana) who insults others.
185. Not to blame, not to strike, to live restrained under the law,
to be moderate in eating, to sleep and sit alone, and to dwell on the
highest thoughts,--this is the teaching of the Awakened.
186. There is no satisfying lusts, even by a shower of gold pieces; he
who knows that lusts have a short taste and cause pain, he is wise;
187. Even in heavenly pleasures he finds no satisfaction, the disciple
who is fully awakened delights only in the destruction of all desires.
188. Men, driven by fear, go to many a refuge, to mountains and forests,
to groves and sacred trees.
189. But that is not a safe refuge, that is not the best refuge; a man
is not delivered from all pains after having gone to that refuge.
190. He who takes refuge with Buddha, the Law, and the Church; he who,
with clear understanding, sees the four holy truths:--
191. Viz. pain, the origin of pain, the destruction of pain, and the
eightfold holy way that leads to the quieting of pain;--
192. That is the safe refuge, that is the best refuge; having gone to
that refuge, a man is delivered from all pain.
193. A supernatural person (a Buddha) is not easily found, he is not
born everywhere. Wherever such a sage is born, that race prospers.
194. Happy is the arising of the awakened, happy is the teaching of the
True Law, happy is peace in the church, happy is the devotion of those
who are at peace.
195, 196. He who pays homage to those who deserve homage, whether the
awakened (Buddha) or their disciples, those who have overcome the host
(of evils), and crossed the flood of sorrow, he who pays homage to
such as have found deliverance and know no fear, his merit can never be
measured by anybody.
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Simple English explanation
The awakened one is hard to measure by ordinary standards because he is free from craving and confusion.
1-minute summary
The chapter praises the Buddha and the path he teaches: avoid evil, cultivate good, purify the mind, and live with patience and restraint.
Key takeaways
- The path combines ethics, meditation, and wisdom.
- Avoiding evil and doing good are practical disciplines.
- Patience is a high form of strength.
- Awakening means freedom from craving.
Modern example
A calm teacher who lives simply may influence people more deeply than a loud celebrity with constant attention.