Dhammapada

2. Heedfulness

  1. Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless.
    Heedlessness is the path to death.
    The heedful die not.
    The heedless are as if dead already.
  2. Clearly understanding this excellence of heedfulness,
    the wise exult therein
    and enjoy the resort of the Noble Ones.
  3. The wise ones, ever meditative and steadfastly persevering,
    alone experience Nibbana,
    the incomparable freedom from bondage.
  4. Ever grows the glory of him who is energetic,
    mindful and pure in conduct,
    discerning and self-controlled,
    righteous and heedful.
  5. By effort and heedfulness,
    discipline and self-mastery,
    let the wise one make for himself
    an island which no flood can overwhelm.
  6. The foolish and ignorant
    indulge in heedlessness,
    but the wise one
    keeps his heedfulness as his best treasure.
  7. Do not give way to heedlessness.
    Do not indulge in sensual pleasures.
    Only the heedful and meditative
    attain great happiness.
  8. Just as one upon the summit of a mountain
    beholds the groundlings,
    even so when the wise man casts away heedlessness
    by heedfulness
    and ascends the high tower of wisdom,
    this sorrowless sage
    beholds the sorrowing and foolish multitude.
  9. Heedful among the heedless,
    wide-awake among the sleepy,
    the wise man advances like a swift horse
    leaving behind a weak jade.
  10. By heedfulness did Indra become the overlord of the gods.
    Heedfulness is ever praised,
    and heedlessness ever despised.
  11. The monk who delights in heedfulness
    and looks with fear at heedlessness
    advances like fire,
    burning all fetters, small and large.
  12. The monk who delights in heedfulness
    and looks with fear at heedlessness
    will not fall.
    He is close to Nibbana.