331

The craving of one given to heedless living grows like a creeper. Like the monkey seeking fruits in the forest, one leaps from life to life (tasting the fruit of one's kamma).

332

Whoever is overcome by this wretched and sticky craving, that person's sorrows grow like grass after the rains.

333

But whoever overcomes this wretched craving, so difficult to overcome, from that person sorrows fall away like water from a lotus leaf.

334

This I say to you: Good luck to you all assembled here! Dig up the root of craving, like one in search of the fragrant roots of birana grass. Let not Mara crush you again and again, as a flood crushes a reed.

335

Just as a tree, though cut down, sprouts up again if its roots remain uncut and firm, even so, until the craving that lies dormant is rooted out, suffering springs up again and again.

336

The misguided person in whom the thirty-six currents of craving rush strongly toward pleasurable objects, is swept away by the flood of his passionate thoughts.

337

Everywhere these currents flow, and the creeper (of craving) sprouts and grows. Seeing that the creeper has sprung up, cut off its root with wisdom.

338

Flowing in (from all objects) and watered by craving, feelings of pleasure arise in beings.

339

Bent on pleasures and seeking enjoyment, these people fall prey to birth and decay.

340

Beset by craving, people run about like an entrapped hare. Held fast by mental fetters, they come to suffering again and again for a long time.

341

Beset by craving, people run about like an entrapped hare. Therefore, one who yearns to be passion-free should destroy one's own craving.

342

There is one who, turning away from desire (for household life) takes to the life of the forest (i.e. of a monk). But after being freed from the household, one runs back to it. Behold that person! Though freed, one runs back to that very bondage! That is not a strong fetter, the wise say, which is made of iron, wood or hemp.

343

But the infatuation and longing for jewels and ornaments, children and spouses--that, they say, is a far stronger fetter, which pulls one downward and, though seemingly loose, is hard to remove.

344

This too the wise cut off.

345

Giving up sensual pleasure, and without any longing, they renounce the world.

346

Those who are lust-infatuated fall back to the swirling current (of samsara) like a spider on its self-spun web. This too the wise cut off.

347

Without any longing, they abandon all suffering and renounce the world.

348

Let go of the past, let go of the future, let go of the present, and cross over to the farther shore of existence.

349

With mind wholly liberated, you shall come no more to birth and death.

350

For a person tormented by evil thoughts, who is passion-dominated and given to the pursuit of pleasure, one's craving steadily grows.

351

One makes the fetter strong indeed.

352

One who delights in subduing evil thoughts, who meditates on the impurities and is ever mindful --it is that person who will make an end of craving and rend asunder Mara's fetter.

353

One who has reached the goal, is fearless, free from craving, passionless, having plucked out the thorns of existence--for that person this is the last body.

354

One who is free from craving and attachment, perfect in uncovering the true meaning of the Teaching, and knows the arrangement of the sacred texts in correct sequence--that person, indeed, is the bearer of a final body. One is truly called the profoundly wise one, the great person.

355

A victor am I over all, all have I known, yet unattached am I to all that is conquered and known. Abandoning all, I am freed through the destruction of craving. Having thus directly comprehended all by myself, whom shall I call my teacher? The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts; the taste of Dhamma excels all tastes; the delight in Dhamma excels all delights; the Craving-freed vanquishes all suffering.

356

Riches ruin only the foolish, not those in quest of the Beyond. By craving for riches the witless person ruins oneself as well as others.

357

Weeds are the bane of fields, lust the bane of mankind. Therefore what is offered to those free of lust yields abundant fruit.

358

Weeds are the bane of fields, hatred the bane of mankind. Therefore what is offered to those free of hatred yields abundant fruit.

359

Weeds are the bane of fields, delusion the bane of mankind. Therefore what is offered to those free of delusion yields abundant fruit.

360

Weeds are the bane of fields, desire the bane of mankind. Therefore what is offered to those free of desire yields abundant fruit.