Cittavagga

Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ; Ujuṁ karoti medhāvī, usukārova tejanaṁ.

The mind quivers and quakes, hard to guard, hard to curb. The discerning straighten it out, like a fletcher an arrow.

Vārijova thale khitto, okamokataubbhato; Pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ, māradheyyaṁ pahātave.

Like a fish pulled from the sea and cast upon the shore, this mind flounders about, trying to throw off Māra’s dominion.

Dunniggahassa lahuno, yatthakāmanipātino; Cittassa damatho sādhu, cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.

Hard to hold back, flighty, alighting where it will; it’s good to tame the mind; a tamed mind leads to bliss.

Sududdasaṁ sunipuṇaṁ, yatthakāmanipātinaṁ; Cittaṁ rakkhetha medhāvī, cittaṁ guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.

So hard to see, so subtle, alighting where it will; the discerning protect the mind, a guarded mind leads to bliss.

Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ, asarīraṁ guhāsayaṁ; Ye cittaṁ saṁyamissanti, mokkhanti mārabandhanā.

The mind travels far, wandering alone; incorporeal, it lies hidden in the heart. Those who will restrain the mind are freed from Māra’s bonds.

Anavaṭṭhitacittassa, saddhammaṁ avijānato; Pariplavapasādassa, paññā na paripūrati.

Those of unsteady mind, who don’t understand the true teaching, and whose confidence wavers, do not perfect their wisdom.

Anavassutacittassa, ananvāhatacetaso; Puññapāpapahīnassa, natthi jāgarato bhayaṁ.

One whose mind is not festering, whose heart is undamaged, who’s given up right and wrong, alert, has nothing to fear.

Kumbhūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā, Nagarūpamaṁ cittamidaṁ ṭhapetvā; Yodhetha māraṁ paññāvudhena, Jitañca rakkhe anivesano siyā.

Knowing this body breaks like a pot, and fortifying the mind like a citadel, attack Māra with the sword of wisdom, guard your conquest, and never settle.

Aciraṁ vatayaṁ kāyo, pathaviṁ adhisessati; Chuddho apetaviññāṇo, niratthaṁva kaliṅgaraṁ.

All too soon this body will lie upon the earth, bereft of consciousness, tossed aside like a worthless log.

Diso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā, verī vā pana verinaṁ; Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ, pāpiyo naṁ tato kare.

A wrongly directed mind would do you more harm than a hater to the hated, or an enemy to their foe.

Na taṁ mātā pitā kayirā, aññe vāpi ca ñātakā; Sammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ, seyyaso naṁ tato kare. Cittavaggo tatiyo.

A rightly directed mind would do you more good than your mother or father or any other relative.