3. The Mind - cittavagga 33-43

Question 1

33
The mind quivers and shakes,
hard to guard, hard to curb.
The discerning straighten it out,
like a fletcher straightens an arrow.

Answer 1

33
Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ,
dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ;
Ujuṁ karoti medhāvī,
usukārova tejanaṁ.

Question 2

34
Like a fish pulled from the sea
and cast upon the shore,
this mind flounders about,
trying to throw off Māra’s sway.

Answer 2

34
Vārijova thale khitto,
okamokataubbhato;
Pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ,
māradheyyaṁ pahātave.

Question 3

35
Hard to hold back, flighty,
alighting where it will;
it’s good to tame the mind;
a tamed mind leads to bliss.

Answer 3

35
Dunniggahassa lahuno,
yatthakāmanipātino;
Cittassa damatho sādhu,
cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.

Question 4

36
So hard to see, so subtle,
alighting where it will;
the discerning protect the mind,
a guarded mind leads to bliss.

Answer 4

36
Sududdasaṁ sunipuṇaṁ, yatthakāmanipātinaṁ;
Cittaṁ rakkhetha medhāvī,
cittaṁ guttaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.

Question 5

37
The mind travels far, wandering alone; incorporeal, it hides in a cave.
Those who will restrain the mind
are freed from Māra’s bonds.

Answer 5

37
Dūraṅgamaṁ ekacaraṁ,
asarīraṁ guhāsayaṁ;
Ye cittaṁ saṁyamissanti,
mokkhanti mārabandhanā.

Question 6

38
Those of unsteady mind,
who don’t understand the true teaching,
and whose confidence wavers,
do not perfect their wisdom.

Answer 6

38
Anavaṭṭhitacittassa,
saddhammaṁ avijānato;
Pariplavapasādassa,
paññā na paripūrati.

Question 7

39
One whose mind is uncorrupted,
whose heart is undamaged,
who’s given up right and wrong,
alert, has nothing to fear.

Answer 7

39
Anavassutacittassa,
ananvāhatacetaso;
Puññapāpapahīnassa,
natthi jāgarato bhayaṁ.

Question 8

40
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.

Answer 8

40
Kumbhūpamaṁ kāyamimaṁ viditvā, Nagarūpamaṁ cittamidaṁ ṭhapetvā;
Yodhetha māraṁ paññāvudhena,
Jitañca rakkhe anivesano siyā.

Question 9

41
All too soon this body
will lie upon the earth,
bereft of consciousness,
tossed aside like a useless log.

Answer 9

41
Aciraṁ vatayaṁ kāyo,
pathaviṁ adhisessati;
Chuddho apetaviññāṇo,
niratthaṁva kaliṅgaraṁ.

Question 10

42
A wrongly directed mind
would do you more harm
than a hater to the hated,
or an enemy to their foe.

Answer 10

42
Diso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā,
verī vā pana verinaṁ;
Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ,
pāpiyo naṁ tato kare.

Question 11

43
A rightly directed mind
would do you more good
than your mother or father
or any other relative.

Answer 11

43
Na taṁ mātā pitā kayirā,
aññe vāpi ca ñātakā;
Sammāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ,
seyyaso naṁ tato kare.