2.24.5. The Fool

 

Chapter V

•

2.24.5. The Fool (Balayagga)1

V. (I) Aiiiiatarapurisa Vattbu

2.24.5.60. Long is the night Ie one who is wakeful; long

is (the journey of) one yojana to the tlaveller who is

tired; long is saOlsara (round of rebirths) to the fool

who is ignorant of the true Dhamrna (the Teaching of

the Buddha).

61. If a person seeking a companion cannot find

one who is better than or equal to him, let him

res0lutely go on alJne; there can be no companionship

with a fool.

62. "I have son~, T have wealth"; with this (feelinj:t

of attachment) the fuol is afflicted. Indt:ed. he himself

i~ not Ilis own, huw can S'jns and wealth be hi~?

63. The fool who knows that he is a fool can

for that reason be a wise man; but the fool who

thinks that he is wise is, indeed, caUed a fool.

64. A fool, even though he is associated with a

wise man all his life, does not understand the Dhamma, • • Just as a ladle does not know the taste of soup.

65. An intelligent man, even though he is associated

.with a wise man only for a moment, quickly understands

the Dhamma, just as the tongue knows the

taste of soup.

66. With themselves as their own enemies, fools

Jacking in intelligence move about' doing evil deeds,

which bear bitter fruits. ·n~.1:..- ,(t:

67. That deed is not well done if one has to repent

for having done it, and if, with a tcarful fact:, one has

to weep as a result of that deed.

68. That deed is well done if one has not to repent

for having done it, and if one is delighted and happy

with the result of th~t deed.

69. As long as the evil deeddoe/i not bear fruit,

the fool thinks it is sweet like honey; hut when his evil

dcod does bear fruit, the fool suffers for it.

70. Even though, month after month, th" fool (living

In al.lsterity) takes his food lIparingly with the tip of a

grass'-blade, he ill not worth even ono-lIiXh.'enth pan

of thOle who have comprehended tho Truth (i.e., ariY81)

71. An evil deed does not immediately bear fruit,

just as the newly-drawn milk dot.s riot curdle at onC(1;

but it fol1ows the fool. burning him like Jive coal

covered with ashes.

72. The skill of a fool can only harm hittT; It

destr~ys his merit and his wisdom (tt., it severs his head).

73. The fooiish bhikkhu dl."sires pI aise for qualities he does not have, pIecedence among bhikkhus, authority in the monasteries, and veneration from those unrelated to him.

74. "Let both laymen and bhikkhus think that

things are done because of me; let them obey me in

all matters, great and small." Such being the thoughts

of the rool, his greed and his pride grow.

75. Indeed, the path that leads to worldly gain is

one, and the Path that leads to Nibbana is another.

Fully comprehending this, the bhikkhu, the disciple of

the Buddha, should not take delight in worldly gain

and honour, but devote himself to solitude, detachment

and the realization of Nibhana.