[Verse 1]
The greatest danger may not be far away,
It may live within when the mind loses its way.
Anger and greed, jealousy and pride,
Can slowly lead the heart away from the right side.
[Verse 2]
Do not chase wealth, do not chase fame,
Do not lose the Dhamma while seeking a name.
Guard your conduct, keep your heart bright,
Let loving-kindness guide your life.
[Chorus]
Never be heedless, for heedlessness is danger,
Keep mindfulness alive and let the Dhamma be your guide.
Walk with the good, learn the truth and practice,
Let wisdom lead you to the peaceful side.
Respect one another, cultivate compassion,
Persevere each day with a steady heart.
Walk the Noble Eightfold Path with courage,
Toward Nibbāna, where suffering departs.
[Verse 3]
Do not let learning become words alone,
Let wisdom become the way that you have shown.
Knowledge must live through practice and care,
With patient effort, the truth becomes clear.
[Chorus]
Never be heedless, for heedlessness is danger,
Keep mindfulness alive and let the Dhamma be your guide.
Walk with the good, learn the truth and practice,
Let wisdom lead you to the peaceful side.
Respect one another, cultivate compassion,
Persevere each day with a steady heart.
Walk the Noble Eightfold Path with courage,
Toward Nibbāna, where suffering departs.
[Ending]
When anger fades and greed is gone,
When delusion no longer leads us on,
The heart becomes peaceful, clear and free,
And walks the path to true liberation.
“Tiṃsanipāta”: A Warning Against Inner Decline and a Path of Virtue, Good Companionship, Loving-Kindness, and Mindfulness
In Volume 26 of the Tipitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Volume 18, Khuddaka Nikaya, Theragatha, the Tiṃsanipāta is a collection of verses attributed to three elder monks: Venerable Pussa, Venerable Sāriputta, and Venerable Ānanda, comprising a total of 105 verses. The collection emphasizes the preservation of the Dhamma and discipline, good companionship, learning and practicing the Dhamma, and the importance of living without heedlessness.
The verses of Venerable Pussa contain a significant warning about the dangers that may arise within the Buddhist community in the future. In response to the questions of the sage Paṇḍarasa, Venerable Pussa describes how monks in the future may become angry, envious, conceited, disrespectful toward the Dhamma and one another, and increasingly concerned with worldly gain.
The teaching warns that when practitioners become careless, seek wealth and possessions, pursue personal advantage, and neglect moral discipline, the Dhamma itself may become obscured.
Venerable Pussa also identifies anger, jealousy, conceit, criticism of others, quarrels, and disrespect for the Dhamma as sources of decline. The teaching is not limited to monastics; it offers a universal lesson that when greed, anger, and delusion dominate individuals, they can bring harm to both themselves and society.
Another important teaching concerns the saffron robe as a symbol of a life governed by moral discipline. The robe itself does not make a person noble. Rather, the true qualification is ethical conduct, restraint, truthfulness, self-control, freedom from sensual attachment, and a mind firmly established in the Dhamma.
At the conclusion of Venerable Pussa's teaching comes a clear path of correction: be teachable, speak gently, respect one another, cultivate loving-kindness and compassion, maintain moral discipline, and develop persistent effort. Above all, one should regard heedlessness as danger and heedfulness as safety, while cultivating the Noble Eightfold Path, which leads toward Nibbāna, beyond birth and death.
The verses of Venerable Ānanda emphasize good companionship and the importance of learning the Dhamma. A wise person should avoid associating with those who slander others, are habitually angry or miserly, or wish harm upon others. Instead, one should associate with people who have faith, virtue, wisdom, and extensive learning, because good companionship brings growth and well-being.
Venerable Ānanda also emphasizes that learning must be accompanied by practice. A person may possess extensive knowledge, but if that knowledge is not put into practice, it cannot bring genuine benefit. True learning requires understanding, reflection, perseverance, and inner cultivation.
The essential message of the Tiṃsanipāta is therefore clear: decline begins within the mind through anger, greed, jealousy, conceit, and heedlessness, while true progress arises from morality, good companionship, learning, practice, loving-kindness, and the cultivation of the Noble Eightfold Path.
These teachings remain relevant today. In an age of rapid communication and overwhelming information, mindfulness, wise companionship, careful discernment, and freedom from anger and delusion are increasingly important.
Ultimately, the Tiṃsanipāta is not merely a record of ancient Buddhist elders. It is a timeless reminder to preserve goodness within, live with mindfulness, cultivate wisdom, and follow the path toward peace and liberation.
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