[Verse 1]
Walk the path and do not turn away,
Keep your heart awake from day to day.
Know the body, know the mind,
Leave the restless world behind.
[Verse 2]
Too much strain will break the string,
Too little effort bears no wing.
Like the lute, the path must be
Balanced by wise harmony.
[Chorus]
Tune the string of effort right,
Walk with wisdom, walk with light.
When the world begins to sway,
Let the mindful heart remain.
[Verse 3]
Craving fades when clearly seen,
Clinging falls where truth has been.
What arises passes away,
And the mind grows still each day.
[Final Chorus]
Like a mountain standing strong,
Untouched by the wind for long,
Pleasant, painful, praise or blame—
The steady mind remains the same.
The Principles of the Dhamma in the Terasaka Nipāta: The Verses of Soṇa Koḷivisa
The Theragāthā, Pali Canon Volume 26, Sutta Piṭaka Volume 18, Khuddaka Nikāya
The Terasaka Nipāta of the Theragāthā contains thirteen verses attributed to Venerable Soṇa Koḷivisa. His verses present a profound account of spiritual training, emphasizing perseverance, mindfulness, restraint, the development of virtue, concentration and wisdom, and the cultivation of a mind that remains steady in the face of worldly experiences.
Cutting the Ten Fetters
One of the central teachings is the abandonment of the five lower fetters and five higher fetters, together with the development of the five spiritual faculties. A monk who overcomes these bonds is described as one who has crossed the flood of suffering.
The teaching points to an important principle: liberation does not simply mean escaping difficult circumstances. It means understanding and gradually releasing the inner attachments that keep the mind bound to suffering.
The Danger of Carelessness
Venerable Soṇa also emphasizes the danger of heedlessness. Those who remain attached to external sense objects fail to perfect virtue, concentration and wisdom. When people neglect what should be done and instead pursue what should not be done, their defilements increase.
By contrast, those who consistently cultivate mindfulness of the body and maintain clear comprehension know what should be done and what should be avoided. Through such mindfulness, the underlying defilements gradually come to an end.
The Buddha’s Teaching of the “String of the Lute”
One of the most memorable passages describes how the Buddha taught Soṇa through the analogy of a musical string.
A string that is too tight does not produce the proper sound, while one that is too loose cannot produce it either. In the same way, spiritual effort must be balanced. Excessive striving can become counterproductive, while insufficient effort leads to stagnation.
After receiving the Buddha’s instruction, Soṇa adjusted his practice, cultivated tranquility, and eventually attained the Three Knowledges, fulfilling the Buddha’s teaching.
From Renunciation to Liberation
The verses then describe the mind turning toward renunciation, inner seclusion, non-harming, the ending of clinging and the ending of craving. By seeing the arising and passing away of sensory experience, the mind becomes rightly liberated.
The teaching presents liberation as a gradual transformation: attachment is understood, craving is weakened, and the mind no longer needs to construct new forms of clinging.
A Mind Like a Solid Mountain
The final image is especially powerful. A solid mountain does not tremble when struck by the wind. In the same way, forms, sounds, smells, tastes, bodily sensations and mental objects—whether pleasant or unpleasant—cannot shake the mind of one who has become steady.
Such a person does not cling to passing experiences because they have clearly understood their arising and passing away.
The message is not that the world will cease to present challenges. Rather, the trained mind no longer becomes a prisoner of whatever happens to arise.
Conclusion
The verses of Soṇa Koḷivisa offer several practical principles:
Heedfulness in daily life and spiritual practice.
Mindfulness and clear comprehension in every action.
Balanced development of virtue, concentration and wisdom.
Right effort, neither excessively strained nor negligently weak.
Freedom from craving and attachment.
Mental stability in the presence of both pleasant and unpleasant experiences.
The teaching can therefore be summarized simply: right effort must be guided by mindfulness and balance; when the mind understands impermanence and releases attachment, it becomes increasingly steady and free.
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