[Verse 1]
The finest food, however sweet,
Can never match the Dhamma's taste.
Worldly pleasures may seem complete,
But time will take them all away.
Yet when the Dhamma fills the heart,
Its wisdom does not fade away.
The more we learn, the more we see,
The closer truth becomes each day.
[Pre-Chorus]
Sweet desire may hide the pain,
Images and sounds can bind.
When mindfulness is lost within,
Craving takes control of mind.
[Chorus]
I will walk the path of Dhamma,
I will not become desire's slave.
I will choose the wise and truthful,
Learn to give and learn to let go.
Leave behind the things that bind me,
Guard the eyes and guard the heart.
With right effort I will journey,
Let the flowers of freedom start.
[Verse 2]
Gold and riches cannot give
The peace that simple living brings.
When the heart lets go of outward things,
A deeper freedom starts to live.
When I see, I will remain aware,
When I hear, I will not cling.
Mindfulness will guard the heart,
So desire cannot rule everything.
[Chorus]
I will walk the path of Dhamma,
I will not become desire's slave.
I will choose the wise and truthful,
Learn to give and learn to let go.
Leave behind the things that bind me,
Guard the eyes and guard the heart.
With right effort I will journey,
Let the flowers of freedom start.
[Bridge]
Let the senses rest in wisdom,
Let compassion light the way.
Every step with mindful effort
Turns the darkness into day.
[Final Chorus]
I will walk the path of Dhamma,
With a heart that has grown clear.
When the roots of craving wither,
There is nothing left to fear.
With right effort, deep awareness,
And the wisdom of release,
May the final flower blossom—
Freedom, liberation, peace.
Theragatha Chapter Ten: Ten Elders Teach the Taste of Dhamma, Renunciation, and Right Effort
Chapter Ten of the Theragatha, Book 26 of the Sutta Pitaka, Khuddaka Nikaya, Ekakanipata, presents verses attributed to ten senior monks. The verses cover the taste of Dhamma, freedom from the defilements, the dangers of sensual desire, reverence for the Buddha, avoiding bad companions, generosity, renunciation of material attachment, restraint of the senses, and finally right effort leading to liberation.
Paripunnaka Thera opens the chapter by praising the “taste of Dhamma.” Even the finest food cannot compare with the deathless quality of the Dhamma taught by the Buddha. The verse points beyond temporary pleasures toward a deeper form of happiness rooted in wisdom and liberation.
Vijaya Thera praises the person whose mental defilements have been completely exhausted. Such a person is not bound by ordinary attachments and dwells in the liberating dimensions associated with emptiness and the signless liberation. The path of such a liberated person is difficult to trace, like the footprints of birds flying through the sky.
Eraka Thera warns directly about sensual desire. Sensual pleasures are presented as suffering rather than genuine happiness. One who longs for sensual pleasure is, in effect, longing for suffering, while one who does not long for sensual pleasure is not longing for suffering.
Mettaji Thera praises the Buddha, bowing to the Blessed One who reached the highest Dhamma and taught the supreme teaching well. His verse expresses reverence grounded in recognition of the Buddha’s wisdom and the liberating value of his teaching.
Cakkhupala Thera emphasizes the danger of associating with bad companions. Even though he describes himself as blind and traveling a long road, he would rather remain where he is than continue together with an immoral companion. The teaching highlights the importance of choosing one’s companions wisely because the people around us can strongly influence the direction of our lives.
Khandhasumana Thera presents the value of generosity through the offering of a single flower. According to the verse, this act brought extensive wholesome results and ultimately contributed to the attainment of Nibbana. The teaching highlights the significance of wholesome action and the continuing results of good kamma.
Tissa Thera illustrates renunciation by describing the abandonment of an elaborate golden vessel in favor of a simple clay alms bowl. This transformation is described as a second coronation, symbolizing a shift from external wealth and luxury toward the inner values of simplicity and spiritual practice.
Abhaya Thera warns about visual objects. When a person sees an attractive form and becomes absorbed in it, mindfulness can become lost. If the mind becomes attached to what is seen, the visual object can dominate the person and cause the underlying defilements to increase.
Uttiya Thera extends the same principle to sounds. When a person hears something pleasing and becomes absorbed in it, mindfulness may be forgotten. Attachment to pleasant sounds can strengthen the defilements and perpetuate the cycle of samsara.
The chapter concludes with Devasabha Thera, who praises right effort. A monk endowed with right effort, who keeps the four establishments of mindfulness as his meditation foundation and is adorned with the flowers of liberation, becomes free from the defilements and attains final liberation. This final verse serves as the culmination of the chapter: understanding the danger of sensuality, reducing attachment, guarding the senses, cultivating mindfulness, and applying sustained effort ultimately lead toward liberation.
Taken together, the ten verses of Chapter Ten form a clear spiritual progression:
Taste of Dhamma → understanding liberation → seeing the danger of sensual desire → reverence for the Buddha → avoiding bad companions → generosity → letting go of material attachment → guarding the eyes and ears → cultivating mindfulness → right effort → liberation.
The teachings remain relevant in contemporary life. Modern people are constantly exposed to attractive images, sounds, entertainment, advertising, and consumer desires. These verses do not simply instruct people to escape the world. Rather, they encourage awareness of sensory experience and remind us not to allow pleasure, craving, or attachment to control the direction of our lives.
Chapter Ten contains ten elders: Paripunnaka, Vijaya, Eraka, Mettaji, Cakkhupala, Khandhasumana, Tissa, Abhaya, Uttiya, and Devasabha Theras. The tenth verse concludes the chapter.
The central message of Chapter Ten may therefore be summarized as:
Taste the Dhamma → understand sensual danger → guard the senses → choose good companions → practice generosity → cultivate mindfulness → make right effort → attain liberation.
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