[Verse 1]
Leave the restless world behind,
Do not waste the passing day.
If the heart is lost in comfort,
How will it find the wiser way?
When fortune comes, do not be blinded,
When fortune fades, do not despair.
Let success and loss pass lightly,
Keep a steady heart with care.
[Pre-Chorus]
When the taste of Dhamma finds you,
A deeper joy begins to grow.
Worldly treasures fade behind you,
And the heart begins to know.
[Chorus]
The taste of Dhamma shines within,
Beyond the pleasures of the world.
Choose the path that leads to wisdom,
Let the restless heart unfurl.
Guard the senses, seek the quiet,
Let compassion guide your way.
Train the mind through every moment,
And grow brighter day by day.
[Verse 2]
The wise can see the many angles,
They do not rush to judge or blame.
The foolish see a single shadow
And believe that it is all the same.
Young or old, the path is open,
There is always time to start.
With determination and patience,
Practice can transform the heart.
[Pre-Chorus]
Guard the eyes and guard the senses,
Do not follow every sound.
Even in the quiet forest,
Peace is found when peace is found within.
[Chorus]
The taste of Dhamma shines within,
Beyond the pleasures of the world.
Choose the path that leads to wisdom,
Let the restless heart unfurl.
Guard the senses, seek the quiet,
Let compassion guide your way.
Train the mind through every moment,
And grow brighter day by day.
[Bridge]
Like fresh rain upon the mountain,
New leaves rise and branches grow.
So the mind, through steady practice,
Finds the peace it longs to know.
[Final Chorus]
The taste of Dhamma shines within,
A quiet light that never dies.
When the heart releases craving,
Wisdom opens like the skies.
Seek the truth, remain devoted,
Let the restless mind be free.
Through the path of inner training,
Walk toward peace eternally.
Theragatha Chapter Eleven: Ten Elders on Discipline, Wisdom, and Mental Cultivation
The eleventh chapter of the Ekakanipata in the Theragatha, found in Volume 26 of the Tipitaka, presents verses attributed to ten elder monks. Their teachings address self-discipline, the dangers of laziness, attachment to gain and loss, the value of Dhamma, wise judgment, restraint of the senses, and the cultivation of the mind. Although each elder emphasizes a different aspect of practice, all point toward freedom from suffering.
Pelatthakani Thera begins with a strong warning against spiritual complacency. After leaving household life, a person may still fail to accomplish the purpose of renunciation if he remains lazy, preoccupied with eating and sleeping, and unwilling to make an effort. His verse uses the image of a well-fed pig to emphasize that changing one's outward status does not automatically transform the mind.
Setuccha Thera focuses on pride and the instability caused by gain and loss. A person dominated by conceit and constantly shaken by changing circumstances cannot establish the mind firmly in concentration. His teaching encourages practitioners not to allow external success or failure to control their inner state.
Bandhura Thera emphasizes the superior value of the “taste of Dhamma.” Once a practitioner experiences the deep satisfaction of spiritual truth, material gain becomes less important. The verse presents an inner transformation in which genuine fulfillment gradually replaces attachment to worldly pleasures.
Khitaka Thera describes a profound experience of joy and happiness arising from practice. The body is compared to something as light as cotton carried by the wind, expressing the extraordinary lightness associated with deep inner well-being.
Malitavambha Thera teaches the importance of choosing an appropriate environment. If a place encourages restlessness or causes decline in spiritual practice, one should leave it. If a place supports growth and does not lead to decline, one should remain there. The teaching highlights the powerful influence of one's surroundings on one's life and mind.
Suhemanta Thera contrasts foolish and wise ways of understanding reality. A foolish person may see only one aspect of something that has many meanings and characteristics, while a wise person can recognize its many dimensions. The teaching encourages openness, careful reflection, and freedom from narrow judgment.
Dhammasamvara Thera describes ordination as a carefully considered decision. After entering the monastic life, he attained the three higher knowledges and completed his spiritual task. His verse presents renunciation as a genuine process of transformation rather than merely a change of clothing or social status.
Dhammasatapitu Thera demonstrates that age need not prevent spiritual accomplishment. Even though he entered the monastic life at the age of 120, he attained the three higher knowledges and completed his task in the Buddha's teaching. The verse therefore presents sincere practice as something not limited by age.
Sangharakkhita Thera warns against failing to restrain the senses. His teaching compares an unrestrained practitioner to a vulnerable creature exposed to danger in the forest. Even in a secluded place, a person can remain far from the Buddha's teaching if the senses are not carefully guarded.
Finally, Usabha Thera describes the meditative mind as a plant growing after receiving fresh rain. The more one values seclusion and diligently cultivates the mind, the more suitable the mind becomes for meditation. The Tipitaka concludes this chapter by listing all ten elders and marking the end of Chapter Eleven.
Taken together, the eleventh chapter presents a progressive path of self-development: overcoming laziness, remaining steady amid gain and loss, discovering the taste of Dhamma, choosing supportive surroundings, developing wisdom, making thoughtful decisions, understanding that spiritual practice is not limited by age, guarding the senses, and finally cultivating a mind ready for meditation.
The teaching remains relevant today. Lasting transformation begins not with external circumstances but with disciplined effort, wise choices, restraint, and the continuous cultivation of the inner mind.
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