..续本文上一页ly heavy, it is impermissible to be careless.

　　For this reason wise people restrain the five sense organs and do not go along with them.

　　They restrain them like thieves who are not allowed to run loose.

　　If you let them run loose for a while, before long you will observe their destruction.

　　Since the five sense organs have the mind as their ruler,

　　You should restrain the mind well.

　　Your mind is as dangerous as an extremely poisonous snake, a savage beast or a hateful robber.

　　A great fire rushing upon you is still not a satisfactory analogy for the mind.

　　It is like a person carrying a container of honey who, as he moves along in haste, only pays attention to the honey, and does not notice a deep pit.

　　It is like a mad elephant without a barb, or a monkey in a tree jumping about, which are both difficult to restrain.

　　You should hasten to control it and not allow it to run loose.

　　Those who allow their minds to wander freely lose the goodness that people do.

　　By restraining it in one place there is no affair which cannot be completed.

　　For this reason, Bhikshus, you should vigorously subdue your mind.

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　　All of you Bhikshus ! You should accept various kinds of food and drink as if you were taking medicine.

　　Whether they be good or bad, do not take more or less of them,

　　but use them to cure hunger and thirst and to maintain the body.

　　Bhikshus should be the same way as bees gathering from flowers, only taking the pollen without harming their form or scent.

　　Receive peoplesỖ offerings to put an end to distress, but do not seek to obtain too much and spoil their good hearts.

　　Be like a wise man, who having estimated the load that suits the strength of his ox, does not exceed that amount and exhaust its strength.

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　　All of you Bhikshus ! During the day, with a vigorous mind, cultivate the Dharma and donỖt allow the opportunity to be lost.

　　In the first and last periods of the night also do not be lax,

　　and during the middle period of the night, chant Sutras to make yourself well informed.

　　Do not let the causes and conditions of sleep cause your single life to pass in vain, so that you donỖt obtain anything at all.

　　You should be mindful of the fire of impermanence which burns up all the world.

　　Seek to cross yourself over and do not sleep.

　　The Ổthieves of afflictionsỖ are always about to kill you even more than your mortal enemies.

　　How can you sleep

　　How can you not rouse yourself to awaken

　　The poisonous serpent of afflictions is sleeping in your mind; just as if a black viper were asleep in your room.

　　You must use the hook of precepts to quickly remove it.

　　When the sleeping snake is gone, then you can rest at ease.

　　Those who sleep even though the snake hasnỖt yet gone, are without shame.

　　The clothing of shame, among all adornments, is the very best.

　　Shame can be compared to an iron barb which can restrain people from doing evil.

　　Therefore you should always have a sense of shame, and not be without it even for a moment,

　　for if you have no sense of shame you will lose all of your merit and virtue.

　　Those who have shame have good dharmas;

　　one without it is no different from the birds and beasts.

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　　All of you Bhishus ! Even if a person dismembered you piece by piece, your mind should be self-contained. Do not allow yourself to become angry.

　　Moreover, you should guard your mouth and not give rise to evil speech.

　　If you allow yourself to have thoughts of anger, you will hinder your own Way, and lose the merit and virtue you have gained.

　　Patience is a virtue which neither upholding the precepts nor the ascetic practices are able to compare with.

　　One who is able to practice patience can be called a great person…

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