Verses of the Senior Monks 6.11

The Book of the Sixes

Chapter One

Nhātakamuni

“Struck by a wind ailment

while dwelling in a forest grove,

you’ve entered a tough resort for gathering alms—

how will you get by, monk?”

“Pervading this bag of bones

with abundant rapture and happiness,

putting up with what’s tough,

I’ll dwell in the forest.

Developing the seven awakening factors,

the faculties and the powers,

endowed with subtle absorptions,

I’ll dwell without defilements.

Freed from corruptions,

my pure mind is unclouded.

Frequently reviewing this,

I’ll meditate without defilements.

Those defilements that were found in me,

internally and externally,

are all cut off without remainder,

and will not arise again.

The five aggregates are fully understood,

they remain, but their root is cut.

I have reached the ending of suffering,

now there’ll be no more future lives.”