1) When he has thus developed the virtue of strength, [the bodhisattva] attains concentration by fixing the intellect; for the man whose thought is distracted remains in the jaws of the passions, [even though he may possess strength].
2) [By gathering in], by isolating body and thought, one prevents distraction: therefore one must abandon the world and cast off imaginings.
3) If one does not renounce the world, it is through affection [for oneself and one’s own], through craving for the goods of this life; therefore, to cast off this affection and craving, the wise man will reflect:
4) “It is when he possesses perfect discernment, through concentration of thought, that the saint destroys the passions.” Let us first seek concentration of thought, which proceeds from indifference, from detachment from worldly things.
5) How can a perishable being become attached to perishable beings? For, through thousands of existences, he will no longer see what he loves,
6) When he does not see [what he loves], [the lover] is sad and anxious, and concentration is impossible; when he has seen it, he is not satisfied, and desire torments him as before.
7) Desiring to possess what he loves, he does not see things as they are: [he loses the sense of right and wrong], he loses the salutary dread [of sin and hell], and the same sorrow continues to consume him.
2) [By gathering in], by isolating body and thought, one prevents distraction: therefore one must abandon the world and cast off imaginings.
3) If one does not renounce the world, it is through affection [for oneself and one’s own], through craving for the goods of this life; therefore, to cast off this affection and craving, the wise man will reflect:
4) “It is when he possesses perfect discernment, through concentration of thought, that the saint destroys the passions.” Let us first seek concentration of thought, which proceeds from indifference, from detachment from worldly things.
5) How can a perishable being become attached to perishable beings? For, through thousands of existences, he will no longer see what he loves,
6) When he does not see [what he loves], [the lover] is sad and anxious, and concentration is impossible; when he has seen it, he is not satisfied, and desire torments him as before.
7) Desiring to possess what he loves, he does not see things as they are: [he loses the sense of right and wrong], he loses the salutary dread [of sin and hell], and the same sorrow continues to consume him.
8) Absorbed in his [love], he lets his brief lives flow away without fruit; and for a perishable friend he betrays the Law, though that friend abides.
9) If the holy man, living among worldly men, behaves as they do, he is damned; if he does not behave as they do, he is hated. What profit is there in the company of men?
10) [And even were one to follow their practices, there is nothing to be done with these fools:] they are my friends [whenever they find it to their advantage] and, straightway, they hate me; anger is all the gratitude they show. Ah! how hard it is to satisfy worldly men!
11) They grow angry when one gives them good counsel; they even oppose my doing good; if I do good despite them, they grow angry and are damned.
12) They envy their superior, are jealous of their equal, despise their inferior; if they are praised, they grow proud; if they are censured, they hate. Never does one gain any good from them.
13) If, being a fool yourself, you consort with worldly men, it will surely be to your ruin; one exalts one’s own merit, disparages one’s neighbour, and speaks complacently of worldly pleasures.
14) They harm one another: [two fools together,] it is a gathering of misery. I shall live alone: body and mind are happy in solitude.
9) If the holy man, living among worldly men, behaves as they do, he is damned; if he does not behave as they do, he is hated. What profit is there in the company of men?
10) [And even were one to follow their practices, there is nothing to be done with these fools:] they are my friends [whenever they find it to their advantage] and, straightway, they hate me; anger is all the gratitude they show. Ah! how hard it is to satisfy worldly men!
11) They grow angry when one gives them good counsel; they even oppose my doing good; if I do good despite them, they grow angry and are damned.
12) They envy their superior, are jealous of their equal, despise their inferior; if they are praised, they grow proud; if they are censured, they hate. Never does one gain any good from them.
13) If, being a fool yourself, you consort with worldly men, it will surely be to your ruin; one exalts one’s own merit, disparages one’s neighbour, and speaks complacently of worldly pleasures.
14) They harm one another: [two fools together,] it is a gathering of misery. I shall live alone: body and mind are happy in solitude.
15) The wise man should flee fools. If chance should cause him to meet a fool, he conciliates him by kindly means, not with the intent of making his acquaintance, but with the indifference of a good man.
16) As the bee takes honey from the flowers, so will I take only what is useful to the Law. Like the new moon, wherever I may be, I will have no dealings with men.
17) If thou delightest in thoughts of possessions, honours, and popularity, how great thy terror when death, inevitable for mortals, shall come upon thee!
18) Unknowing of true happiness, whatever object the soul seeks enjoyment in, behold, that enjoyment has turned into a pain a thousand times greater.
19) If thou art wise, desire not enjoyment! Desire begets terror. If enjoyment present itself of its own accord, gather all thy firmness and clear-sightedness.
16) As the bee takes honey from the flowers, so will I take only what is useful to the Law. Like the new moon, wherever I may be, I will have no dealings with men.
17) If thou delightest in thoughts of possessions, honours, and popularity, how great thy terror when death, inevitable for mortals, shall come upon thee!
18) Unknowing of true happiness, whatever object the soul seeks enjoyment in, behold, that enjoyment has turned into a pain a thousand times greater.
19) If thou art wise, desire not enjoyment! Desire begets terror. If enjoyment present itself of its own accord, gather all thy firmness and clear-sightedness.