The Path leads past sorrow and pain, past the illusions concerning the world and its pleasures, past future separate conscious existences, safely to the desired end, the repose of Nirvana. THE FORMULA OF CONFESSION I SEEK REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA. I SEEK REFUGE IN THE LAW. I SEEK REFUGE IN THE CHURCH. ♦The Path♦ “_This, O Recluses, is the noble truth concerning the WAY which leads to the destruction of suffering. Verily it is this noble Eightfold Path; that is to say_:-- _Right Views._ _Right Aspirations._ _Right Speech._ _Right Conduct._ _Right Livelihood._ _Right Effort._ _Right Mindfulness._ _Right Rapture._ Let no man think that this path is one easy to be trodden. At its entrance, after the Understanding which is the first step, and the Right Aspirations which is the entrance upon the Path, the candidate for Arahatship--sainthood--leads a life of constant, untiring watchfulness and self-culture.” ♦Hindrances♦ One by one the Hindrances must be overcome as he treads the Eightfold Path:-- _The belief in the Self._ _Doubt of the Teaching._ _Trust in works of merit, or in religious ceremonies._ _The desires of the body._ _The love of life._ _The desires after the earth life._ _The desires after a future life._ _Pride._ _Self-righteousness._ _Ignorance._ Each of these fetters which bind to the Self-life is loosened only at the cost of long strenuous discipline; and a glance must show the student that only one who has broken the bonds which bind him to the world-life, and has become a monk, is competent to practise it. “Come, look at this world glittering like a royal chariot: the foolish are immersed in it, but the wise do not touch it.” “Look upon the world as you would on a bubble, look upon it as you would on a mirage, the King of death does not see him who thus looks upon the world.” ♦Self-mastery the ideal♦ “Self is the lord of self, self is the refuge of self: therefore curb thyself as the merchant curbs a noble horse.” “By oneself is evil done, by oneself one suffers: by oneself evil is left undone, by oneself one is purified. The pure and the impure by themselves; no one can purify another.” “If one man conquer in battle a thousand times ten thousand men, and if another conquers himself he is the greatest of conquerors. One’s own self conquered is better than all other people: not even a god, ... could change into defeat the victory of a man who has vanquished himself, and always lives under restraint.” “Like a well-guarded frontier fort, with defences within and without, so let a man guard himself. Not a moment should escape, for they who allow the right moment to pass, suffer pain when they are in hell.” “If a man holds himself dear, let him watch himself carefully: during one at least out of the three watches a wise man should be watchful.”