270. He is no Worthy One who creatures harms.[6] By harmlessness to every living thing A man is Worthy called. 271-2 Not by mere goodness nor by ceremonies, Not by vast knowledge nor by ecstasy, Nor by a life retired, Nor sleeping lonely, do I touch the Bliss Of freedom which no worldly one can know. By killing all desire, the mendicant[7] Attaineth confidence. [1] _Kāyena_, bodily action, may mean all the faculties combined. [2] _Thero_, a "mendicant" of ten years standing in ordination is so called in the Buddhist "church". [3] _Samana_, "ascetic," a title originally contemptuously applied to the Buddha and His disciples by the Brāhmaṇas. The word is etymologically derived from V. _sam_--to tame or quiet. Hence the reference in v. 265. [4] _Bhikkhu_, "beggar," the name given by the Buddha to His ordained disciples. [5] _Muni_, "sage, silent one." The Buddha was called Sakyamuni--"the sage of the Sakya clan." [6] _Ariya_, "the noble, the worthy." [7] Reading _vissāsam āpādi_. This verse is important as showing the Buddhist ideal in a nutshell. _Nibbāna_ is the dying out of craving, the root of all evil. CHAPTER TWENTY. THE PATH. 273. Best is the Eightfold Path: of truths, the four;[1] Dispassion in the best of states sublime. Blest is he of human beings, who hath eyes to see. 274. This is the way; no other way can lead ye To purify the mind and see the truth. Walk this Way and free yourselves from Māra's host of ills. 275. Tread ye this Path, and make an end of sorrow. Tread ye this Path for I myself have shown it. Shown it after learning how to pluck away the thorns.[2] 276. Strive ye yourselves; Buddha's but preach the way To them that strive. To meditation given They who walk this Way are free from Māra's every bond. 277. _"All things compounded are impermanent"_; Whoso sees this with opened inner eye Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity. 278. _"All things compounded are of sorrow made"_; Whoso sees this with opened inner eye, Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity. 279. _"All states compounded are without a self"_;[3] Whoso sees this with opened inner eye, Wearies soon of sorrow. 'Tis the Path of Purity. 280. Whoso strives not when it is time to strive, Tho' young and strong, to sloth and folly prone, Weak in will and thought, to knowledge never finds the way. 281. Who guardeth speech and mind, who doth no wrong With body, making pure the triple way,[4] He shall tread the Path of Wisdom by the sages shown. 282. Wisdom is born of meditation deep, But lost by mind's distraction; knowing these Two paths of loss and gain, so let him live, Let him so direct his life that wisdom may increase. 283. Cut down trees and undergrowth, and from desire be free![5] For from this jungle fear of danger's born; Cut it down, O mendicants, and from desire be free!