Chapter Two

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, live with training as benefit, with wisdom as overseer, with freedom as core, and with mindfulness as ruler.

A mendicant who lives in this way can expect one of two results:

enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s something left over, non-return.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“The training fulfilled, not liable to decline,

overseen by wisdom, seer of rebirth’s end;

that sage bears their final body;

they have disposed of Māra, I declare, <j>and gone beyond old age.

Therefore be always enjoying absorption, <j>immersed in samādhi,

energetic, seers of rebirth’s end.

Having overcome Māra and his armies, mendicants,

go beyond birth and death.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.