Chapter One

When an astute person knows, <j>“Old age and death are suffering;

yet an ignorant ordinary person is bound to them”,

completely understanding suffering, being mindful, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When clinging, the carrier <j>of suffering,

and craving, the carrier <j>of this painful mass of proliferation,

are destroyed, and one is mindful, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When the eightfold way, so full of grace,

the supreme path, cleanser of all corruptions,

is seen with wisdom; and one is mindful, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When one develops that peaceful state,

sorrowless, stainless, unconditioned,

cleanser of all corruptions, <j>cutter of fetters and bonds:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When the thundercloud rumbles in the sky,

while the rain pours on the path of birds all around,

and a monk has gone to a mountain cave, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When sitting on a riverbank covered in flowers,

garlanded with brightly colored forest plants,

one is truly happy, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When it is midnight in a lonely forest,

and the lions roar as the heavens pour,

and a monk has gone to a mountain cave, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When one’s own thoughts have been cut off,

between the mountains, sheltered inside a cleft,

without stress or heartlessness, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.

When one is happy, destroyer of stains, heartlessness, and sorrow,

free of obstructions, snarls, and thorns,

and with all defilements annihilated, <j>practicing absorption:

there is no greater pleasure than this.