Theragāthā — Versos dos Monges Anciãos — 9.1 — Bhūta

1When 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.

2When 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.

3When 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.

4When 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.

5When 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.

6When 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.

7When 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.

8When 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.

9When 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.