When there is no end at all

To this ocean of suffering,

Why are you childish people

Not afraid of drowning in it? [7.151]

Youth lies behind and then

Once more it is ahead.

Though [one imagines] it will last,

In this world it is like a race. [7.152]

In worldly existence there is never

Rebirth of one’s own free will.

Being under others’ control,

Who with intelligence would be fearless? [7.153]

The future is endless and

You were always a common being.

Act so that it will never again

Be as it was in the past. [7.154]

The conjunction of a listener,

What is to be heard and an exponent

Is very rare. In brief, the cycle of

Rebirths neither has nor has not an end. [7.155]

Most people cling to

An unwholesome direction.

Thus most common beings

Certainly go to bad rebirths. [7.156]

On earth the maturation of ill deeds

Is seen to be only deleterious.

Thus to the wise the world appears

Similar to a slaughterhouse. [7.157]

If “insane” means

That one’s mind is unstable,

What wise person would say that those

In worldly existence are not insane? [7.158]

The pain of walking, one sees,

Decreases when doing the opposite.

Thus the intelligent generate

The intention to end all action. [7.159]

When a single effect’s original cause

Is not seen, and one sees the extensiveness

Regarding even a single effect,

Who would not be afraid? [7.160]

Since all results will not definitely

Be achieved, and those that are

Will certainly come to an end,

Why exhaust yourself for their sake? [7.161]

Once it is done, work done with effort

Effortlessly disintegrates.

Though this is so, still you are not

At all free from attachment to actions. [7.162]

There is no pleasure in relation to

Either the past or the future.

That which occurs now, too, is passing.

Why do you weary yourself? [7.163]

The wise feel the same fear for even

A high rebirth as for the hells.

It is rare indeed for a worldly state

Not to produce fear in them. [7.164]

If childish people ever perceived

The suffering of cyclic existence,

At that moment both their mind

[And body] would completely fail. [7.165]

People without pride are rare,

And the proud have no compassion.

Thus it is said to be very rare

To go from light to light. [7.166]

Whoever renounces them now

Will, it is said, obtain sense objects.

For what reason would such perverse

Practice be considered correct? [7.167]

Wealth, the result of merit,

Must be thoroughly protected from others.

How can that which must be constantly

Protected from others be one’s own? [7.168]

Different social customs

Are termed “religious practices.”

Thus it seems as if society has

More influence than religious practices. [7.169]

Through virtue there are attractive objects,

But such objects too are considered bad.

By giving them up, one will be happy.

What need is there to acquire them? [7.170]

For one not in need of authority,

Practices for that [end] are meaningless.

Whoever strives for authority

Is called a fool among men. [7.171]

With a view to future effects

You grasp at practices out of greed.

When you see the future of outcome

Why are you not afraid? [7.172]

Merit is in every way

Just like a wage for a wage earner.

How could those who do not want

[Even] virtue do what is non-virtuous? [7.173]

Whoever sees phenomena as like

A collection of mechanical devices

And like illusory beings,

Most clearly reaches the excellent state. [7.174]

For those who do not enjoy

Any objects in cyclic existence

It is altogether impossible

To take pleasure in this [world]. [7.175]

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