The Venerable

For the one who has completed the journey, released their sorrow, and broken free on every side: no fever of craving remains. Every chain has fallen away.

The fever of passion exists not for him who has completed the journey, who is sorrowless and wholly set free, and has broken all ties.

The awakened move on with a calm, gathered mind, taking no comfort in clinging to any one place, like swans rising from a lake, they leave each resting spot behind without regret.

The mindful ones exert themselves. They are not attached to any home; like swans that abandon the lake, they leave home after home behind.

Those who hoard nothing and are wise about food, whose aim is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom: their track cannot be traced, like that of birds across the sky.

Those who do not accumulate and are wise regarding food, whose object is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom — their track cannot be traced, like that of birds in the air.

The one whose inner stains are destroyed, who is unattached even to food, whose aim is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom: their path cannot be traced, like that of birds across the sky.

He whose cankers are destroyed and who is not attached to food, whose object is the Void, the Unconditioned Freedom — his path cannot be traced, like that of birds in the air.

Even the gods hold dear the wise one whose senses are subdued like horses well trained by a charioteer, whose pride is gone and whose inner stains are destroyed.

Even the gods hold dear the wise one, whose senses are subdued like horses well trained by a charioteer, whose pride is destroyed and who is free from the cankers.

The truly noble person is steady as the earth and unshaken as a doorstep, clear as a lake with no mud stirred up: at peace, with nothing left to chase.

There is no more worldly existence for the wise one who, like the earth, resents nothing, who is firm as a high pillar and as pure as a deep pool free from mud.

Calm is the thought, calm the speech, and calm the deed of the one who, truly knowing, is wholly freed and perfectly at peace.

Calm is his thought, calm his speech, and calm his deed, who, truly knowing, is wholly freed, perfectly tranquil and wise.

The one who is without blind faith, who knows the Uncreated for themselves, who has severed every tie, undone the causes of further becoming, and cast out all desire: that one is truly the greatest of people.

The man who is without blind faith, who knows the Uncreated, who has severed all links, destroyed all causes (for karma, good and evil), and thrown out all desires — he, truly, is the most excellent of men. [11]

Wherever the awakened dwell, be it a village, a forest, a valley, or a hill, that place becomes inspiring.

Inspiring, indeed, is that place where Arahants dwell, be it a village, a forest, a vale, or a hill.

Inspiring are the forests in which ordinary people find no pleasure. There the passionless rejoice, for they seek no sensual pleasures.

Inspiring are the forests in which worldlings find no pleasure. There the passionless will rejoice, for they seek no sensual pleasures.