Original recording of The Mother’s recitations of the Dhammapada and her Explanations in French language
Music by Diana Antara: ‘Lovelight’
16 May 1958
He whose victory has never been surpassed nor even equalled – which path can lead to Him, the Pathless, the Awakened One who dwells within the Infinite?
One in whom there is neither greed nor desire, how can he be led astray? Which path can lead to Him, the Pathless, the Awakened One who dwells within the Infinite?
Even the gods envy the sages given to meditation, the Awakened Ones, the Vigilant who live with delight in renunciation and solitude.
It is difficult to attain to human birth. It is difficult to live this mortal life. It is difficult to obtain the good fortune of hearing the True Doctrine. And difficult indeed is the advent of the Awakened Ones.
Abstain from evil; cultivate the good and purify your mind. This is the teaching of the Awakened Ones.
Of all ascetic practices patience is the best; of all states the most perfect is Nirvana, say the Awakened Ones. He who harms others is not a monk. He who oppresses others is not a true ascetic.
Neither to offend, nor to do wrong to anyone, to practise discipline according to the Law, to be moderate in eating, to live in seclusion, and to merge oneself in the higher consciousness, this is the teaching of the Awakened Ones.
Even a rain of gold would not be able to quench the thirst of desire, for it is insatiable and the origin of sorrows. This the sage knows.
Even the pleasures of heaven are without savour for the sage. The disciple of the Buddha, of the Perfectly Awakened One, rejoices only in the extinction of all desire.
Impelled by fear, men seek refuge in many places, in the mountains, in the forests, in the groves, in sanctuaries.
But this is not a safe refuge; this is not the supreme refuge. Coming to this refuge does not save a man from all sufferings.
One who takes refuge in the Buddha, in the Dhamma and the Sangha, with perfect knowledge, perceives the Four Noble Truths:
Suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the Noble Eightfold Path which leads to cessation of suffering.
In truth, this is the sure refuge, this is the sovereign refuge. To choose this refuge is to be liberated from all suffering.
It is difficult to meet the Perfectly Noble One. Such a being is not born everywhere. And where such a sage is born, those around him live in happiness.
Happy is the birth of the Buddhas, happy the teaching of the true Law. Happy is the harmony of the Sangha, happy the discipline of the United.
One cannot measure the merit of the man who reveres those who are worthy of reverence, whether the Buddha or his disciples, those who are free from all desire and all error, those who have overcome all obstacles and who have crossed beyond suffering and grief.
Dhammapada
“When you have nothing to do, you become restless, you run about, you meet friends, you take a walk, to speak only of the best; I am not referring to things that are obviously not to be done. Instead of that, sit down quietly before the sky, before the sea or under trees, whatever is possible (here you have all of them) and try to realise one of these things – to understand why you live, to learn how you must live, to ponder over what you want to do and what should be done, what is the best way of escaping from the ignorance and falsehood and pain in which you live.”
Mira Alfassa – The Mother
Tracks:
- 16.5.1958 ‘The Awakened One’
- Lovelight
