2:8 A Boat

- suttas - - evening talks - short morning talks - lectures - guided meditations - talk collections - other themes - chants - - - - à¹à¸à¸¢ - Franā§ais - Espaā±ol - - Portuguāªs - РÑÑÑкий - - - УкÑаÑнÑÑка Submit Search - Home - Suttas - KN - Sn - Sn 2:8 A Boat ## Browse Suttas Go to Sutta Nipṅta index Sn index ## 2:8  A Boat Although often lost in translation, the overall structure of this poem is clearly articulated in the Pali. The first seven verses—coming under the "because" (yasmṅ)—state reasons, while the last verse, under the "so" (tasmṅ), draws the conclusion: Find a good teacher and practice the Dhamma. Because: When you honor —as the devas, Indra— one from whom you might learn the Dhamma, he, learned, honored, confident in you, shows you the Dhamma. You, enlightened, heedful, befriending a teacher like that, practicing the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma, pondering, giving it priority, become knowledgeable, clear-minded, subtle. But if you consort with a piddling fool whoâs     envious, hasnât come to the goal, youâll go to death without having cleared up the Dhamma right here, with your doubts unresolved. Like a man gone down to a river— turbulent, flooding, swift-flowing— and swept away in the current: How can he help others across? Even so: He who hasnât cleared up the Dhamma, attended to the meaning of what the learned say, crossed over his own doubts: How can he get others to comprehend? But as one whoâs embarked on a sturdy boat, with rudder & oars, would—thoughtful, skillful, knowing the needed techniques— carry many others across, even so an attainer-of-knowledge, learned, developed in mind,1 unwavering can get other people to comprehend— when the conditions have arisen for them to lend ear. So: You should befriend a person of integrity— learned, intelligent. Practicing so as to know the goal, when youâve experienced the Dhamma, you get bliss. vv. 316–323 Note 1. According to MN 36, "developed in mind" means able to experience painful feelings without their invading and remaining in the mind. See also: MN 22; SN 35:197; Sn 4:1 - --> - - - -