5:2 The Questions of Tissa Metteyya

(Said the Venerable Tissa Metteyya)

1040“Who here is contented in the world?
For whom is there no agitation?
Who, having directly known both ends,
by reflection does not get stuck in the middle?
Whom do you call a great man?
Who here has transcended the seamstress?” (1)

(“Metteyya,” said the Blessed One)

1041“One leading the spiritual life among sensual pleasures,
one without craving, always mindful,
a bhikkhu who is quenched, having comprehended:
for him there is no agitation. (2)

1042“Having directly known both ends,
by reflection one does not get stuck in the middle.
I call him a great man:
he has here transcended the seamstress.” (3)

Tissametteyyamāṇavapucchā

(iccāyasmā tissametteyyo):

1040"Kodha santusito loke,
Kassa no santi iñjitā;
Ko ubhantamabhiññāya,
Majjhe mantā na lippati;
Kaṁ brūsi mahāpurisoti,
Ko idha sibbinimaccagā".

(metteyyāti bhagavā):

1041 "Kāmesu brahmacariyavā,
Vītataṇho sadā sato;
Saṅkhāya nibbuto bhikkhu,
Tassa no santi iñjitā.

1042 So ubhantamabhiññāya,
Majjhe mantā na lippati;
Taṁ brūmi mahāpurisoti,
So idha sibbinimaccagā"ti.

Tissametteyyamāṇavapucchā dutiyā.