Vol. 11 · pages 381–385

362 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle and weak, will certainly be overthrown by his own overdoing as the wind throws down a weak tree. 7. He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, he will not be overthrown any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain. 8. If to himself a man is dear, let him keep close watch upon himself. 9. First establish thyself in the right then thou mayest counsel others. Let not the wise man give occasion for reproach. 10. Oneself, they say is hard to control. If one shapes oneself according as one counsels others, thus well controlled one will have control over others. 11. A man pays in himself for the evil he has done and in himself is purified. The good and evil are purified severally, no one purifies another. 12. Though one should conquer in battle thousands and thousands of men, whoso shall conquer himself, he is the greatest of warriors. 13. First establish thyself in the right, then thou mayest counsel others. Let not the wise man give occasion for reproach. 14. If one shapes oneself according as one counsels others, thus well controlled, one will have control over others. Oneself they say, is hard to control. 15. Verily oneself is the guardian of oneself. What other guardian should there be. Guarded by oneself, one gets a guardian the like of which is not likely gotten. 16. If to himself a man is dear, let him keep close watch upon himself. 17. A man pays in himself for the evil he has done, and in himself is purified. The good and evil are purified severally, no one purifies another. 18. Verily oneself is the guardian of oneself; what other guardian should there be? Guarded by oneself, one gets a guardian the like of which is not easily gotten.

363 THE BUDDHIST WAY OF LIFE IV § 7. On Wisdom, Justice and Good Company 1. Be wise, be just and choose good company. 2. This is the Buddhist Way of Life. 3. If you see a man who shows you what is to be avoided, who administers reproofs, and is intelligent, follow that wise man as you would one who tells of hidden treasures ; it will be better, not worse, for him who follows him. 4. Let him admonish, let him teach, let him forbid what is improper—he will be beloved of the good, by the bad he will be hated. 5. Do not have evil-doers for friends, do not have low people for friends ; have virtuous people for friends, have for friends the best of men. 6. He who drinks in the Dhamma lives happily with a serene mind; the sage rejoices always in the Dhamma as preached by the elect. 7. Well-makers lead the water (wherever they like), fletchers bend the arrow ; carpenters bend a log of wood ; wise people fashion themselves. 8. As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, the wise people falter not amidst blame and praise. 9. Wise people, after they have listened to the Dhamma become serene, like a deep, smooth and still lake. 10. Good men indeed walk (warily) under all circumstances; good men speak not out of a desire for sensual gratification; whether touched by happiness or sorrow wise people never appear elated or depressed. 11. It is sweet as honey, so thinks the fool, while as yet the evil has not ripened. But when the evil ripens the fool comes to grief. 12. A fool does not know when he commits his evil deeds ; but a wicked man burns by his own deeds, as if burnt by fire. 13. Long is the night to him who is awake ; long is a mile to him who is tired ; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true Dhamma. 14. If a traveller does not meet with one who

364 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey ; there is no companionship with a fool. 15. “These sons belong to me, and this wealth belongs to me,” with such thoughts a fool is tormented. He himself does not belong to himself ; how much less sons and wealth ? 16. The fool who knows his foolishness, is wise at least so far. But a fool who thinks himself wise, he is called a fool indeed. 17. If a fool be associated with a wise man even all his life, he will perceive the truth as little as a spoon perceives the taste of soup. 18. If an intelligent man be associated for one minute only with a wise man, he will soon perceive the truth, as the tongue perceives the taste of soup. 19. Fools of poor understanding have themselves for their greatest enemies, for they do evil deeds which bear bitter fruits. 20. That deed is not well done of which a man must repent and the reward of which he receives crying and with a tearful face. 21. Know, that deed is well done of which a man does not repent and the reward of which he receives gladly and cheerfully. 22. As long as the evil deed done does not bear fruit, the fool thinks it is like honey, but when it ripens, then the fool suffers grief. 23. And when the evil deed, after it has become known, turns to sorrow for the fool, then it destroys his bright lot, nay, it cleaves his head. 24. Let the fool wish for a false reputation, for precedence among the Bhikkus, for lordships in the convents, for worship among other people. 25. A man is not an elder because his head is grey ; his age may be ripe, but he is called “old-and-vain.” 26. He in whom there is truth, virtue, pity, restraint, moderation, he who is free from impurity and is wise, he is called an elder. 27. An envious, stingy, dishonest man does not

365 THE BUDDHIST WAY OF LIFE IV become respectable by means of much talking only, or by the beauty of his complexion. 28. He in whom all this is destroyed, and taken out with the very root, he when freed from hatred and wise, is called respectable. 29. A man is not just if he carries a matter by violence ; no, he who distinguishes both right and wrong, who is learned and guides others, not by violence, but by the same Dhamma, being a guardian of the Dhamma and intelligent, he is called just. 30. A man is not learned simply because he talks much ; he who is patient, free from hatred and fear, is called learned. 31. A man is not a supporter of the Dhamma because he talks much ; even if a man has learnt little, but sees the Dhamma bodily, he is supporter of the Dhamma, a man who never neglects the Dhamma. 32. If a man find a prudent companion who walks with him, is wise, and lives soberly, he may walk with him, overcoming all dangers, happy, but considerate. 33. If a man finds no prudent companion to walk with him, is wise, and lives soberly, let him walk alone, like a king who has left his conquered country behind, like an elephant in the forest. 34. It is better to live alone, there is no companionship with a fool ; let a man walk alone, let him commit no sin, with few wishes, like an elephant in the forest. 35. If the occasion arises, friends are pleasant ; enjoyment is pleasant, whatever be the cause ; a good work is pleasant, whatever be the cause ; a good work is pleasant in the hour of death ; the giving up of all grief is pleasant. 36. Pleasant in the world is the state of a mother, pleasant the state of a father, pleasant the state of a Samana. 37. Pleasant is virtue lasting to old age, pleasant is a faith firmly rooted ; pleasant is attainment of intelligence, pleasant is avoiding of sins. 38. He who walks in the company of fools suffers

366 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV a long way ; company with fools as with an enemy, is always painful; company with the wise is pleasure, like meeting with kinsfolk. 39. Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect, one ought to follow such a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars. 40. Follow not after vanity, nor after the enjoyment of love and lust. He who is earnest obtains ample joy. 41. When the learned man drives away vanity by earnestness, he, the wise, climbing the terraced heights of wisdom, looks down upon the fools, free from sorrow he looks upon the sorrowing crowd, as one that stands on a mountain looks down upon them that stand upon the plain. 42. Earnest among the thoughtless, awake among the sleepers, the wise man advances like a richer, leaving behind the hack. § 8. On Thoughtfulness and Mindfulness 1. In everything be thoughtful; in everything be mindful ; in all things be earnest and bold. 2. This is the Buddhist Way of Life. 3. All that we are is the result of what we have thought ; it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of your thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him. Therefore pure thoughts are important. 4. Be not thoughtless, watch your thought! Draw yourself out of the evil way, like an elephant sunk in mud. 5. Let the wise man guard his thoughts, for they are difficult to perceive, very artful, and they rush whenever they list ; thoughts well-guarded bring happiness. 6. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.