iti.47 Itivuttaka

Vigilance

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should be vigilant; he should live mindful, clearly comprehending, concentrated, happy and calm, and should know when it is suitable to cultivate those things that are wholesome. Bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu who is vigilant and living thus, one of two fruits is to be expected: final knowledge here and now or, there being some residual defilement, the state of non-returning.”

You vigilant ones hear this:
Wake up, you who are asleep!
Vigilance is better than sleep:
There is no fear for the vigilant.

One who is vigilant and mindful,
Comprehending and concentrated,
Joyful and calm in his thoughts,
By rightly investigating the Dhamma
With unified mind, will in time
Destroy the darkness of ignorance.

Therefore be devoted to vigilance,
An ardent, discerning, meditative bhikkhu.
Having severed the fetter of birth and decay,
One may here and now attain
Enlightenment which is supreme.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Wake Up

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Meditate wakeful, mendicants, mindful and aware, joyful and clear, and at times discern the skillful qualities in that state.
A mendicant who meditates in this way can expect one of two results:
enlightenment in the present life, or if there’s something left over, non-return.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Listen up, wakeful ones!
And those asleep, wake up!
Wakefulness is better than sleep,
the wakeful have nothing to fear.
Those who are wakeful, mindful and aware,
immersed in samādhi, joyful and clear,
rightly investigating the Dhamma in good time,
unified, would banish the darkness.
That’s why you should apply yourself to wakefulness.
A keen and alert mendicant, possessing absorption,
having cut the fetter of birth and old age,
would touch the highest awakening right here.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.