Thursday, December 18, 2014

Right Here, Right There


You shouldn't chase after the past
or place expectations on the future.
What is past is left behind. 
The future is as yet unreached. 
Whatever quality is present 
you clearly see right there, right there. 
Not taken in, unshaken, 
that's how you develop the heart. 
Ardently doing what should be done today, for -- 
who knows? -- tomorrow death. 
There is no bargaining with Mortality 
& his mighty horde. 
Whoever lives thus ardently, 
relentlessly both day & night, 
has truly had an auspicious day: 
so says the Peaceful Sage.

~ from the Bhaddekaratta Sutta translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

No comments:

Post a Comment

Your comment will be published (unless inappropriate), but if you want a reply, please send your comment directly to george@naturalawareness. You may also send questions or comments to me directly if you do not want them published in the blog.