The Questions of Ajita

“By what is the world shrouded?” said Venerable Ajita.
“Why does it not shine?
Tell me, what is its sullying?
What is its greatest fear?”

“The world is shrouded in ignorance.” replied the Buddha.
“Avarice and negligence make it not shine.
Muttered prayer is its sullying, I say.
Suffering is its greatest fear.”

“The streams flow everywhere,” said Venerable Ajita.
“What is there to block them?
And tell me the restraint of streams—
by what are they locked out?”

“The streams in the world,” replied the Buddha,
“are blocked by mindfulness.
I tell you the restraint of streams—
they are locked out by wisdom.”

“That wisdom and mindfulness,” said Venerable Ajita,
“and that which is name and form, good fellow;
when questioned, please tell me of this:
where does this all cease?”

“This question which you have asked,
I shall answer you, Ajita.
Where name and form
cease with no residue left behind—
with the cessation of consciousness,
here they cease.”

“There are those who have appraised the teaching,
and many kinds of trainees here.
Now you, being alert, are asked
to tell me their behavior, good fellow.”

“Not greedy for sensual pleasures,
their mind would be unclouded.
Skilled in all things,
a mendicant would wander mindful.”