23. Diligence

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhigayha tiṭṭhati—

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañca.

Katamo ekadhammo?

Appamādo kusalesu dhammesu.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhigayha tiṭṭhati—

diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ samparāyikañcā”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,

puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā;

Appamatto ubho atthe,

adhigaṇhāti paṇḍito.

Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho,

yo cattho samparāyiko;

Atthābhisamayā dhīro,

paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Tatiyaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“There is one thing, bhikkhus, developed and continually practised, by which both kinds of welfare are acquired and maintained: welfare here and now, and that pertaining to the future. What is that one thing? It is diligence in wholesome states. This is that one thing…”

The wise praise diligence
In doing deeds of merit;
For one who is wise and diligent
Obtains a twofold benefit:

Welfare in the here and now
And welfare in a future life.
And because one has realized the good,
The wise person is called a sage.