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True Happiness
Gathas in answer to the questions of the deva, from the Discourse on Youth and Happiness:
“Venerable, you’ve recently become a monk. Your hair is still black; you are very young. At this time in your life, shouldn’t you be perfumed with oils, adorned with gems and fragrant flowers, enjoying the five kinds of sensual desire? Why have you abandoned your loved ones and turned your back on the worldly life, living alone? You’ve shaved your hair and beard, donned the monk’s robe, and placed your faith in monastic practice. Why have you abandoned the pleasures of this moment to seek pleasures in a distant future?”
The bhikshu replied, “I have not abandoned the present moment in order to seek pleasures in a distant future. I have abandoned pleasures that are untimely for the deepest happiness of this moment.”
The goddess asked, “What do you mean?”
I
Beings produce wrong perceptions
concerning objects of desire.
That is why they are caught in desire.
Because they do not know what desire really is,
they proceed on the path to Death.
I have not understood, World-Honored One. I have not understood, Well-Gone One.
II
When you know the true nature of desire,
the desiring mind will not be born.
When there is no desire, and no perception based on it,
at that time, no one is able to tempt you.
I have not understood, World-Honored One. I have not understood, Well-Gone One.
III
If you think you are greater, less than, or equal,
you cause dissension.
When those three complexes have ended,
nothing can agitate your mind.
I have not understood, World-Honored One. I have not understood, Well-Gone One.
IV
Ending desire, overcoming the three complexes,
our mind is stilled, we have nothing to long for.
We lay aside all affliction and sorrow,
in this life and in lives to come.
I have understood, World-Honored One. I have understood, Well-Gone One.