[Ajita:]

With what is the world shrouded?

Because of what

doesn't it shine?

With what

is it smeared? Tell me.

What

is its great danger & fear?

[The Buddha:]

With ignorance the world is shrouded.

Because of stinginess,

heedlessness, it doesn't shine.

With longing

it's smeared — I tell you. Suffering-stress: its great danger & fear.

[Ajita:]

They flow every which way,

the streams.

What is their blocking, what their restraint — tell me — with what are they finally stopped?

[The Buddha:]

Whatever streams there are in the world:

their blocking is
mindfulness, mindfulness
is their restraint — I tell you —

with discernment

they're finally stopped.

[Ajita:]

Discernment & mindfulness, name & form, dear sir: Tell me, when asked this,

where are they brought to a halt?

[The Buddha:]

This question you've asked, Ajita, I'll answer it for you — where name & form

are brought to a halt
without trace:

With the cessation of consciousness

they're brought
to a halt.

[Ajita:]

Those here who have fathomed the Dhamma,

those who are learners,
those who are run-of-the-mill:

When you, dear sir, astute,

are asked this,

tell me their manner of life.

[The Buddha:]

He should not hanker

	for sensual pleasures,
should be limpid in mind.

Skilled in all mental qualities, he, the monk, should live his life

	mindfully.