632. He was a member of the ruling government who worked for the king of Aṅga. Those days he was very powerful. His name is Soṇa. Today he is also very powerful, but in the Dhamma. He has crossed over all suffering.
633. One should cut off five [lower fetters]. One should abandon five [higher fetters]. One should especially develop five [spiritual faculties]. One should go beyond the five knots of [lust, hatred, delusion, conceit, and views]. That monk is called the “flood-crosser.”
634. If a monk has a lot of pride in himself, if he is heedless and if he desires external things, he won’t be able to fulfill the training of virtue, one-pointedness of mind and wisdom.
635. The one who has a lot of pride in himself and is heedless abandons what should be done and does what should not be done. The result will be the increase of the taints.
636. But if one constantly practices mindfulness with regard to the body he will not do what shouldn’t be done, but will continuously do what should be done. Due to his clear mindfulness and wise awareness, his taints come to an end.
637. The Noble Eightfold Path is the only straight way pointed out by the Great Teacher. Follow that way only. Do not turn back. Judge your own mistakes and reprimand yourself. That person will achieve Nibbāna.
638. I put too much effort in practicing the Dhamma. The great teacher, unsurpassed in the world, the one with eyes of Dhamma, taught me the Dhamma using the simile of the guitar.
639. I accepted the Great Teacher’s words respectfully. I started the practice again delighting in the Buddha’s path. I also developed serene meditation heading to Nibbāna. I achieved the Triple Knowledge. The Buddha’s path has been fully followed by me.
640–41. Having dropped the whole world from the mind, having made the mind secluded and free from sorrow, I removed completely the desire for the Five Aggregates of Clinging, and dedicated myself to abandon craving. Without being deluded by anything, when I saw the true nature of the sense bases, my mind was fully liberated from all defilements.
642. When the mind is fully liberated from defilements it is very calm. There is nothing to add to the completed path. Nothing remains to be done.
643. Just as a huge solid rock is not moved by the wind, so too sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches—
644. None of these pleasant or unpleasant things can agitate that monk. That monk has an untroubled mind. His mind is established in Nibbāna. It doesn’t mix with anything else. That monk can see very clearly how everything is changing.
These verses were said by Arahant Soṇa.
