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2:8 A Boat
Although often lost in translation, the overall structure of this poem is clearly articulated in the Pali. The first seven verses—coming under the “because” (yasmā)—state reasons, while the last verse, under the “so” (tasmā), draws the conclusion: Find a good teacher and practice the Dhamma.
Because:
When you honor
—as the devas, Indra—
one from whom
you might learn the Dhamma,
he, learned, honored,
confident in you,
shows you the Dhamma.
You, enlightened, heedful,
befriending a teacher like that,
practicing the Dhamma
in line with the Dhamma,
pondering,
giving it priority,
become
knowledgeable,
clear-minded,
subtle.
But if you consort with a piddling fool
who’s envious,
hasn’t come to the goal,
you’ll go to death
without
having cleared up
the Dhamma right here,
with
your doubts unresolved.
Like a man gone down to a river—
turbulent, flooding, swift-flowing—
and swept away in the current:
How can he help others across?
Even so:
He who hasn’t
cleared up the Dhamma,
attended to the meaning
of what the learned say,
crossed over his own doubts:
How can he get others
to comprehend?
But as one who’s embarked
on a sturdy boat,
with rudder & oars,
would—thoughtful, skillful,
knowing the needed techniques—
carry many others across,
even so
an attainer-of-knowledge, learned,
developed in mind,1 unwavering
can get other people to comprehend—
when the conditions have arisen
for them to lend ear.
So:
You should befriend
a person of integrity—
learned, intelligent.
Practicing so
as to know the goal,
when you’ve experienced the Dhamma,
you get bliss.
vv. 316–323
Note
1. According to MN 36, “developed in mind” means able to experience painful feelings without their invading and remaining in the mind.