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Snp. 5.19 Pārāyanānugītigāthā Sutta “Persevering on the Path in Going to the Beyond” 1131. Then, the brahmin Piṅgiya exclaimed: “I am chanting and reciting, but this time I do so in honor of the Going to the Beyond, to the farther shore, as taught to us by the Wise and Flawless Sage with endless wisdom. He, after all, taught us the Dhamma as it is, which He Himself has directly known and seen. Being free from sensuality, desireless, and fully released from all the knots, for He is the Nāga. And He has no reasons to be speaking falsely. 1132. “Come now, let us praise with our beautifully weaved utterances, the Pure and Spotless Teacher, who is without blemish, having left all sorrow and delusion behind, along with pretending, hypocrisy, and conceit, in all their aspects. 1133. “The All Seeing Buddha, the destroyer of darkness, has overcome all and gone to the end of the world; far beyond all becoming. Now liberated from the āsavas which contaminate the heart, He is desireless, and lives having eliminated all manner of suffering. “Truly, it is The Supreme Brahmin that I venerate! 1134. “Like a bird leaving its small nest, finding itself in a forest full of fruit trees, in abundance; so too, I find myself giving up my narrow views from the past, as I encounter the wide open spaces of freedom, where I am able to taste the expansiveness of the Dhamma, just like the swan stretching out its wings, having found the endlessly wide lake, where it can finally be free. 1135. “When, in the past, they would speak to me about the Dispensation of the recluse Gautama, I would reply by saying, ‘… all that simply pertains to one’s future birth, and not to their life here and now,’ or that, ‘… what He’s teaching is mere hearsay, speculation,’ or ‘… the product of sheer logic, and nothing more.’ 1136. “But, behold! See how the Conqueror of death sits there unshakably! The Lord of the Dhamma Himself, alone and untouched by anything, yet much like the Sun, He continues radiating His light brilliantly to everyone around Him. Such, after all, is the wisdom of Gautama, spreading wide, and vast as the earth. 1137. “He is the Teacher who finally taught me the Dhamma; the Dhamma that is tangible, visible, timeless, and immediately effective, right here, right now, for it brings wellbeing and genuine safety from all mental anguish and pain; putting an end to all craving, once and for all. There can be no comparison to the relief this brings to the heart. 1138. “So, how could I, Piṅgiya, and why would I, ever want to live far from Him? Even for a moment, away from my Teacher, Gautama of great wisdom? Gautama of limitless wisdom? 1139. “He is, after all, the One Teacher who finally taught me the Dhamma, the Dhamma that is tangible, visible, timeless, and immediately effective, right here, right now, for it brings wellbeing and genuine safety from all mental anguish and pain; putting an end to all craving, once and for all. There can be no comparison to the relief this brings to the heart. 1140. “So, no, Brahmin! I could never be able to live far from Him, not even for a moment, away from Gautama of great wisdom! My Teacher, Gautama, of limitless wisdom! 1141. “He is the Only One, who taught me the True Dhamma, the Dhamma that is tangible, visible, timeless, and immediately effective, right here, right now, for it brings wellbeing and genuine safety from all mental anguish and pain; putting an end to all craving, once and for all. There can be no comparison to the relief this brings to the heart. 1142. “Through my diligence, I see Him wherever I am, Brahmin, with my mind's eye, day and night. I spend the night paying homage to Him, my Teacher, even when others are fast asleep. “So, you see, He is always near me, and I am always near Him. 1143. “My faith and confidence in Him, as well as the joy and consistent mindfulness never deviate from the Dispensation of Gautama, which palpitates in my heart. “Therefore, in whichever direction the Wise One happens to be, there I point my head, as I bow at His feet. 1144. “Being old and weak, although my broken body is not able to carry me to Him, to pay my respect and veneration at His feet, yet I am always next to Him, as I constantly go to Him with my mind. For you see, O! Brahmin, my mind and thoughts are now constantly tied to Him. 1145. “Immersed and floundering in the mud, I kept jumping from one island to the next, seeking safety. But then, I saw The Fully Self-Awakened Buddha, the ‘Flood-Crosser’ Himself, in the flesh, freed and fully liberated from all the āsavas! 1146. “As Vakkali, Badrāvudha and Gautama of Ālavi were released and fully liberated through their faith, so should you, Piṅgiya, commit yourself fully to having confidence in the Dhamma of Gautama, your Teacher. And soon, Piṅgiya, you will also attain freedom, and go to the farther shore, crossing beyond the reach of the domains of death. 1147. “Every time I hear the Great Sage’s words, the confidence in my heart grows and becomes exceedingly bright. The Awakened One has revealed the Truth by pulling away the veil of deceit, teaching me with His kind and loving manner and with softness, when all the while, pulling the arrow out from my heart. 1148. “By knowing directly and seeing the most sublime among the Devas, He knows and understands all things, whether high or low. “All questions have been answered, and all doubts removed, while the hearts of genuine students eager to learn, finally find, their island of rest. 1149. “Unwavering is my path, for I go to the Unshakable, the likeness of which can be found nowhere! “With no doubts left in my heart, you should now know me as one whose mind is made up, for I will persevere on my path, as I go to the Beyond.” Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu