Chapter on Serenity 静虑品

无论生与死，
朽身何所为？
岂异木石等？
怎不除我慢？

Alive or dead, what difference does it make?
What good to me is this machinery?
What difference will divide if from a clod of earth?
Oh, why not rid myself of this conceit of “self”?

可怖不净身，
不动待他牵，
火化终成灰；
何故执为我？

Dust and ashes are the body’s final state,
This body which, inert, is moved by other forces.
This insupportable and unclean form –
Why do I regard it as my “I”, my “self”?

乐长身贪故，
莫令有机趁；
不执悦意物，
厥为真妙财。

Therefore, for the increase of my body’s wants,
I’ll give no space, no opportunity.
And of possessions, those things are the best
That do not captivate by their attractiveness.

逐欲未得足，
生恼复失意；
若人无所求，
彼福无穷尽。

Their hopeless craving brings them misery,
And evil policies invade their minds,
While those with free, untrammeled hearts,
Will never know an end of excellence.

#171
若吾稍放逸，未施汝于众，
则汝定将我　贩与诸狱卒。

#172
如是汝屡屡　弃我令久苦。
今忆宿仇怨，摧汝自利心！

#173
若汝欲自惜，不应自爱执；
若汝欲自护，则当常护他。

#174
汝愈献殷勤　护此不净身，
彼愈趋退堕、衰朽极脆弱。

#175
身弱欲爱增，大地一切物，
尚且不餍足；谁复惬彼欲？

身弱欲爱增，
大地一切物，
尚且不餍足；
谁复惬彼欲？

For those who fall to such a state,
The earth itself and all it holds
Are powerless to satisfy.
For who can give them all they crave?

汝愈献殷勤　
护此不净身，
彼愈趋退堕、
衰朽极脆弱。

To the extent this human form
Is cosseted and saved from hurt,
Just so, just so, to that degree.
It grows so sensitive and peevish.

若汝欲自惜，
不应自爱执；
若汝欲自护，
则当常护他。

And so it is that if I want contentment,
I should never seek to please myself.
And likewise, if I wish to save myself,
I’ll always be the guardian of others.

如是汝屡屡　
弃我令久苦。
今忆宿仇怨，
摧汝自利心！

For this is how so many times
You have betrayed me, and how long I’ve suffered!
Now my memory is full of rancor;
I will crush your selfish schemes!

若吾稍放逸，
未施汝于众，
则汝定将我　
贩与诸狱卒。

For it, through being inattentive,
I do not deliver you to others,
You will hand me over, it is certain,
To the dreadful guardians of hell.