An Auspicious Day
Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya
Nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ
Yad’atītam-pahīnantaṁ
Appattañ-ca anāgataṁ
You shouldn’t chase after the past, or place expectations on the future.
What is past is left behind. The future is as yet unreached.
Paccuppannañ-ca yo dhammaṁ
Tattha tattha vipassati
Asaṁhiraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ
Taṁ viddhā manubrūhaye
Whatever phenomenon is present, you clearly see right there, right there.
Unvanquished, unshaken, that’s you you develop the mind.
Ajjeva kiccam-ātappaṁ
Ko jaññā maraṇaṁ suve
Na hi no saṅgarantena
Mahāsenena maccunā
Doing your duty ardently today, for—who knows?—tomorrow: death.
There is no bargaining with Death & his mighty horde.
Evaṁ vihārim-ātāpiṁ
Aho-rattam-atanditaṁ
Taṁ ve bhaddeka-ratto’ti
Santo ācikkhate munīti.
Whoever lives thus ardently, relentlessly both day & night,
has truly had an auspicious day: So says the Peaceful Sage.
