Cut out affection for oneself,

like plucking an autumn lotus.

Foster only the path to peace,

the extinguishment the Holy One taught.

“Here I will stay for the rains;

here for winter, here the summer”;

thus the fool thinks,

not realizing the danger.

As a mighty flood sweeps away a sleeping village,

death steals away a man

who dotes on children and cattle,

his mind caught up in them.

Children provide you no shelter,

nor does father, nor relatives.

When you’re seized by the terminator,

there’s no shelter in family.

Knowing the reason for this,

astute, and ethically restrained,

one would quickly clear the path

that leads to extinguishment.

Minor Collection Sayings of the Dhamma 290–305 21. Miscellaneous