Chapter 12. The Self

157. If someone holds oneself dear, let him guard himself very well. In any of the three watches of the night let the wise one be watchful.

158. Let one first establish oneself in what is proper, and then instruct others. Awise one should not be impure.

159. If only one always did what one advises others! one well restrained can teach others. Indeed, it is difficult to control oneself.

160. One is indeed one's own lord. What other lord would there be? With oneself welll restrained, one will obtain the lord thatis so hard to get.

161. The evil is done by oneself, proceeding from oneself, originating from oneself. It crushes the fool, just like a diamond crushes a hard gem.

162. Who is of extremely bad morality, like a creeper spread over a Sala tree, he will do unto himself, what an enemy wishes to do unto him.

163. Easy done are deeds, that are wrong and harmful to oneself. What is beneficial and good, that is indeed most difficult to do.

164. Whow scorns thee teaching of the Arahants, the Noble ones, living righteously, the fool, who is relying on wrong beliefs, produces fruit just like a bamboo - for his own destruction.

165. The evil is done by oneself; by oneself one becomes impure. The evil is undone by oneself; by oneself one becomes pure. Purity and impurity depend on oneself. No one can purify another.

166. Let one not neglect one's own spiritual attainment for other's spiritual attainment, however great. Having fully understood one'sown spiritual attainment, let one pursue the true attainment.