Ocean of Doubts??????????

1) Even by understand nothing of the workings of

the universe. Where does it rise from, in all its grandeur?

Where does it end? How does it exist? I find it to be

altogether transient.

But worldly happenings seem permanent.

2) Why should that be? Such happenings seem strangely enough to

be unconsidered.

3) How strange! They are on a par with the blind man

led by the blind!

4) My own case furnishes an example in point. I do

not even remember what happened in my childhood.

5) I was different in my youth, again different in my

manhood, still more so now; and in this way, my life is constantly

changing.

6) What fruits have been reaped as the result of

these changes is not clear to me. The end justifies the means as

adopted by individuals according to their temperaments in

different climes and in different times. What have they gained

thereby? Are they themselves happy?

7) The gain is only that which is considered to be so

by the unthinking public. However cannot deem it so,

seeing that even after gaining the so-called end, the

attempts are repeated.

[Note: Since there is no abiding satisfaction in the

gain, it is not worth having.]

8) Well, having gained one purpose, why does

man look for another? Therefore, what the man is always

after should be esteemed the only real purpose — be it the

gaining of pleasure or removal of pain. There can be neither,

so long as the incentive to effort lasts.

9) The feeling of a need to work in order to gain

happiness (being the index of misery) is the misery of

miseries. How can there be pleasure or removal of pain so

long as it continues?

10) Such pleasure is like that of soothing unguents

placed on a scalded limb, or of the embrace of one’s beloved

when one is lying pierced by an arrow in the breast; or of the

sweet melodies of music heard by an advanced consumptive!

11) Only those who need not engage in action, are

happy; they are perfectly content, and self-contained, and

they experience a happiness which extends to all the pores

of the body.

12) Should there still be a few pleasurable moments

for others, they are similar to those enjoyed by one who,

while writhing with an abdominal pain, inhales the sweet

odor of flowers.

13) How silly of people with innumerable obligations,

ever too busy seeking such moments of pleasure in this world!

14) What shall I say of the prowess of indiscriminating

men? They propose to reach happiness after crossing interminable

hurdles of efforts!

15) A beggar in the street labors as much for happiness

as a mighty emperor.

Each of them having gained his end feels

16) Happy and considers himself blessed as if he had reached

the goal of life. Like a blind man following the blind.

 Enough of this folly!

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