The Five Pillars
To my daughter Arudana I say:
They often talk about the five pillars, my daughter Arudana.
Which five?
The following five:
That they believe in the oneness of the omnipotence.
That they believe in the just and civilized humanity.
That they believe in the unity throughout the land and water.
That they believe in the sovereignty of the people lead by wisdom.
That they believe in social justice for all of the people.
But another five pillars existed far before, my daughter Arudana.
Which five?
The following five:
That one should not take the life of the living.
That one should not take that which is not given.
That one should not undertake moral misconduct.
That one should not undertake an incorrect speech.
That one should not take intoxication and fall into carelessness.
Pillars are to uphold a building, my daughter Arudana.
Strong pillars make a strong building:
Unshaken, unmoved, impregnable.
Such a building provides a safe roof,
A comfortable abode for those seeking protection.
The first group of pillars is to be practiced together, my daughter Arudana.
Let it makes you a strong society.
Such a society provides a safe country,
A comfortable abode for those seeking protection.
The second group of pillars is to be practiced for yourself, my daughter Arudana.
Let it makes you a strong vessel.
Such a vessel provides a safe mind,
A comfortable abode for those seeking protection.
The first group was once put forward by a ruler, my daughter Arudana.
Some say it was used as a tool of conquest.
A conquest of what?
A conquest of power, my daughter Arudana, a conquest of power.
A conquest of power begets unrequited thirst,
It turned an endless wheel of suffering into movement.
The second group was once put forward by a ruler, my daughter Arudana.
Some say it was used as a tool of conquest.
A conquest of what?
A conquest of self, my daughter Arudana, a conquest of self.
A conquest of self begets the stillness of thirst,
Turned an endless wheel of suffering into a stop.
Thus I said those to my daughter Arudana.
Berlin, 14 August 2020