Chapter 3: The Mind
xxxiii) The quivering, wavering mind - hard to guard, hard to restrain - is made straight by the wise one like a fletcher makes an arrow shaft.
xxxiv) Like a fish plucked from the water, thrashing about on the land, the mind flaps and wavers in being straightened by meditation; this wavering of Choronzon (see note to chapter 1) is fit to discard.
xxxv) Commendable is the training and taming of the mind, hard to hold down, doing what it likes, going where it wants. A trained mind brings ease.
xxxvi) The wise one may train the mind, which is hard to see, extremely subtle and elusive, doing what it likes and going where it wants. A trained mind brings ease.
xxxvii) Those who will restrain the mind which wanders aimlessly afar, subtly hiding, they are released from the bonds of Choronzon.
xxxviii) Those who have an unsteady thoughts, their thoughts having no serenity, who do not know a pure will*, are not wise.
xxxix) There is no fear for the wide-awake who has a trained mind and steady thoughts - unaffected by both good and bad.
xl) Knowing this body to be a fragile pot of clay, securing this mind as an unconquerable citadel (see Liber AL III:4-7), one may fight Choronzon with wisdom's weapon, guarding one's conquest while being unattached.
xli) Know that this body will soon lie in the earth, thrown aside, without consciousness or value, useless as a burned log.
xlii) More than what an enemy may do to you, more than one with hatred may do to you, the unsteady and untrained mind will bring far worse fortunes.
xliii) More than your mother or father, more than your entire family, a trained mind will bring far better fortunes.
* Here 'will' is the analogue to 'dharma' (or 'dhamma' in Pali) which refers both to the immutable law of the world as well as an individual aspirant's path; it refers here to the latter meaning.
Chapter 4: Flowers
xliv) Who shall conquer this earth and the realm of death, this human realm as well as that of the gods? Who plucks a well-taught word of law* like an expert garland-maker plucks flowers will go beyond the earth, death, the realm of people, and the realm of the gods.
xlv) An aspirant shall conquer this earth and the realm of death, this human realm together with the realm of gods, expertly plucking a well-taught word of law* as an expert garland-maker plucks a flower.
xlvi) Knowing this body to be like transitory foam, of the nature of a mirage, breaking the flower-tipped arrows of Choronzon, one is never again touched by death having gone beyond it.
xlvii) Death takes away the man with a mind full of attachment like a flood sweeps away a slumbering village or those who go around only gathering flowers.
xlviii) Death takes away the man with a mind full of attachment as he sweeps away those caught in the pursuit of pleasure, still gathering and plucking flowers.
xlix) A wise one goes through life like a bee who drinks nectar and flies away, not harming the flower.
l) Do not be concerned with what others do or what others fail to do; give your attention to what you do or what you fail to do.
li) A well-spoken word which is not put into practice is fruitless like a flower that is brilliantly full of color but scentless.
lii) A well-spoken word which is put into practice is fruitful like a flower that is brilliantly full of color and fragrant.
liii) Just as many garlands can be made from a heap of flowers, many fruitful deeds can be accomplished in this life.
liv) The scent of flowers or sandalwood cannot travel against the wind; but the fragrance of virtue spreads everywhere.
lv) No scent of sandalwood nor lotus nor jasmine can compare to the fragrance of the virtue.
lvi) The scent of sandalwood or flowers is faint, but the fragrance of virtue rises high to reach even the gods.
lvii) Being virtuous, earnest, and enlightened, death can never come near the aspirant.
lviii) Just as a fragrant lotus may bloom in the mud or a heap of rubbish,
lix) So does a true aspirant of awakening shine surpassingly with wisdom among the wretched and blind ordinary folk.
* 'Law' here refers again to the word 'dharma,' meaning both the immutable law of the world and the individual aspirant's path.
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