(2.1–12)
21. Awareness is the place of the deathless;
Unawareness is the place of death.
The aware do not die;
The unaware are as though dead already.
22. Knowing this especially
About awareness, the wise
Delight in awareness,
Taking pleasure in the realm of the Noble Ones.
23. Those who constantly practise meditation,
Ever firm in their endeavour,
Those wise ones touch nibbāna,
The unsurpassed peace of yoga.
24. If you’re effortful and mindful,
Pure in deed, acting with consideration,
Controlled, living by the Dhamma,
And aware, your fame will increase.
25. By effort, awareness,
Restraint and self-control,
The wise one should make an island
Which the flood will not overwhelm.
26. Foolish, unwise folk
Indulge in unawareness.
The wise one guards awareness
As the finest treasure.
27. Do not indulge in unawareness,
Or closeness with sense-pleasures.
For aware, meditating,
You’ll gain great happiness.
28. When a learned one
By awareness wards off unawareness,
He ascends the palace of wisdom,
And, sorrowless, observes the sorrowful folk,
Wise watching fools, as one on a mountain
Sees those on the ground.
29. Aware among the unaware,
Fully awake among the sleeping,
The wise one goes, leaving them behind
As a swift horse leaves a weak horse behind.
Became the chief of the gods.
Folk praise awareness.
Unawareness is always blamed.
31. The monk who delights in awareness,
Seeing the danger in unawareness,
Moves like a fire,
Burning up fetters small and great.
32. The monk who delights in awareness,
Seeing the danger in unawareness,
Not liable to fall back,
Is close to nibbāna.