The hither shore

“Bhikkhus, I will teach the hither shore and the thither shore, listen and attend carefully.

Bhikkhus, what is the hither shore and what is the thither shore?

“Bhikkhus, destroying living things is the hither shore, abstaining from destroying living things is the thither shore. Taking the not given is the hither shore, abstaining from taking the not given is the thither shore. Sexual misbehaviour is the hither shore, abstaining from sexual misbehaviour is the thither shore. Telling lies is the hither shore, abstaining from telling lies is the thither shore. Slandering is the hither shore, abstaining from slander is thither shore. Rough talk is hither shore, abstaining from rough talk is thither shore. Frivolous talk is hither shore, abstaining from frivolous talk is thither shore. Coveting is hither shore, abstaining from coveting is thither shore. hatred is hither shore, non-hate is thither shore. Wrong view is hither shore, right view is thither shore.

A few humans cross to the other shore,
The rest run up and down this shore.
Those who lead a life according to the Teaching, well declared,
Cross to the other shore, away from the domains of Death.

The wise throw away dark things and develop pure things
Becoming homeless, they delight in seclusion, difficult to delight,
They delight in it, giving up all traces of sensuality
The wise clean themselves, throwing out their defilements.

And thoroughly develop the enlightenment factors.
Giving up their seizings, are not attached.
The bright ones without desires for this world, are extinguished.