268/269 Not by silence does one become a sage {muni) if one be foolish
and untaught. But the wise man who, as if holding a pair of scales,
takes what is good and leaves out what is evil, is indeed a sage.
For that reason he is a sage. He who understands both sides in
this world is called a sage.
273 Of paths the Eightfold Path is the best; of truths the Four
Words (Noble Truths); Detachment is the best of states and of
bipeds the Seeing One (the Man of Vision).
274 This is the only Way. There is no other for the purification of
Vision. Follow this Way: this is the bewilderment of Mara
(Evil).
275 Following this Way you shall make an end of suffering. This
verily is the Way declared by me when I had learnt to remove
the arrow (of suffering).
276 You yourselves should make the effort; the Awakened Ones
are only teachers. Those who enter this Path and who are medi-
tative, are delivered from the bonds of Mara (Evil).
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'All conditioned things are impermanent', when one sees this in
wisdom, then one becomes dispassionate towards the painful.
This is the Path to Purity.
