Heedfulness - Dhammapada

Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless,
Heedlessness is the path to death.
The heedful die not.
The heedless are as if dead already

Clearly understanding
this excellence of heedfulness,
the wise exult therein and enjoy the resort
of the Noble Ones.

The wise ones, ever meditative
and steadfastly preserving,
alone experience Nibbana, the incomparable freedom
from bondage.

Ever grows the glory of him
who is energetic and mindful
and is pure in conduct,
discerning and self-controlled,
righteous and heedful.

By effort and heedfulness,
discipline and self-mastery,
let the wise one make for himself
an island which no flood can overwhelm.

The foolish and ignorant
indulge in heedlessness, but the wise on keeps his heedfulness
as his best treasure.

Do not give way to heedlessness.
Do not indulge in sensual pleasures.
Only the heedful and meditative
attain great happiness.

Just as one upon the summit of a mountain
beholds the groundings,
even so when the wise man
casts away heedlessness
by heedlessness
and ascends
the high tower of wisdom,
the sorrowless sage beholds
the sorrowing and foolish
multitude.

Heedful among the heedless,
wide awake among the sleepy, the wise man advances
like a swift horse
leaving behind a weak jade.

By heedlessness did Indra
become the overlord of the gods.
Heedfulness is ever praised,
and heedlessness ever despised.

The monk who delights
in heedfulness
and looks with fear at heedlessness advances like fire,
burning all fetter small and large.

The monk who delights
in heedfulness
and looks with fear at heedlessness
will not fall
He is close to Nibbana.