Affection

Giving himself to things to be shunned
and not exerting where exertion is
needed, a seeker after pleasure, having
given up his true welfare, envies those
intent upon theirs.

Seek no intimacy with the beloved
and also not with the unloved, for
not to see the beloved and to see
the unloved, are both painful.

Therefore, hold nothing dear, for
separation from the dear is painful.
There are no bonds for those who
have nothing beloved or unloved.

From endearment springs grief,
from endearment springs fear.
For him who is wholly free from
endearment there is no grief,
whence fear?

From affection springs grief, from
affection springs fear. For him who
is wholly free from affection there is
no grief, whence fear?

From attachment springs grief, from
attachment springs fear. For him who
is wholly free from endearment there
is no grief, whence fear?

From lust springs grief, from lust

springs fear. For him who is wholly

free from lust there is no grief, whence

then fear?

From craving springs grief, from craving 

springs fear. For him who is wholly

free from craving there is no grief, whence

then fear?

People hold dear him who embodies

virtue and insight, who is principled,

has realized the truth, and who himself 

does what he ought to be doing.

One who is intent upon the Ineffable

(Nirvana), dwells with mind inspired

(by supramundane wisdom), and is

no more bound by sense pleasures--

such a man is called 'One Bound

Upstream'.

When, after a long absence, a man

safely returns home from afar, his

relatives, friends and well-wishers

welcome him home on arrival.

As kinsmen welcome a dear one on

arrival, even so his own good deeds

will welcome the doer of good who

has gone from this world to the next.

---The Dhammapada, chapter 16---