Dhammapada verses 360–382 depict the ideal bhikkhu as one who restrains the senses, body, speech, and mind, leading to freedom from suffering. Emphasis is placed on mindfulness, inner joy, collectedness, and self-reliance. Through discipline and reflection, the bhikkhu advances towards the peace of Nibbāna, shining like the moon freed from clouds.

Three kinds of children - 1) one who surpasses their parents, 2) one who follows in their footsteps, and 3) one who falls below them.

The Buddha illustrates that his true inheritance is the Dhamma, not material possessions. Venerable Sāriputta clarifies the practice of seclusion by listing numerous harmful qualities to abandon and the Middle Way that leads to abandoning of them, to clear vision, wisdom, tranquility, to full awakening.

The Buddha uses the simile of a defiled cloth to explain how the mind can be similarly defiled by various impurities, and how it can be purified by abandoning them. The Blessed One also addresses a brahmin in verses who believes in purification by bathing in river.

The Buddha distinguishes peaceful abidings in the here and now from the way of effacement leading upwards to complete quenching. Effacement is shown as the gradual chipping away of defilements through restraint, cultivation of the noble eightfold path, and diligent training, culminating in the complete freedom of Nibbāna.

Verses urging one to rise from negligence, train steadfastly for the state of peace, and not waste the fleeting opportunity of the present moment. The teaching emphasizes the urgency of effort with the imagery of the afflicted pierced by a dart and the King of Death misleading one who remains negligent.

The Buddha explains how to rein in the mind when desire, passion, aversion, illusion, or repulsion arises in regard to the six sense bases using the simile of a watchman and an ox and the simile of a lute.

The Buddha explains the importance of developing a radiant mind, a mind of loving-kindness and the consequences of negligence, diligence, and laziness.

The Buddha explains the importance of rousing of energy and the consequences of having many desires, few desires, dissatisfaction, contentment, (careless) attention, wise attention, clear comprehension and lack of it, and bad friendship.

The Buddha explains the consequences of negligence and diligence, laziness and arousing of energy, having many desires and having few wishes, discontentment and contentment, unwise and wise attention, full awareness and lack of it, bad and good friendships, and good and bad habits.

The Buddha lists the mental qualities that form the internal factors leading to harm or benefit, the qualities that lead to the decline or continuity of the true Dhamma, and the actions that lead to the harm of many people.

The Buddha explains the importance of mindfulness of the body in partaking in the deathless.

The Buddha describes the three divine messengers that appear among human beings and what happens to those who do not heed their message.