The
Eight Principles
I have heard that at on one occasion the Blessed One was
staying at Vesali, in the Peaked Roof Hall in the Great Forest.
Then Mahapajapati
Gotami went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, stood
to one side. As she was standing there she said to him: "It would be good,
lord, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief such that, having
heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded, heedful,
ardent, & resolute."
"Gotami, the qualities of which you may
know, 'These qualities lead:
to passion, not to dispassion;
to being fettered,
not to being unfettered;
to accumulating, not to shedding;
to self-aggrandizement,
not to modesty;
to discontent, not to contentment;
to entanglement, not
to seclusion;
to laziness, not to aroused persistence;
to being burdensome,
not to being unburdensome':
You may definitely hold, 'This is not the Dhamma,
this is not the Vinaya, this is not the Teacher's instruction.'
"As for
the qualities of which you may know, 'These qualities lead:
to dispassion,
not to passion;
to being unfettered, not to being fettered;
to shedding,
not to accumulating;
to modesty, not to self-aggrandizement;
to contentment,
not to discontent;
to seclusion, not to entanglement;
to aroused persistence,
not to laziness;
to being unburdensome, not to being burdensome':
You
may definitely hold, 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's
instruction.'"
That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Mahapajapati
Gotami delighted at his words.
[AN VIII.53]
1.
Dispassion
§ 1.1.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One
was staying in Gaya, at Gaya Head, with 1,000 monks. There he addressed the monks:
"Monks, the All is aflame. What All is aflame? The eye is aflame. Forms
are aflame. Consciousness at the eye is aflame. Contact at the eye is aflame.
And whatever there is that arises in dependence on contact at the eye -- experienced
as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain -- that too is aflame. Aflame with
what? Aflame with the fire of passion, the fire of aversion, the fire of delusion.
Aflame, I tell you, with birth, aging & death, with sorrows, lamentations,
pains, distresses, & despairs.
"The ear is aflame. Sounds are aflame...
"The nose is aflame. Aromas are aflame...
"The tongue is aflame.
Flavors are aflame...
"The body is aflame. Tactile sensations are aflame...
"The intellect is aflame. Ideas are aflame. Consciousness at the intellect
is aflame. Contact at the intellect is aflame. And whatever there is that arises
in dependence on contact at the intellect -- experienced as pleasure, pain or
neither-pleasure-nor-pain -- that too is aflame. Aflame with what? Aflame with
the fire of passion, the fire of aversion, the fire of delusion. Aflame, I say,
with birth, aging & death, with sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses,
& despairs.
"Seeing thus, the instructed noble disciple grows disenchanted
with the eye, disenchanted with forms, disenchanted with consciousness at the
eye, disenchanted with contact at the eye. And whatever there is that arises in
dependence on contact at the eye, experienced as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain:
With that, too, he grows disenchanted.
"He grows disenchanted with the
ear...
"He grows disenchanted with the nose...
"He grows disenchanted
with the tongue...
"He grows disenchanted with the body...
"He
grows disenchanted with the intellect, disenchanted with ideas, disenchanted with
consciousness at the intellect, disenchanted with contact at the intellect. And
whatever there is that arises in dependence on contact at the intellect, experienced
as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain: He grows disenchanted with that
too. Disenchanted, he becomes dispassionate. Through dispassion, he is fully released.
With full release, there is the knowledge, 'Fully released.' He discerns that
'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further
for this world.'"
That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the monks
delighted at his words. And while this explanation was being given, the hearts
of the 1,000 monks, through no clinging (not being sustained), were fully released
from fermentation/effluents.
[SN XXXV.28]
§ 1.2.
"And how
does a monk guard the doors of his senses? On seeing a form with the eye, he does
not grasp at any theme or details by which -- if he were to dwell without restraint
over the faculty of the eye -- evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress
might assail him. On hearing a sound with the ear... On smelling an odor with
the nose... One tasting a flavor with the tongue... On touching a tactile sensation
with the body... On cognizing an idea with the intellect, he does not grasp at
any theme or details by which -- if he were to dwell without restraint over the
faculty of the intellect -- evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress
might assail him. Endowed with this noble restraint over the sense faculties,
he is inwardly sensitive to the pleasure of being blameless. This is how a monk
guards the doors of his senses."
[DN 2]
§ 1.3.
Sister Nanda:
"Sick, putrid, unclean:
look, Nanda, at this physical heap.
Through
contemplation of the foul,
develop your mind,
make it one, well-centered.
As this [your body], so that.
As that, so this.
It gives off a foul
stench,
the delight of fools."
Considering it thus,
untiring, both
day & night,
I, with my own discernment
dissecting it,
saw.
And
as I, heedful,
examined it aptly,
this body -- as it actually is --
was
seen inside & out.
Then was I disenchanted with the body
& dispassionate
within:
Heedful, detached,
calmed was I.
Unbound.
[Thig V.4]
§
1.4.
As Subha the nun was going through Jivaka's delightful mango grove, a
libertine (a goldsmith's son) blocked her path, so she said to him:
'What
wrong have I done you
that you stand in my way?
It's not proper, my friend,
that
a man should touch
a woman gone forth.
I respect the Master's message,
the
training pointed out by the one well-gone.
I am pure, without blemish:
Why do you stand in my way?
You -- your mind agitated, impassioned;
I --
unagitated, unimpassioned,
with a mind entirely freed:
Why do you stand
in my way?'
'You are young & not bad-looking,
what need do you have
for going forth?
Throw off your ochre robe --
Come, let's delight in the
flowering grove.
A sweetness they exude everywhere,
the towering trees with
their pollen.
The beginning of spring is a pleasant season --
Come, let's
delight in the flowering grove.
The trees with their blossoming tips
moan,
as it were, in the breeze:
What delight will you have
if you plunge into
the grove alone?
Frequented by herds of wild beasts,
disturbed by elephants
rutting & aroused:
you want to go
unaccompanied
into the great,
lonely, frightening grove?
Like a doll made of gold, you will go about,
like
a goddess in the gardens of heaven.
With delicate, smooth Kasi fabrics,
you
will shine, O beauty without compare.
I would gladly do your every bidding
if
we were to dwell in the glade.
For there is no creature dearer to me
than
you, O nymph with the languid regard.
If you do as I ask, happy, come live
in my house.
Dwelling in the calm of a palace,
have women wait on you,
wear delicate Kasi fabrics,
adorn yourself with garlands & creams.
I
will make you many & varied ornaments
of gold, jewels, & pearls.
Climb
onto a costly bed,
scented with sandalwood carvings,
with a well-washed
coverlet, beautiful,
spread with a woolen quilt, brand new.
Like a blue
lotus rising from the water
where there dwell non-human beings,
you will
go to old age with your limbs unseen,
if you stay as you are in the holy life.'
'What do you assume of any essence,
here in this cemetery grower, filled
with corpses,
this body destined to break up?
What do you see when you look
at me,
you who are out of your mind?'
'Your eyes
are like those of
a fawn,
like those of a sprite in the mountains.
Seeing your eyes, my sensual
delight
grows all the more.
Like tips they are, of blue lotuses,
in
your golden face
-- spotless:
Seeing your eyes, my sensual delight
grows all the more.
Even if you should go far away,
I will think only of
your pure,
long-lashed gaze,
for there is nothing dearer to me
than
your eyes, O nymph with the languid regard.'
'You want to stray from the road,
you
want the moon as a plaything,
you want to jump over Mount Sineru,
you who
have designs on one born of the Buddha.
For there is nothing anywhere at all
in
the cosmos with its gods,
that would be an object of passion for me.
I
don't even know what that passion would be,
for it's been killed, root &
all, by the path.
Like embers from a pit -- scattered,
like a bowl of poison
-- evaporated,
I don't even see what that passion would be,
for it's been
killed, root & all, by the path.
Try to seduce one who hasn't reflected
on this,
or who has not followed the Master's teaching.
But try it with
this one who knows
and you suffer.
For in the midst of praise & blame,
pleasure & pain,
my mindfulness stands firm.
Knowing the unattractiveness
of things compounded,
my mind cleaves to nothing at all.
I am a follower
of the one well-gone,
riding the vehicle of the eightfold way:
My arrow
removed, effluent-free,
I delight, having gone to an empty dwelling.
For
I have seen well-painted puppets,
hitched up with sticks & strings,
made
to dance in various ways.
When the sticks & strings are removed,
thrown
away, scattered, shredded,
smashed into pieces, not to be found,
in what
will the mind there make its home?
This body of mine, which is just like that,
when
devoid of dhammas doesn't function.
When, devoid of dhammas, it doesn't function,
in what will the mind there make its home?
Like a mural you've seen, painted
on a wall,
smeared with yellow orpiment,
there your vision has been distorted,
meaningless
your human perception.
Like an evaporated mirage,
like a tree of gold in
a dream,
like a magic show in the midst of a crowd --
you run blind after
what is unreal.
Resembling a ball of sealing wax,
set in a hollow,
with
a bubble in the middle
and bathed with tears,
eye secretions are born there
too:
The parts of the eye
are rolled all together
in various ways.'
Plucking out her lovely eye,
with mind unattached
she felt no regret.
'Here, take this eye. It's yours.'
Straightaway she gave it to him.
Straightaway
his passion faded right there,
and he begged her forgiveness.
'Be well,
follower of the holy life.
This sort of thing
won't happen again.
Harming
a person like you
is like embracing a blazing fire.
It's as if I have seized
a poisonous snake.
So may you be well. Forgive me.'
And released from there,
the nun
went to the excellent Buddha's presence.
When she saw the mark of
his excellent merit,
her eye became
as it was before.
[Thig XIV]
§
1.5.
Now at that time Ven. Anuruddha, going through the Kosalan countryside
on his way to Savatthi, arrived in the evening at a certain village. And at that
time a rest house had been set up by a woman in that village. So Ven. Anuruddha
went to the woman and, on arrival, said to her, "If it is no inconvenience
for you, sister, I will stay for one night in the rest house."
"You
are welcome to stay, venerable sir."
Then other travelers went to that
woman and, on arrival, said, "If it is no inconvenience for you, lady, we
will stay for one night in the rest house."
"This master has arrived
first. If he gives his permission, you may stay."
So the travelers went
to Ven. Anuruddha and on arrival said to him, "If it is no inconvenience
for you, venerable sir, we will stay for one night in the rest house."
"You
are welcome to stay, friends."
Now it so happened that the woman had
fallen in love with Ven. Anuruddha at first sight, so she went to him and said,
"The master will not be comfortable, crowded with these people. It would
be good if I were to prepare a bed inside for the master."
Ven. Anuruddha
consented by remaining silence.
Then the woman, having herself prepared a
bed inside for Ven. Anuruddha, having put on her jewelry and scented herself with
perfumes, went to him and said, "Master, you are beautiful, good-looking,
and appealing. I, too, am beautiful, good-looking, & appealing. It would be
good if I were to be your wife."
When this was said, Ven. Anuruddha remained
silent. So a second time... A third time she said to him, "Master, you are
beautiful, good-looking, & appealing. I too am beautiful, good-looking, &
appealing. Please take me together with all my wealth."
A third time,
Ven. Anuruddha remained silent. So the woman, having slipped off her upper cloak,
paraded up & down in front of him, stood, sat down, & then lay down right
in front of him. But Ven. Anuruddha, keeping control of his faculties, didn't
as much as glance at her or say even a word.
Then the thought occurred to
her: "Isn't it amazing! Isn't it astounding! Many men send for me at a price
of 100 or even 1,000 (a night), but this contemplative, even when I myself beg
him, doesn't want to take me together with all of my wealth!" So, putting
her upper cloak back on and bowing her head at his feet, she said to him: "Venerable
sir, a transgression has overcome me in that I was so foolish, so muddle-headed,
& so unskillful as to act in such a way. Please accept this confession of
my transgression as such, so that I may restrain myself in the future."
"Yes,
sister, a transgression overcame you in that you were so foolish, so muddle-headed,
& so unskillful as to act in such a way. But because you see your transgression
as such and make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept your confession.
For it is a cause of growth in the Dhamma & discipline of the noble ones when,
seeing a transgression as such, one makes amends in accordance with the Dhamma
and exercises restraint in the future."
Then, when the night had passed,
the woman, with her own hand, served & satisfied Ven. Anuruddha with excellent
staple and non-staple food. When Ven. Anuruddha had eaten & removed his hand
from his bowl, she sat to one side. As she was sitting there, Ven. Anuruddha instructed,
urged, roused, & encouraged her with a talk on Dhamma. Then the woman, having
been instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged by Ven. Anuruddha with a talk
on Dhamma, said to him, "Magnificent, venerable sir! Magnificent! Just as
if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to
show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those
with eyes could see forms, in the same way has Ven. Anuruddha -- through many
lines of reasoning -- made the Dhamma clear. I go to the Blessed One for refuge,
to the Dhamma, and to the Community of monks. May the master remember me as a
lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forward for life."
[Pacittiya
6 (See Introduction to the Patimokkha Rules)]
§ 1.6.
"Quite withdrawn
from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful mental qualities, he enters and remains
in the first jhana: rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by
directed thought and evaluation. He permeates and pervades, suffuses and fills
this very body with the rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal. Just as if
a skilled bathman or bathman's apprentice would pour bath powder into a brass
basin and knead it together, sprinkling it again and again with water, so that
his ball of bath powder -- saturated, moisture-laden, permeated within and without
-- would nevertheless not drip; even so, the monk permeates... this very body
with the rapture and pleasure born of withdrawal. There is nothing of his entire
body unpervaded by rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal. This is a fruit
of the contemplative life, visible here and now, more excellent than the previous
ones and more sublime.
"Furthermore, with the stilling of directed thought
and evaluation, he enters and remains in the second jhana: rapture and pleasure
born of composure, unification of awareness free from directed thought and evaluation
-- internal assurance. He permeates and pervades, suffuses and fills this very
body with the rapture and pleasure born of composure. Just like a lake with spring-water
welling up from within, having no inflow from the east, west, north, or south,
and with the skies supplying abundant showers time and again, so that the cool
fount of water welling up from within the lake would permeate and pervade, suffuse
and fill it with cool waters, there being no part of the lake unpervaded by the
cool waters; even so, the monk permeates... this very body with the rapture and
pleasure born of composure. There is nothing of his entire body unpervaded by
rapture and pleasure born of composure. This, too, is a fruit of the contemplative
life, visible here and now, more excellent than the previous ones and more sublime.
"And furthermore, with the fading of rapture, he remains in equanimity,
mindful and alert, and physically sensitive of pleasure. He enters and remains
in the third jhana, of which the noble ones declare, 'Equanimous and mindful,
he has a pleasurable abiding.' He permeates and pervades, suffuses and fills this
very body with the pleasure divested of rapture. Just as in a lotus pond, some
of the lotuses, born and growing in the water, stay immersed in the water and
flourish without standing up out of the water, so that they are permeated and
pervaded, suffused and filled with cool water from their roots to their tips,
and nothing of those lotuses would be unpervaded with cool water; even so, the
monk permeates... this very body with the pleasure divested of rapture. There
is nothing of his entire body unpervaded with pleasure divested of rapture. This,
too, is a fruit of the contemplative life, visible here and now, more excellent
than the previous ones and more sublime.
"And furthermore, with the abandoning
of pleasure and pain -- as with the earlier disappearance of elation and distress
-- he enters and remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity and mindfulness,
neither-pleasure-nor-pain. He sits, permeating the body with a pure, bright awareness.
Just as if a man were sitting covered from head to foot with a white cloth so
that there would be no part of his body to which the white cloth did not extend;
even so, the monk sits, permeating the body with a pure, bright awareness. There
is nothing of his entire body unpervaded by pure, bright awareness. This, too,
great king, is a fruit of the contemplative life, visible here and now, more excellent
than the previous ones and more sublime."
[DN 2]
§ 1.7.
"'I
tell you, the ending of the effluents depends on the first jhana.' Thus it has
been said. In reference to what was it said?... Suppose that an archer or archer's
apprentice were to practice on a straw man or mound of clay, so that after a while
he would become able to shoot long distances, to fire accurate shots in rapid
succession, and to pierce great masses. In the same way, there is the case where
a monk... enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born
of withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. He regards whatever
phenomena there that are connected with form, feeling, perception, fabrications,
& consciousness, as inconstant, stressful, a disease, a cancer, an arrow,
painful, an affliction, alien, a disintegration, an emptiness, not-self. He turns
his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the
property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite -- the resolution
of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving;
dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.'
"Staying right there, he reaches the
ending of the mental effluents. Or, if not, then -- through this very dhamma-passion,
this very dhamma-delight, and from the total wasting away of the first five of
the Fetters [self-identity views, grasping at precepts & practices, uncertainty,
sensual passion, and resistance] -- he is due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes],
there to be totally unbound, never again to return from that world.
"'I
tell you, the ending of the effluents depends on the first jhana.' Thus was it
said, and in reference to this was it said.
(Similarly with the other levels
of jhana up through the dimension of nothingness.)
"Thus, as far as the
perception-attainments go, that is as far as gnosis-penetration goes. As for these
two spheres -- the attainment of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception
& the attainment of the cessation of feeling & perception -- I tell you
that they are to be rightly explained by those monks who are meditators, skilled
in attaining, skilled in attaining & emerging, who have attained & emerged
in dependence on them."
[AN IX.36]
§ 1.8.
"[On attaining
the fourth level of jhana] there remains only equanimity: pure & bright, pliant,
malleable & luminous. Just as if a skilled goldsmith or goldsmith's apprentice
were to prepare a furnace, heat up a crucible, and, taking gold with a pair of
tongs, place it in the crucible. He would blow on it periodically, sprinkle water
on it periodically, examine it periodically, so that the gold would become refined,
well-refined, thoroughly refined, flawless, free from dross, pliant, malleable
& luminous. Then whatever sort of ornament he had in mind -- whether a belt,
an earring, a necklace, or a gold chain -- it would serve his purpose. In the
same way, there remains only equanimity: pure & bright, pliant, malleable
& luminous. He [the meditator] discerns that 'If I were to direct equanimity
as pure & bright as this toward the dimension of the infinitude of space,
I would develop the mind along those lines, and thus this equanimity of mine --
thus supported, thus sustained -- would last for a long time. (Similarly with
the remaining formless states.)'
"He discerns that 'If I were to direct
equanimity as pure & bright as this toward the dimension of the infinitude
of space and to develop the mind along those lines, that would be fabricated.
(Similarly with the remaining formless states.)' He neither fabricates nor wills
for the sake of becoming or un-becoming. This being the case, he is not sustained
by anything in the world (does not cling to anything in the world). Unsustained,
he is not agitated. Unagitated, he is totally unbound right within. He discerns
that 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing
further for this world.'"
[MN 140]
2.
Being Unfettered
§ 2.1.
"There are these ten fetters. Which ten?
Five lower fetters & five higher fetters. And which are the five lower fetters?
Self-identity views, uncertainty, grasping at precepts & practices, sensual
desire, and ill will. These are the five lower fetters. And which are the five
higher fetters? Passion for form, passion for what is formless, conceit, restlessness,
and ignorance. These are the five higher fetters. And these are the ten fetters."
[AN X.13]
§ 2.2.
"There are in this community of monks, monks
who, with the total ending of [the first] three Fetters, are stream-winners, steadfast,
never again destined for states of woe, headed for self-awakening...
"There
are... monks who, with the total ending of [the first] three fetters and the thinning
out of passion, aversion, & delusion, are once-returners. After returning
only once to this world they will put an end to stress...
"There are...
monks who, with the total ending of the first five of the Fetters, are due to
be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to be totally unbound, never again to return
from that world...
"There are... monks who are arahants, whose mental
effluents are ended, who have reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the
burden, attained the true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and
who are released through right gnosis."
[MN 118]
§ 2.3.
"And
what are the effluents that are to be abandoned by seeing? There is the case where
an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person... does not discern what ideas are fit
for attention, or what ideas are unfit for attention. This being so, he does not
attend to ideas fit for attention, and attends [instead] to ideas unfit for attention.
And what are the ideas unfit for attention that he attends to? Whatever ideas
such that, when he attends to them, the unarisen effluent of sensuality arises,
and the arisen effluent of sensuality increases; the unarisen effluent of becoming...
the unarisen effluent of ignorance arises, and the arisen effluent of ignorance
increases... This is how he attends inappropriately: 'Was I in the past? Was I
not in the past? What was I in the past? How was I in the past? Having been what,
what was I in the past? Shall I be in the future? Shall I not be in the future?
What shall I be in the future? How shall I be in the future? Having been what,
what shall I be in the future?' Or else he is inwardly perplexed about the immediate
present: 'Am I? Am I not? What am I? How am I? Where has this being come from?
Where is it bound?'
"As he attends inappropriately in this way, one of
six kinds of view arises in him: The view I have a self arises in him as true
& established, or the view I have no self... or the view It is precisely by
means of self that I perceive self... or the view It is precisely by means of
self that I perceive not-self... or the view It is precisely by means of not-self
that I perceive self arises in him as true & established, or else he has a
view like this: This very self of mine -- the knower that is sensitive here &
there to the ripening of good & bad actions -- is the self of mine that is
constant, everlasting, eternal, not subject to change, and will endure as long
as eternity. This is called a thicket of views, a wilderness of views, a contortion
of views, a writhing of views, a fetter of views. Bound by a fetter of views,
the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person is not freed from birth, aging, &
death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair. He is not freed,
I tell you, from stress.
"The well-instructed noble disciple... discerns
what ideas are fit for attention, and what ideas are unfit for attention. This
being so, he does not attend to ideas unfit for attention, and attends [instead]
to ideas fit for attention... And what are the ideas fit for attention that he
attends to? Whatever ideas such that, when he attends to them, the unarisen effluent
of sensuality does not arise, and the arisen effluent of sensuality is abandoned;
the unarisen effluent of becoming... the unarisen effluent of ignorance does not
arise, and the arisen effluent of ignorance is abandoned... He attends appropriately,
This is stress... This is the origination of stress... This is the cessation of
stress... This is the way leading to the cessation of stress. As he attends appropriately
in this way, three fetters are abandoned in him: identity-view, doubt, and grasping
at precepts & practices. These are called the effluents that are to be abandoned
by seeing.
[MN 2]
§ 2.4.
"There is the case where an uninstructed,
run-of-the-mill person... assumes form (the body) to be the self. That assumption
is a fabrication. Now what is the cause, what is the origination, what is the
birth, what is the coming-into-existence of that fabrication? To an uninstructed,
run-of-the-mill person, touched by that which is felt born of contact with ignorance,
craving arises. That fabrication is born of that. And that fabrication is inconstant,
fabricated, dependently co-arisen. That craving... That feeling... That contact...
That ignorance is inconstant, fabricated, dependently co-arisen. It is by knowing
& seeing in this way that one without delay puts an end to the (mental) fermentations.
"Or he doesn't assume form to be the self, but he assumes the self as
possessing form... form as in the self... self as in form.
"Now that
assumption is a fabrication. What is the cause... of that fabrication? To an uninstructed,
run-of-the-mill person, touched by the feeling born of contact with ignorance,
craving arises. That fabrication is born of that. And that fabrication is inconstant,
fabricated, dependently co-arisen. That craving... That feeling... That contact...
That ignorance is inconstant, fabricated, dependently co-arisen. It is by knowing
& seeing in this way that one without delay puts an end to the (mental) fermentations.
(Similarly with feeling, perception, fabrications, & consciousness.)
"Or...
he may have a view such as this: "This self is the same as the cosmos. This
I will be after death, constant, lasting, eternal, not subject to change."
This eternalist view is a fabrication... Or... he may have a view such as this:
"I would not be, neither would there be what is mine. I will not be, neither
will there be what is mine." This annihilationist view is a fabrication...
Or... he may be doubtful & uncertain, having come to no conclusion with regard
to the true Dhamma. That doubt, uncertainty, & coming-to-no-conclusion is
a fabrication.
"What is the cause... of that fabrication? To an uninstructed,
run-of-the-mill person, touched by what is felt born of contact with ignorance,
craving arises. That fabrication is born of that. And that fabrication is inconstant,
fabricated, dependently co-arisen. That craving... That feeling... That contact...
That ignorance is inconstant, fabricated, dependently co-arisen. It is by knowing
& seeing in this way that one without delay puts an end to the (mental) fermentations."
[SN XXII.81]
§ 2.5.
"Imagine a bowl of water mixed with lac,
yellow orpiment, indigo, or crimson, such that a man with good eyesight examining
the reflection of his face in it would not be able to know or see his face as
it actually is. In the same way, when one remains with awareness possessed by
sensual passion, overcome with sensual passion, and neither knows nor sees the
escape, as it is actually present, from sensual passion once it has arisen, then
one neither knows nor sees what is for one's own benefit, or for the benefit of
others, or for the benefit of both...
"Now imagine a bowl of water heated
on a fire, boiling & bubbling over, such that a man with good eyesight examining
the reflection of his face in it would not be able to know or see his face as
it actually is. In the same way, when one remains with awareness possessed by
ill will, overcome with ill will, and neither knows nor sees the escape, as it
is actually present, from ill will once it has arisen, then one neither knows
nor sees what is for one's own benefit, or for the benefit of others, or for the
benefit of both...
"Now imagine a bowl of water covered with algae &
slime, such that a man with good eyesight examining the reflection of his face
in it would not be able to know or see his face as it actually is. In the same
way, when one remains with awareness possessed by sloth & drowsiness, overcome
with sloth & drowsiness, and neither knows nor sees the escape, as it is actually
present, from sloth & drowsiness once it has arisen, then one neither knows
nor sees what is for one's own benefit, or for the benefit of others, or for the
benefit of both...
"Now imagine a bowl of water ruffled by the wind,
disturbed, & covered with waves, such that a man with good eyesight examining
the reflection of his face in it would not be able to know or see his face as
it actually is. In the same way, when one remains with awareness possessed by
restlessness & anxiety, overcome with restlessness & anxiety, and neither
knows nor sees the escape, as it is actually present, from restlessness &
anxiety once it has arisen, then one neither knows nor sees what is for one's
own benefit, or for the benefit of others, or for the benefit of both...
"Now
imagine a bowl of water stirred up, turbid, muddied, & left in the dark, such
that a man with good eyesight examining the reflection of his face in it would
not be able to know or see his face as it actually is. In the same way, when one
remains with awareness possessed by uncertainty, overcome with uncertainty, and
neither knows nor sees the escape, as it is actually present, from uncertainty
once it has arisen, then one neither knows nor sees what is for one's own benefit,
or for the benefit of others, or for the benefit of both..."
[SN XLVI.55]
§
2.6.
"Suppose that a man, taking a loan, invests it in his business affairs.
His business affairs succeed. He repays his old debts and there is extra left
over for maintaining his wife. The thought would occur to him, 'Before, taking
a loan, I invested it in my business affairs. Now my business affairs have succeeded.
I have repaid my old debts and there is extra left over for maintaining my wife.'
Because of that he would experience joy & happiness.
"Now suppose
that a man falls sick -- in pain & seriously ill. He does not enjoy his meals,
and there is no strength in his body. As time passes, he eventually recovers from
that sickness. He enjoys his meals and there is strength in his body. The thought
would occur to him, 'Before, I was sick... Now I am recovered from that sickness.
I enjoy my meals and there is strength in my body.' Because of that he would experience
joy & happiness.
"Now suppose that a man is bound in prison. As time
passes, he eventually is released from that bondage, safe & sound, with no
loss of property. The thought would occur to him, 'Before, I was bound in prison.
Now I am released from that bondage, safe & sound, with no loss of my property.'
Because of that he would experience joy & happiness.
"Now suppose
that a man is a slave, subject to others, not subject to himself, unable to go
where he likes. As time passes, he eventually is released from that slavery, subject
to himself, not subject to others, freed, able to go where he likes. The thought
would occur to him, 'Before, I was a slave... Now I am released from that slavery,
subject to myself, not subject to others, freed, able to go where I like.' Because
of that he would experience joy & happiness.
"Now suppose that a
man, carrying money & goods, is traveling by a road through desolate country.
As time passes, he eventually emerges from that desolate country, safe & sound,
with no loss of property. The thought would occur to him, 'Before, carrying money
& goods, I was traveling by a road through desolate country. Now I have emerged
from that desolate country, safe & sound, with no loss of my property.' Because
of that he would experience joy & happiness.
"In the same way, when
these five hindrances are not abandoned in himself, the monk regards it as a debt,
a sickness, a prison, slavery, a road through desolate country. But when these
five hindrances are abandoned in himself, he regards it as unindebtedness, good
health, release from prison, freedom, a place of security."
[MN 39]
§
2.7.
[Punnika:]
I'm a water-carrier, cold,
always going down to the
water
from fear of my mistresses' beatings,
harassed by their anger &
words.
But you, Brahman,
what do you fear
that you're always going down
to the water
with shivering limbs, feeling great cold?
[The Brahman:]
Punnika,
surely you know.
You're asking one doing skillful kamma
& warding off
evil.
Whoever, young or old, does evil kamma
is, through water ablution,
from
evil kamma set free.
[Punnika:]
Who taught you this
-- the ignorant
to the ignorant --
'One, through water ablution,
is from evil kamma set
free?'
In that case, they'd all go to heaven:
all the frogs, turtles,
serpents, crocodiles,
& anything else that lives in the water.
Sheep-butchers,
pork-butchers,
fishermen, trappers,
thieves, executioners,
& any
other evil doers,
would, through water ablution,
be from evil kamma set
free.
If these rivers could carry off
the evil kamma you've done in the
past,
they'd carry off your merit as well,
and then you'd be
completely
left out.
Whatever it is that you fear,
that you're always going down to
the water,
don't do it.
Don't let the cold hurt your skin."
[The
Brahman:]
I've been following the miserable path, good lady,
and now you've
brought me
back to the noble.
I give you this robe for water-ablution.
[Punnika:]
Let the robe be yours. I don't need it.
If you're afraid
of pain,
if you dislike pain,
then don't do any evil kamma,
in open,
in secret.
But if you do or will do
any evil kamma,
you'll gain no freedom
from pain,
even if you fly up & hurry away.
If you're afraid of pain,
if
you dislike pain,
go to the Awakened One for refuge,
go to the Dhamma &
Sangha.
Take on the precepts:
That will lead to your liberation.
[Thig
XII]
§ 2.8.
"These seven things -- pleasing to an enemy, bringing
about an enemy's aim -- come to a man or woman who is angry. Which seven?
"There
is the case where an enemy wishes of an enemy, 'O, may this person be ugly!' Why
is that? An enemy is not pleased with an enemy's good looks. Now, when a person
is angry -- overcome with anger, oppressed with anger -- then even though that
he may be well-bathed, well-anointed, dressed in white clothes, his hair &
beard neatly trimmed, he is ugly nevertheless, all because he is overcome with
anger. This is the first thing pleasing to an enemy, bringing about an enemy's
aim, that comes to a man or woman who is angry.
"Furthermore, an enemy
wishes of an enemy, 'O, may this person sleep badly!' Why is that? An enemy is
not pleased with an enemy's restful sleep. Now, when a person is angry -- overcome
with anger, oppressed with anger -- then even though he sleeps on a bed spread
with a white blanket, spread with a woolen coverlet, spread with a flower-embroidered
bedspread, covered with a rug of deerskins, with a canopy overhead, or on a sofa
with red cushions at either end, he sleeps badly nevertheless, all because he
is overcome with anger. This is the second thing pleasing to an enemy, bringing
about an enemy's aim, that comes to a man or woman who is angry.
"Furthermore,
an enemy wishes of an enemy, 'O, may this person not profit!' Why is that? An
enemy is not pleased with an enemy's profits. Now, when a person is angry -- overcome
with anger, oppressed with anger -- then even when he suffers a loss, he thinks,
'I've gained a profit'; and even when he gains a profit, he thinks, 'I've suffered
a loss.' When he has grabbed hold of these ideas that work in mutual opposition
[to the truth], they lead to his long-term suffering & loss, all because he
is overcome with anger. This is the third thing pleasing to an enemy, bringing
about an enemy's aim, that comes to a man or woman who is angry.
"Furthermore,
an enemy wishes of an enemy, 'O, may this person not have any wealth!' Why is
that? An enemy is not pleased with an enemy's wealth. Now, when a person is angry
-- overcome with anger, oppressed with anger -- then whatever his wealth, earned
through his efforts & enterprise, amassed through the strength of his arm,
and piled up through the sweat of his brow -- righteous wealth righteously gained
-- the king orders it sent to the royal treasury [in payment of fines levied for
his behavior] all because he is overcome with anger. This is the fourth thing
pleasing to an enemy, bringing about an enemy's aim, that comes to a man or woman
who is angry.
"Furthermore, an enemy wishes of an enemy, 'O, may this
person not have any reputation!' Why is that? An enemy is not pleased with an
enemy's reputation. Now, when a person is angry -- overcome with anger, oppressed
with anger -- whatever reputation he has gained from being heedful, it falls away,
all because he is overcome with anger. This is the fifth thing pleasing to an
enemy, bringing about an enemy's aim, that comes to a man or woman who is angry.
"Furthermore, an enemy wishes of an enemy, 'O, may this person not have
any friends!' Why is that? An enemy is not pleased with an enemy's having friends.
Now, when a person is angry -- overcome with anger, oppressed with anger -- his
friends, companions, & relatives will avoid him from afar, all because he
is overcome with anger. This is the sixth thing pleasing to an enemy, bringing
about an enemy's aim, that comes to a man or woman who is angry.
"Furthermore,
an enemy wishes of an enemy, 'O, may this person, on the break-up of the body,
after death, reappear in the plane of deprivation, the bad bourn, the lower realms,
in hell!' Why is that? An enemy is not pleased with an enemy's going to heaven.
Now, when a person is angry -- overcome with anger, oppressed with anger -- he
engages in misconduct with the body, misconduct with speech, misconduct with the
mind. Having engaged in misconduct with the body, misconduct with speech, misconduct
with the mind, then -- on the break-up of the body, after death -- he reappears
in the plane of deprivation, the bad bourn, the lower realms, in hell, all because
he was overcome with anger. This is the seventh thing pleasing to an enemy, bringing
about an enemy's aim, that comes to a man or woman who is angry.
"These
are the seven things -- pleasing to an enemy, bringing about an enemy's aim --
that come to a man or woman who is angry."
An angry person is ugly &
sleeps poorly.
Gaining a profit, he turns it into a loss,
having done damage
with word & deed.
A person overwhelmed with anger
destroys his wealth.
Maddened
with anger,
he destroys his status.
Relatives, friends, & colleagues
avoid him.
Anger brings loss.
Anger inflames the mind.
He doesn't realize
that
his danger is born from within.
An angry person doesn't know his own benefit.
An angry person doesn't see the Dhamma.
A man conquered by anger is in a mass
of darkness.
He takes pleasure in bad deeds as if they were good,
but later,
when his anger is gone,
he suffers as if burned with fire.
He is spoiled,
blotted out,
like fire enveloped in smoke.
When anger spreads,
when
a man becomes angry,
he has no shame, no fear of evil,
is not respectful
in speech.
For a person overcome with anger,
nothing gives light.
I'll
list the deeds that bring remorse,
that are far from the teachings.
Listen!
An
angry person kills his father,
kills his mother,
kills Brahmans
&
people run-of-the-mill.
It's because of a mother's devotion
that one sees
the world,
yet an angry run-of-the-mill person
can kill this giver of life.
Like
oneself, all beings hold themselves most dear,
yet an angry person, deranged,
can kill himself in many ways:
with a sword, taking poison,
hanging
himself by a rope in a mountain glen.
Doing these deeds
that kill beings
and do violence to himself,
the angry person doesn't realize that he's ruined.
This snare of Mara, in the form of anger,
dwelling in the cave of the heart:
cut
it out with self-control,
discernment, persistence, right view.
The wise
man would cut out
each & every form of unskillfulness.
Train yourselves:
'May
we not be blotted out.'
Free from anger & untroubled,
free from greed,
without longing,
tamed, your anger abandoned,
free from fermentation,
you will be unbound.
[AN VII.60]
§ 2.9.
I have heard that on one
occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels'
Sanctuary. Then the brahman Akkosaka ("Insulter") Bharadvaja heard that
a brahman of the Bharadvaja clan had gone forth from the home life into homelessness
in the presence of the Blessed One. Angered & displeased, he went to the Blessed
One and, on arrival, insulted & cursed him with rude, harsh words.
When
this was said, the Blessed One said to him: "What do you think, brahman:
Do friends & colleagues, relatives & kinsmen come to you as guests?"
"Yes, Master Gotama, sometimes friends & colleagues, relatives &
kinsmen come to me as guests."
"And what do you think: Do you serve
them with staple & non-staple foods & delicacies?"
"Yes,
sometimes I serve them with staple & non-staple foods & delicacies."
"And if they don't accept them, to whom do those foods belong?"
"If they don't accept them, Master Gotama, those foods are all mine."
"In the same way, brahman, that with which you have insulted me, who
is not insulting; that with which you have taunted me, who is not taunting; that
with which you have berated me, who is not berating: that I don't accept from
you. It's all yours, brahman. It's all yours.
"Whoever returns insult
to one who is insulting, returns taunts to one who is taunting, returns a berating
to one who is berating, is said to be eating together, sharing company, with that
person. But I am neither eating together nor sharing your company, brahman. It's
all yours. It's all yours."
"The king together with his court know
this of Master Gotama -- 'Gotama the contemplative is an arahant' -- and yet still
Master Gotama gets angry."
[The Buddha:]
Whence is there anger
for
one free from anger,
tamed,
living in tune --
one released through
right knowing,
calmed
& Such.
You make things worse
when you
flare up
at someone who's angry.
Whoever doesn't flare up
at someone
who's angry
wins a battle
hard to win.
You live for the good of both
-- your own, the other's --
when, knowing the other's provoked,
you mindfully
grow calm.
When you work the cure of both
-- your own, the other's --
those who think you a fool
know nothing of Dhamma.
When this was said,
the brahman Akkosaka Bharadvaja said to the Blessed One, "Magnificent, Master
Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned,
to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a
lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has
Master Gotama -- through many lines of reasoning -- made the Dhamma clear. I go
to the Blessed One for refuge, to the Dhamma, & to the community of monks.
Let me obtain the going forth in Master Gotama's presence, let me obtain admission."
Then the brahman Akkosaka Bharadvaja received the going forth & the admission
in the Blessed One's presence. And not long after his admission -- dwelling alone,
secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute -- he in no long time reached &
remained in the supreme goal of the holy life, for which clansmen rightly go forth
from home into homelessness, knowing & realizing it for himself in the here
& now. He knew: "Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done.
There is nothing further for the sake of this world." And so Ven. Bharadvaja
became another one of the Arahants.
[SN VII.2]
§ 2.10.
"Once,
monks, in this same Savatthi, there was a lady of a household named Vedehika.
This good report about Lady Vedehika had circulated: 'Lady Vedehika is gentle.
Lady Vedehika is even-tempered. Lady Vedehika is calm.' Now, Lady Vedehika had
a slave named Kali who was diligent, deft, & neat in her work. The thought
occurred to Kali the slave: 'This good report about my Lady Vedehika has circulated:
"Lady Vedehika is even-tempered. Lady Vedehika is gentle. Lady Vedehika is
calm." Now, is anger present in my lady without showing, or is it absent?
Or is it just because I'm diligent, deft, & neat in my work that the anger
present in my lady doesn't show? Why don't I test her?'
"So Kali the
slave got up after daybreak. Then Lady Vedehika said to her: 'Hey, Kali!'
"'Yes,
madam?'
"'Why did you get up after daybreak?'
"'No reason, madam.'
"'No reason, you wicked slave, and yet you get up after daybreak?' Angered
& displeased, she scowled.
Then the thought occurred to Kali the slave:
'Anger is present in my lady without showing, and not absent. And it's just because
I'm diligent, deft, & neat in my work that the anger present in my lady doesn't
show. Why don't I test her some more?'
"So Kali the slave got up later
in the day. Then Lady Vedehika said to her: 'Hey, Kali!'
"'Yes, madam?'
"'Why did you get up later in the day?'
"'No reason, madam.'
"'No reason, you wicked slave, and yet you get up later in the day?'
Angered & displeased, she grumbled.
Then the thought occurred to Kali
the slave: 'Anger is present in my lady without showing, and not absent. And it's
just because I'm diligent, deft, & neat in my work that the anger present
in my lady doesn't show. Why don't I test her some more?'
"So Kali the
slave got up even later in the day. Then Lady Vedehika said to her: 'Hey, Kali!'
"'Yes, madam?'
"'Why did you get up even later in the day?'
"'No reason, madam.'
"'No reason, you wicked slave, and yet
you get up even later in the day?' Angered & displeased, she grabbed hold
of a rolling pin and gave her a whack over the head, cutting it open.
Then
Kali the slave, with blood streaming from her cut-open head, went and denounced
her mistress to the neighbors: 'See, ladies, the gentle one's handiwork? See the
even-tempered one's handiwork? See the calm one's handiwork? How could she, angered
& displeased with her only slave for getting up after daybreak, grab hold
of a rolling pin and give her a whack over the head, cutting it open?'
"After
that this evil report about Lady Vedehika circulated: 'Lady Vedehika is vicious.
Lady Vedehika is foul-tempered. Lady Vedehika is violent.'
"In the same
way, monks, a monk may be ever so gentle, ever so even-tempered, ever so calm,
as long as he is not touched by disagreeable aspects of speech. But it is only
when disagreeable aspects of speech touch him that he can truly be known as gentle,
even-tempered, & calm. I don't call a monk easy to admonish if he is easy
to admonish and makes himself easy to admonish only by reason of robes, almsfood,
lodging, & medicinal requisites for curing the sick. Why is that? Because
if he doesn't get robes, almsfood, lodging, & medicinal requisites for curing
the sick, then he isn't easy to admonish and doesn't make himself easy to admonish.
But if a monk is easy to admonish and makes himself easy to admonish purely out
of esteem for the Dhamma, respect for the Dhamma, reverence for the Dhamma, then
I call him easy to admonish. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves: 'We will
be easy to admonish and make ourselves easy to admonish purely out of esteem for
the Dhamma, respect for the Dhamma, reverence for the Dhamma.' That's how you
should train yourselves.
"Monks, there are these five aspects of speech
by which others may address you: timely or untimely, true or false, affectionate
or harsh, beneficial or unbeneficial, with a mind of good-will or with inner hate.
Others may address you in a timely way or an untimely way. They may address you
with what is true or what is false. They may address you in an affectionate way
or a harsh way. They may address you in a beneficial way or an unbeneficial way.
They may address you with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. In any event,
you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no
evil words. We will remain sympathetic to that person's welfare, with a mind of
good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading him with an awareness
imbued with good will and, beginning with him, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing
world with an awareness imbued with good will -- abundant, expansive, immeasurable,
free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should train yourselves.
"Suppose that a man were to come along carrying a hoe & a basket,
saying, 'I will make this great earth be without earth.' He would dig here &
there, scatter soil here & there, spit here & there, urinate here &
there, saying, 'Be without earth. Be without earth.' Now, what do you think --
would he make this great earth be without earth?"
"No, lord. Why
is that? Because this great earth is deep & enormous. It can't easily be made
to be without earth. The man would reap only a share of weariness & disappointment."
"In the same way, monks, there are these five aspects of speech by which
others may address you: timely or untimely, true or false, affectionate or harsh,
beneficial or unbeneficial, with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. Others
may address you in a timely way or an untimely way. They may address you with
what is true or what is false. They may address you in an affectionate way or
a harsh way. They may address you in a beneficial way or an unbeneficial way.
They may address you with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. In any event,
you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no
evil words. We will remain sympathetic to that person's welfare, with a mind of
good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading him with an awareness
imbued with good will and, beginning with him, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing
world with an awareness imbued with good will equal to the great earth -- abundant,
expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how
you should train yourselves.
"Suppose that a man were to come along carrying
lac, yellow orpiment, indigo, or crimson, saying, 'I will draw pictures in space,
I will make pictures appear.' Now, what do you think -- would he draw pictures
in space & make pictures appear?"
"No, lord. Why is that? Because
space is formless & featureless. It's not easy to draw pictures there and
to make them appear. The man would reap only a share of weariness & disappointment."
"In the same way, monks, there are these five aspects of speech by which
others may address you: timely or untimely, true or false, affectionate or harsh,
beneficial or unbeneficial, with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. Others
may address you in a timely way or an untimely way. They may address you with
what is true or what is false. They may address you in an affectionate way or
a harsh way. They may address you in a beneficial way or an unbeneficial way.
They may address you with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. In any event,
you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no
evil words. We will remain sympathetic to that person's welfare, with a mind of
good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading him with an awareness
imbued with good will and, beginning with him, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing
world with an awareness imbued with good will equal to space -- abundant, expansive,
immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should
train yourselves.
"Suppose that a man were to come along carrying a burning
grass torch and saying, 'With this burning grass torch I will heat up the river
Ganges and make it boil.' Now, what do you think -- would he, with that burning
grass torch, heat up the river Ganges and make it boil?"
"No, lord.
Why is that? Because the river Ganges is deep & enormous. It's not easy to
heat it up and make it boil with a burning grass torch. The man would reap only
a share of weariness & disappointment."
"In the same way, monks,
there are these five aspects of speech by which others may address you: timely
or untimely, true or false, affectionate or harsh, beneficial or unbeneficial,
with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. Others may address you in a timely
way or an untimely way. They may address you with what is true or what is false.
They may address you in an affectionate way or a harsh way. They may address you
in a beneficial way or an unbeneficial way. They may address you with a mind of
good-will or with inner hate. In any event, you should train yourselves: 'Our
minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic
to that person's welfare, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We
will keep pervading him with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning
with him, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness
imbued with good will equal to the river Ganges -- abundant, expansive, immeasurable,
free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should train yourselves.
"Suppose there were a catskin bag -- beaten, well-beaten, beaten through
& through, soft, silky, free of rustling & crackling -- and a man were
to come along carrying a stick or shard and saying, 'With this stick or shard
I will take this catskin bag -- beaten, well-beaten, beaten through & through,
soft, silky, free of rustling & crackling -- and I will make it rustle &
crackle.' Now, what do you think -- would he, with that stick or shard, take that
catskin bag -- beaten, well-beaten, beaten through & through, soft, silky,
free of rustling & crackling -- and make it rustle & crackle?"
"No,
lord. Why is that? Because the catskin bag is beaten, well-beaten, beaten through
& through, soft, silky, free of rustling & crackling. It's not easy to
make it rustle & crackle with a stick or shard. The man would reap only a
share of weariness & disappointment."
"In the same way, monks,
there are these five aspects of speech by which others may address you: timely
or untimely, true or false, affectionate or harsh, beneficial or unbeneficial,
with a mind of good-will or with inner hate. Others may address you in a timely
way or an untimely way. They may address you with what is true or what is false.
They may address you in an affectionate way or a harsh way. They may address you
in a beneficial way or an unbeneficial way. They may address you with a mind of
good-will or with inner hate. In any event, you should train yourselves: 'Our
minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic
to that person's welfare, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We
will keep pervading him with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning
with him, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness
imbued with good will equal to a catskin bag -- abundant, expansive, immeasurable,
free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should train yourselves.
"Monks, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely, limb by limb,
with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that
would not be doing my bidding. Even then you should train yourselves: 'Our minds
will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic,
with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading these
people with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning with them, we will
keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will
-- abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.'
That's how you should train yourselves.
"Monks, if you attend constantly
to this admonition on the simile of the saw, do you see any aspects of speech,
slight or gross, that you could not endure?"
"No, lord."
"Then
attend constantly to this admonition on the simile of the saw. That will be for
your long-term welfare & happiness."
That is what the Blessed One
said. Gratified, the monks delighted in the Blessed One's words.
[MN 21]
§
2.11.
On one occasion a large number of senior monks were living near Macchikasanda
in the Wild Mango Grove. Then Citta the householder [1] went to them and, on arrival,
having bowed down to them, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to
them: "Venerable sirs, may the senior monks acquiesce to tomorrow's meal
from me."
The senior monks acquiesced by silence. Then Citta the householder,
sensing the senior monks' acquiescence, got up from his seat and, having bowed
down to them, circumambulated them -- keeping them to his right -- and left.
When
the night had passed, the senior monks put on their robes in the early morning
and -- taking their bowls & outer robes -- went to Citta's residence. There
they sat down on the appointed seats. Citta the householder went to them and,
having bowed down to them, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to
the most senior monk:
"Venerable sir, concerning the various views that
arise in the world -- 'The cosmos is eternal' or 'The cosmos isn't eternal'; 'The
cosmos is finite' or 'The cosmos is infinite'; 'The soul and the body are the
same' or 'The soul is one thing, the body another'; 'A Tathagata exists after
death' or 'A Tathagata doesn't exist after death' or 'A Tathagata both exists
& doesn't exist after death' or 'A Tathagata neither exists nor doesn't exist
after death'; these along with the sixty-two views mentioned in the Brahmajala
[DN 1] -- when what is present do these views come into being, and when what is
absent do they not come into being?"
When this was said, the senior monk
was silent. A second time... A third time Citta the householder asked, "Concerning
the various views that arise in the world... when what is present do they come
into being, and what is absent do they not come into being?" A third time
the senior monk was silent.
Now on that occasion Ven. Isidatta was the most
junior of all the monks in that Community. Then he said to the senior monk: "Allow
me, venerable sir, to answer Citta the householder's question."
"Go
ahead & answer it, friend Isidatta."
"Now, householder, are
you asking this: 'Concerning the various views that arise in the world... when
what is present do they come into being, and what is absent do they not come into
being?'?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Concerning the various
views that arise in the world, householder... when self-identity view is present,
these views come into being; when self-identity view is absent, they don't come
into being."
"But, venerable sir, how does self-identity view come
into being?"
"There is the case, householder, where an uninstructed,
run-of-the-mill person -- who has no regard for noble ones, is not well-versed
or disciplined in their Dhamma; who has no regard for men of integrity, is not
well-versed or disciplined in their Dhamma -- assumes form (the body) to be the
self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in the self, or the self as in
form. He assumes feeling to be the self, or the self as possessing feeling, or
feeling as in the self, or the self as in feeling. He assumes apperception to
be the self, or the self as possessing apperception, or apperception as in the
self, or the self as in apperception. He assumes (mental) fabrications to be the
self, or the self as possessing fabrications, or fabrications as in the self,
or the self as in fabrications. He assumes consciousness to be the self, or the
self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self
as in consciousness. This is how self-identity view comes into being."
"And,
venerable sir, how does self-identity view not come into being?"
"There
is the case, householder, where a well-instructed noble disciple -- who has regard
for noble ones, is well-versed & disciplined in their Dhamma; who has regard
for men of integrity, is well-versed & disciplined in their Dhamma -- does
not assume form to be the self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in
the self, or the self as in form. He does not assume feeling to be the self...
He does not assume apperception to be the self... He does not assume fabrications
to be the self... He does not assume consciousness to be the self, or the self
as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self as in
consciousness. This is how self-identity view does not come into being."
"Venerable sir, where does Master Isidatta come from?"
"I
come from Avanti, householder."
"There is, venerable sir, a clansman
from Avanti named Isidatta, an unseen friend of mine, who has gone forth. Have
you ever seen him?"
"Yes, householder."
"Where is
he living now, venerable sir?"
When this was said, the Venerable Isidatta
was silent.
"Are you my Isidatta?"
"Yes, householder."
"Then may Master Isidatta delight in the charming Wild Mango Grove at
Macchikasanda. I will be responsible for your robes, almsfood, lodgings, &
medicinal requisites."
"That is admirably said, householder."
Then Citta the householder -- having delighted & rejoiced in the Venerable
Isidatta's words -- with his own hand served & satisfied the senior monks
with choice staple & non-staple foods. When the senior monks had finished
eating and had removed their hands from their bowls, they got up from their seats
and left.
Then the most senior monk said to the Venerable Isidatta: "It
was excellent, friend Isidatta, the way that question inspired you to answer.
It didn't inspire an answer in me at all. Whenever a similar question comes up
again, may it inspire you to answer as you did just now."
Then Ven. Isidatta
-- having set his lodging in order and taking his bowl & robes -- left Macchikasanda.
And in leaving Macchikasanda, he was gone for good and never returned.
[SN
XLI.3]
Note:
1. Citta the householder was a lay non-returner who had a
fondness for posing difficult questions to monks. [Go back]
§
2.12.
When dwelling on views
as "supreme,"
a person makes
them
the utmost thing
in the world,
&, from that, calls
all
others inferior
and so he's not free
from disputes.
When he sees his
advantage
in what's seen, heard, sensed,
or in precepts & practices,
seizing
it there
he sees all else
as inferior.
That, too, say the skilled,
is
a binding knot: that
in dependence on which
you regard another
as inferior.
So
a monk shouldn't be dependent
on what's seen, heard, or sensed,
or on
precepts & practices;
nor should he conjure a view in the world
in
connection with knowledge
or precepts & practices;
shouldn't take himself
to be "equal";
shouldn't think himself
inferior or superlative.
[Sn IV.5]
§ 2.13.
Whoever construes
'equal,'
'superior,'
or
'inferior,'
by that he'd dispute;
whereas to one unaffected
by
these three,
'equal,'
'superior,'
do not occur.
Of what would
the brahman say 'true'
or 'false,'
disputing with whom:
he in whom 'equal,'
'unequal' are not.
Having abandoned home,
living free from society,
the sage
in villages
creates no intimacies.
Rid of sensual passions,
free
from yearning,
he wouldn't engage with people
in quarrelsome debate.
Those things
aloof from which
he should go about in the world:
the
great one
wouldn't take them up
& argue for them.
As the prickly
lotus
is unsmeared by water & mud,
so the sage,
an exponent of peace,
without greed,
is unsmeared by sensuality &
the world.
An attainer-of-wisdom
isn't measured
made proud
by views or
by what is thought,
for
he isn't affected by them.
He wouldn't be led
by action, learning;
doesn't
reach a conclusion
in any entrenchments.
For one dispassionate toward
perception
there are no ties;
for one released by discernment,
no
delusions.
Those who grasp at perceptions & views
go about butting their
heads
in the world.
[Sn IV.9]
§ 2.14.
Ven. Sariputta said,
"Friends, just now as I was withdrawn in seclusion, this train of thought
arose to my awareness: 'Is there anything in the world with whose change or alteration
there would arise within me sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair?'
Then the thought occurred to me: 'There is nothing in the world with whose change
or alteration there would arise within me sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress,
& despair.'"
When this was said, Ven. Ananda said to Ven. Sariputta,
"Sariputta my friend, even if there were change & alteration in the Teacher
would there arise within you no sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, or despair?"
"Even if there were change & alteration in the Teacher, my friend,
there would arise within me no sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, or despair.
Still, I would have this thought: 'What a great being, of great might, of great
prowess, has disappeared! For if the Blessed One were to remain for a long time,
that would be for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people,
out of sympathy for the world; for the welfare, benefit, & happiness of human
& divine beings.'"
"Surely," [said Ven. Ananda,] "it's
because Ven. Sariputta's I-making & mine-making and obsessions with conceit
have long been well uprooted that even if there were change & alteration in
the Teacher, there would arise within him no sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress,
or despair."
[SN XXI.2]
§ 2.15.
Then Ven. Anuruddha went to
where Ven. Sariputta was staying and, on arrival, greeted him courteously. After
an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he
was sitting there, he said to Ven. Sariputta: By means of the divine eye, purified
& surpassing the human, I see the thousand-fold cosmos. My persistence is
aroused & unsluggish. My mindfulness is established & unshaken. My body
is calm & unaroused. My mind is concentrated into singleness. And yet my mind
is not released from the effluents through lack of clinging/sustenance.
Sariputta:
My friend, when the thought occurs to you, 'By means of the divine eye, purified
& surpassing the human, I see the thousand-fold cosmos,' that is related to
your conceit. When the thought occurs to you, 'My persistence is aroused &
unsluggish. My mindfulness is established & unshaken. My body is calm &
unperturbed. My mind is concentrated into singleness,' that is related to your
restlessness. When the thought occurs to you, 'And yet my mind is not released
from the effluents through lack of clinging/sustenance,' that is related to your
anxiety. It would be well if -- abandoning these three qualities, not attending
to these three qualities -- you directed your mind to the Deathless property.'
So after that, Ven. Anuruddha -- abandoning those three qualities, not attending
to those three qualities -- directed his mind to the Deathless property. Dwelling
alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute, he in no long time reached &
remained in the supreme goal of the holy life for which clansmen rightly go forth
from home into homelessness, knowing & realizing it for himself in the here
& now. He knew: 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There
is nothing further for the sake of this world.' And thus Ven. Anuruddha became
another one of the Arahants.
[AN III.128]
§ 2.16.
"And what
is ignorance? Not knowing stress, not knowing the origination of stress, not knowing
the cessation of stress, not knowing the way of practice leading to the cessation
of stress: This is called ignorance."
[SN XII.2]
§ 2.17.
"Just
as if there were a pool of water in a mountain glen -- clear, limpid, and unsullied
-- where a man with good eyesight standing on the bank could see shells, gravel,
and pebbles, and also shoals of fish swimming about and resting, and it would
occur to him, 'This pool of water is clear, limpid, and unsullied. Here are these
shells, gravel, and pebbles, and also these shoals of fish swimming about and
resting.' In the same way -- with his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright,
unblemished, free from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability
-- the monk directs and inclines it to the knowledge of the ending of the mental
fermentations. He discerns, as it is actually present, that 'This is stress...
This is the origination of stress... This is the cessation of stress... This is
the way leading to the cessation of stress... These are mental fermentations...
This is the origination of fermentations... This is the cessation of fermentations...
This is the way leading to the cessation of fermentations.' His heart, thus knowing,
thus seeing, is released from the fermentation of sensuality, the fermentation
of becoming, the fermentation of ignorance. With release, there is the knowledge,
'Released.' He discerns that 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task
done. There is nothing further for this world.' This, too, great king, is a fruit
of the contemplative life, visible here and now, more excellent than the previous
ones and more sublime. And as for another visible fruit of the contemplative life,
higher and more sublime than this, there is none."
[DN 2]
Shedding
§ 3.1.
Jenta:
I was
drunk with the intoxication
of my birth,
wealth, & sovereignty.
Drunk with the intoxication
of my body's build,
coloring, & form,
I wandered about,
regarding no one
as my equal
or better,
foolish, arrogant, haughty,
my banner held high.
I -- disrespectful,
arrogant, proud --
bowed down to no one,
not even mother,
father,
or
those commonly held
in respect.
Then -- seeing the ultimate leader,
supreme,
foremost of charioteers,
like a blazing sun,
arrayed with a squadron of
monks --
casting away pride & intoxication
through an awareness serene
& clear,
I bowed down
my
head
to him, supreme
among all
living beings.
Haughtiness & contempt
have been abandoned
-- rooted
out --
the conceit "I am" is extracted,
all forms of pride, destroyed.
[Thag VI.9]
§ 3.2.
Sister Vimala:
Intoxicated with my complexion
figure,
beauty, & fame;
haughty with youth,
I despised other women.
Adorning
this body
embellished to delude foolish men,
I stood at the door to the
brothel:
a hunter with snare laid out.
I showed off my ornaments,
and
revealed many a private part.
I worked my manifold magic,
laughing out loud
at the crowd.
Today, wrapped in a double cloak,
my head shaven,
having
wandered for alms,
I sit at the foot of a tree
and attain the state of no-thought.
All
ties -- human & divine -- have been cut.
Having cast off all effluents,
cooled
am I, unbound.
[Thig V.2]
§ 3.3.
Once, monks, in Varanasi, Brahmadatta
was the king of Kasi -- rich, prosperous, with many possessions, many troops,
many vehicles, many territories, with fully-stocked armories & granaries.
Dighiti was the king of Kosala -- poor, not very prosperous, with few possessions,
few troops, few vehicles, few territories, with poorly-stocked armories &
granaries. So Brahmadatta the king of Kasi, raising a fourfold army, marched against
Dighiti the king of Kosala. Dighiti the king of Kosala heard, "Brahmadatta
the king of Kasi, they say, has raised a fourfold army and is marching against
me." Then the thought occurred to him, "King Brahmadatta is rich, prosperous...
with fully-stocked armories & granaries, whereas I am poor... with poorly-stocked
armories & granaries. I am not competent to stand against even one attack
by him. Why don't I slip out of the city beforehand?" So, taking his chief
consort, he slipped out of the city beforehand. Then King Brahmadatta, conquering
the troops, vehicles, lands, armories, & granaries of King Dighiti, lived
in lordship over them.
Meanwhile, King Dighiti had set out for Varanasi together
with his consort and, traveling by stages, arrived there. There he lived with
her on the outskirts of Varanasi in a potter's house, disguised as a wanderer.
Not long afterwards, she became pregnant. She had a pregnancy wish of this sort:
she wanted to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade ground
at dawn, and to drink the water used for washing the swords. She said to King
Dighiti, "Your majesty, I am pregnant, and I have a pregnancy wish of this
sort: I want to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade
ground at dawn, and to drink the water used for washing the swords." He said,
"My queen, where is there for us -- fallen on hard times -- a fourfold army,
armed & arrayed, standing on a parade ground, and water used for washing the
swords?"
"If I don't get this, your majesty, I will die."
Now
at that time the brahman adviser to King Brahmadatta was a friend of King Dighiti.
So King Dighiti went to him and, on arrival, said, "A lady friend of yours,
old friend, is pregnant, and she has a pregnancy wish of this sort: she wants
to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade ground at dawn,
and to drink the water used for washing the swords."
"In that case,
let me see her."
So King Dighiti's consort went to King Brahmadatta's
brahman adviser. When he saw her coming from afar, he rose from his seat, arranged
his robe over one shoulder and, with his hands raised in salutation to her, exclaimed
three times, "Surely the king of Kosala has come to your womb! Surely the
king of Kosala has come to your womb! Don't be worried, my queen. You will get
to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade ground at dawn,
and to drink the water used for washing the swords."
Then he went to
King Brahmadatta and, on arrival, said to him, "Your majesty, signs have
appeared such that tomorrow at dawn a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, should
stand on a parade ground and that the swords should be washed."
So King
Brahmadatta ordered his people, "I say, then: Do as the brahman adviser says."
Thus King Dighiti's chief consort got to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed,
standing on a parade ground at dawn, and got to drink the water used for washing
the swords. Then, with the maturing of the fetus, she gave birth to a son, whom
they named Dighavu (LongLife). Not long afterwards, Prince Dighavu reached the
age of discretion. The thought occurred to King Dighiti, "This King Brahmadatta
of Kasi has done us great harm. He has seized our troops, vehicles, lands, armories,
& granaries. If he finds out about us, he will have all three of us killed.
Why don't I send Prince Dighavu to live outside of the city?" So Prince Dighavu,
having gone to live outside of the city, learned all the crafts.
Now at that
time King Dighiti's barber had gone over to King Brahmadatta. He saw King Dighiti,
together with his consort, living on the outskirts of Varanasi in a potter's house,
disguised as a wanderer. On seeing them, he went to King Brahmadatta and, on arrival,
said to him, "Your majesty, King Dighiti of Kosala, together with his consort,
is living on the outskirts of Varanasi in a potter's house, disguised as a wanderer."
So King Brahmadatta ordered his people, "I say, then: go fetch King Dighiti
together with his consort."
Responding, "As you say, your majesty,"
they went and fetched King Dighiti together with his consort.
Then King Brahmadatta
ordered his people, "I say, then: having bound King Dighiti & his consort
with a stout rope with their arms pinned tightly against their backs, and having
shaved them bald, march them to a harsh-sounding drum from street to street, crossroads
to crossroads, evict them out the south gate of the city and there, to the south
of the city, cut them into four pieces and bury them in holes placed in the four
directions."
Responding, "As you say, your majesty," the king's
people bound King Dighiti & his consort with a stout rope, pinning their arms
tightly against their backs, shaved them bald, and marched them to a harsh-sounding
drum from street to street, crossroads to crossroads.
Then the thought occurred
to Prince Dighavu, "It's been a long time since I saw my mother & father.
What if I were to go see them?" So he entered Varanasi and saw his mother
& father bound with a stout rope, their arms pinned tightly against their
backs, their heads shaven bald, being marched to a harsh-sounding drum from street
to street, crossroads to crossroads. So he went to them. King Dighiti saw Prince
Dighavu coming from afar, and on seeing him, said, "Don't, my dear Dighavu,
be far-sighted. Don't be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through vengeance.
Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance."
When this was said, the
people said to him, "This King Dighiti has gone crazy. He's talking nonsense.
Who is Dighavu? Why is he saying, 'Don't, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted. Don't
be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is
settled through non-vengeance'?"
"I'm not crazy or talking nonsense.
He who knows will understand." Then a second time... a third time he said,
"Don't, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted. Don't be near-sighted. For vengeance
is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance."
A third time, the people said to him, "This King Dighiti has gone crazy.
He's talking nonsense. Who is Dighavu? Why is he saying, 'Don't, my dear Dighavu,
be far-sighted. Don't be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through vengeance.
Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance'?"
"I'm not crazy or
talking nonsense. He who knows will understand."
Then the king's people,
having marched King Dighiti together with his chief consort to a harsh-sounding
drum from street to street, crossroads to crossroads, evicted them out the south
gate of the city and there, to the south of the city, cut them into four pieces,
buried them in holes placed in the four directions, stationed guards, and left.
Then Prince Dighavu, having entered Varanasi, brought out some liquor and
got the guards to drink it. When they had fallen down drunk, he collected sticks,
made a pyre, raised the bodies of his mother & father onto the pyre, set fire
to it, and then circumambulated it three times with his hands raised in salutation.
Now at that time, King Brahmadatta had gone up to the terrace on top of his
palace. He saw Prince Dighavu circumambulating the pyre three times with his hands
raised in salutation, and on seeing him, the thought occurred to him, "Doubtlessly
this person is a relative or blood-kinsman of King Dighiti. Ah, how unfortunate
for me, for there is no one who will tell me what this means!"
Then Prince
Dighavu, having gone into the wilderness and having cried & wept as much as
he needed to, dried his tears and entered Varanasi. Going to an elephant stable
next to the king's palace, he said to the chief elephant trainer, "Teacher,
I want to learn this craft."
"In that case, young man, you may learn
it."
Then, rising in the last watch of the night, Prince Dighavu sang
in a sweet voice and played the lute in the elephant stable. King Brahmadatta,
also rising in the last watch of the night, heard the sweet-voiced singing &
lute-playing in the elephant stable. On hearing it, he asked his people, "I
say: Who was that, rising in the last watch of the night, singing in a sweet voice
and playing a lute in the elephant stable?"
"Your majesty, a young
man -- the student of such-and-such an elephant trainer, rising in the last watch
of the night, was singing in a sweet voice and playing a lute in the elephant
stable."
"I say, then: go fetch that young man."
Responding,
"As you say, your majesty," they went and fetched Prince Dighavu.
Then
King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu, "I say: Was that you rising in the
last watch of the night, singing in a sweet voice and playing a lute in the elephant
stable?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"I say then, my young
man: sing and play the lute."
Responding, "As you say, your majesty,"
and seeking to win favor, Prince Dighavu sang with a sweet voice and played the
lute.
Then King Brahmadatta said to him, "I say: You, my young man, are
to stay and attend to me."
"As you say, your majesty," Prince
Dighavu replied. Then he rose in the morning before King Brahmadatta, went to
bed in the evening after him, did whatever the king ordered, always acting to
please him, speaking politely to him. And it was not long before King Brahmadatta
placed the prince close to him in a position of trust.
Then one day King Brahmadatta
said to Prince Dighavu, "I say then, my young man: harness the chariot. I'm
going hunting."
Responding, "As you say, your majesty," Prince
Dighavu harnessed the chariot and then said to King Brahmadatta, "Your chariot
is harnessed, your majesty. Now is the time for you to do as you see fit."
Then King Brahmadatta mounted the chariot, and Prince Dighavu drove it. He
drove it in such a way that the king's entourage went one way, and the chariot
another. Then, after they had gone far, King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu,
"I say then, my young man: unharness the chariot. I'm tired. I'm going to
lie down."
Responding, "As you say, your majesty," Prince Dighavu
unharnessed the chariot and sat down cross-legged on the ground. Then King Brahmadatta
lay down, placing his head on Prince Dighavu's lap. As he was tired, he went to
sleep right away. Then the thought occurred to Prince Dighavu: "This King
Brahmadatta of Kasi has done us great harm. He has seized our troops, vehicles,
lands, armories, & granaries. And it was because of him that my mother &
father were killed. Now is my chance to wreak vengeance!" He drew his sword
from his scabbard. But then he thought, "My father told me, as he was about
to die, 'Don't, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted. Don't be near-sighted. For vengeance
is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance.'
It would not be proper for me to transgress my father's words." So he put
his sword back in its scabbard. A second time... A third time the thought occurred
to Prince Dighavu: "This King Brahmadatta of Kasi has done us great harm.
He has seized our troops, vehicles, lands, armories, & granaries. And it was
because of him that my mother & father were killed. Now is my chance to wreak
vengeance!" He drew his sword from his scabbard. But then he thought, "My
father told me, as he was about to die, 'Don't, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted.
Don't be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance
is settled through non-vengeance.' It would not be proper for me to transgress
my father's words." So once again he put his sword back in its scabbard.
Then King Brahmadatta suddenly got up -- frightened, agitated, unnerved, alarmed.
Prince Dighavu said to him, "Your majesty, why have you gotten up suddenly
-- frightened, agitated, unnerved, & alarmed?"
"I say, my young
man: Just now as I was dreaming, Prince Dighavu -- son of Dighiti, king of Kasi
-- struck me down with a sword." Then Prince Dighavu, grabbing King Brahmadatta
by the head with his left hand, and drawing his sword from its scabbard with his
right, said, "I, your majesty, am that very Prince Dighavu, son of Dighiti,
king of Kasi. You have done us great harm. You have seized our troops, vehicles,
lands, armories, & granaries. And it was because of you that my mother &
father were killed. Now is my chance to wreak vengeance!"
So King Brahmadatta,
dropping his head down to Prince Dighavu's feet, said, "Grant me my life,
my dear Dighavu! Grant me my life, my dear Dighavu!"
"Who am I that
I would dare grant life to your majesty? It is your majesty who should grant life
to me!"
"In that case, my dear Dighavu, you grant me my life and
I grant you your life."
Then King Brahmadatta and Prince Dighavu granted
one another their lives and, taking one another by the hands, swore an oath to
do one another no harm.
Then King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu, "In
that case, my dear Dighavu, harness the chariot. We will go on."
Responding,
"As you say, your majesty," Prince Dighavu harnessed the chariot and
then said to King Brahmadatta, "Your chariot is harnessed, your majesty.
Now is the time for you to do as you see fit."
Then King Brahmadatta
mounted the chariot, and Prince Dighavu drove it. He drove it in such a way that
it was not long before they met up with the king's entourage.
Then King Brahmadatta,
having entered Varanasi, had his ministers & councilors convened and said
to them, "I say, then. If you were to see Prince Dighavu, the son of Dighiti,
the king of Kasi, what would you do to him?"
Different ministers said,
"We would cut of his hands, your majesty" -- "We would cut off
his feet, your majesty" -- "We would cut off his hands & feet, your
majesty" -- "We would cut off his ears, your majesty" -- "We
would cut off his nose, your majesty" -- "We would cut off his ears
& nose, your majesty" -- "We would cut off his head, your majesty."
Then the king said, "This, I say, is Prince Dighavu, the son of Dighiti,
the king of Kasi. You are not allowed to do anything to him. It was by him that
my life was granted to me, and it was by me that his life was granted to him."
Then King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu, "What your father said
to you as he was about to die -- 'Don't, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted. Don't
be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is
settled through non-vengeance' -- in reference to what did he say that?"
"What my father said to me as he was about to die -- 'Don't be far-sighted'
-- 'Don't bear vengeance for a long time' is what he was saying to me as he was
about to die. And what he said to me as he was about to die -- 'Don't be near-sighted'
-- 'Don't be quick to break with a friend' is what he was saying to me as he was
about to die. And what he said to me as he was about to die -- 'For vengeance
is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance'
-- My mother & father were killed by your majesty. If I were to deprive your
majesty of life, those who hope for your majesty's well-being would deprive me
of life. And those who hope for my well-being would deprive them of life. And
in that way vengeance would not be settled by vengeance. But now I have been granted
my life by your majesty, and your majesty has been granted your life by me. And
in this way vengeance has been settled by non-vengeance. That is what my father
was saying to me as he was about to die."
Then King Brahmadatta said,
"Isn't it amazing! Isn't it astounding! How wise this Prince Dighavu is,
in that he can understand in full the meaning of what his father said in brief!"
So he returned his father's troops, vehicles, lands, armories, & granaries,
and gave him his daughter in marriage.
Such, monks, is the forbearance &
gentleness of kings who wield the scepter, who wield the sword. So now let your
light shine forth, so that you -- who have gone forth in such a well-taught Dhamma
& Discipline -- will be their equal in forbearance & gentleness.
[Mv
X.2.3-20]
4. Modesty
§
4.1.
"'This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who is self-aggrandizing.'
Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where
a monk, being modest, does not want it to be known that 'He is modest.' Being
content, he does not want it to be known that 'He is content.' Being reclusive,
he does not want it to be known that 'He is reclusive.' His persistence being
aroused, he does not want it to be known that 'His persistence is aroused.' His
mindfulness being established, he does not want it to be known that 'His mindfulness
is established.' His mind being centered, he does not want it to be known that
'His mind is centered.' Being endowed with discernment, he does not want it to
be known that 'He is endowed with discernment.' Enjoying non-complication, he
does not want it to be known that 'He is enjoying non-complication.' 'This Dhamma
is for one who is modest, not for one who is self-aggrandizing.' Thus was it said.
And with reference to this was it said."
[AN VIII.30]
§ 4.2.
Sumana:
When I was seven
& newly gone forth,
having conquered with my power
the
great powerful serpent,
I was fetching water for my preceptor
from the great
lake, Anotatta,[1]
when the Teacher saw me & said:
"Look, Sariputta,
at that one,
the young boy coming there,
carrying a pot of water,
well-centered
within,
his practices -- inspiring;
his bearing -- admirable.
He's Anuruddha's
novice,
mature in his powers,
made thoroughbred by a thoroughbred,
good
by one who is good,
tamed by Anuruddha,
trained by one whose task
is
done.
He, having reached the highest peace
& realized the unshakable,
Sumana
the novice
wants this:
'Don't let anyone know me.'"
[Thag VI.10]
Note:
1. Anotatta: A fabulous lake located in the Himalayas, famed for the purity
of its cool waters. Sumana would have had to use his psychic powers to fetch water
from there. [Go back]
5. Contentment
§ 5.1.
"'This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who
is discontent.' Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is
the case where a monk is content with any old robe cloth at all, any old almsfood,
any old lodging, any old medicinal requisites for curing sickness at all. 'This
Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent.' Thus was it
said. And with reference to this was it said.
[AN VIII.30]
§ 5.2.
"And
how is a monk content? Just as a bird, wherever it goes, flies with its wings
as its only burden; so too is he content with a set of robes to provide for his
body and alms food to provide for his hunger. Wherever he goes, he takes only
his barest necessities along. This is how a monk is content.
[DN 2]
§
5.3.
"There is the case where a monk is content with any old robe cloth
at all. He speaks in praise of being content with any old robe cloth at all. He
does not, for the sake of robe cloth, do anything unseemly or inappropriate. Not
getting cloth, he is not agitated. Getting cloth, he uses it unattached to it,
uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing the drawbacks (of attachment to it), and discerning
the escape from them. He does not, on account of his contentment with any old
robe cloth at all, exalt himself or disparage others. In this he is diligent,
deft, alert, & mindful. This is said to be a monk standing firm in the ancient,
original traditions of the noble ones.
"Furthermore, the monk is content
with any old almsfood at all. He speaks in praise of being content with any old
almsfood at all. He does not, for the sake of almsfood, do anything unseemly or
inappropriate. Not getting almsfood, he is not agitated. Getting almsfood, he
uses it unattached to it, uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing the drawbacks (of attachment
to it), and discerning the escape from them. He does not, on account of his contentment
with any old almsfood at all, exalt himself or disparage others. In this he is
diligent, deft, alert, & mindful. This is said to be a monk standing firm
in the ancient, original traditions of the noble ones.
"Furthermore,
the monk is content with any old lodging at all. He speaks in praise of being
content with any old lodging at all. He does not, for the sake of lodging, do
anything unseemly or inappropriate. Not getting lodging, he is not agitated. Getting
lodging, he uses it unattached to it, uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing the drawbacks
(of attachment to it), and discerning the escape from them. He does not, on account
of his contentment with any old lodging at all, exalt himself or disparage others.
In this he is diligent, deft, alert, & mindful. This is said to be a monk
standing firm in the ancient, original traditions of the noble ones."
[AN
IV.28]
§ 5.4.
MahaKassapa:
Coming down from my dwelling place,
I
entered the city for alms,
stood courteously next to a leper
eating his
meal.
He, with his rotting hand,
tossed me a morsel of food,
and as
the morsel was dropping,
a finger fell off
right there.
Sitting next
to a wall,
I ate that morsel of food,
and neither while eating it,
nor
having eaten,
did I feel
any disgust.
Whoever has mastered
left-over
scraps for food,
smelly urine for medicine,
the foot of a tree for a dwelling,
cast-off rags for robes:
He is a man
of the four directions.
* * *
This
is enough for me --
desiring to do jhana,
resolute, mindful;
enough
for me --
desiring the goal,
resolute,
a monk;
enough for me --
desiring comfort,
resolute,
in training;
enough for me --
desiring
my duty,
resolute,
Such.
* * *
There is no such pleasure for me
in
the music of a five-piece band
as there is when my mind
is at one,
seeing
the Dhamma
aright.
[Thag XVIII]
§ 5.5.
On one occasion the
Blessed One was staying near Alavi on a spread of leaves by a cattle track in
a simsapa forest. Then Hatthaka of Alavi, out roaming & rambling for exercise,
saw the Blessed One sitting on a spread of leaves by the cattle track in the simsapa
forest. On seeing him, he went to him and, on arrival, having bowed down to him,
sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, "Lord,
I hope the Blessed One has slept in ease."
"Yes, young man. I have
slept in ease. Of those in the world who sleep in ease, I am one."
"But
cold, lord, is the winter night. The 'Between-the-Eights' is a time of snowfall.
Hard is the ground trampled by cattle hooves. Thin is the spread of leaves. Sparse
are the leaves in the trees. Thin are your ochre robes. And cold blows the Verambha
wind. Yet still the Blessed One says, 'Yes, young man. I have slept in ease. Of
those in the world who sleep in ease, I am one.'"
"In that case,
young man, I will question you in return. Answer as you see fit. Now, what do
you think: Suppose a householder or householder's son has a house with a gabled
roof, plastered inside & out, draft-free, with close-fitting door & windows
shut against the wind. Inside he has a horse-hair couch spread with a long-fleeced
coverlet, a white wool coverlet, an embroidered coverlet, a rug of kadali-deer
hide, with a canopy above, & red cushions on either side. And there a lamp
would be burning, and his four wives, with their many charms, would be attending
to him. Would he sleep in ease, or not? Or how does this strike you?"
"Yes,
lord, he would sleep in ease. Of those in the world who sleep in ease, he would
be one."
"But what do you think, young man. Might there arise in
that householder or householder's son any bodily fevers or fevers of mind born
of passion so that -- burned with those passion-born fevers -- he would sleep
miserably?"
"Yes, lord."
"As for those passion-born
fevers -- burned with which the householder or householder's son would sleep miserably
-- that passion has been abandoned by the Tathagata, its root destroyed, like
an uprooted palm tree, deprived of the conditions of existence, not destined for
future arising. Therefore he sleeps in ease.
"Now, what do you think,
young man. Might there arise in that householder or householder's son any bodily
fevers or fevers of mind born of aversion so that -- burned with those aversion-born
fevers -- he would sleep miserably?"
"Yes, lord."
"As
for those aversion-born fevers -- burned with which the householder or householder's
son would sleep miserably -- that aversion has been abandoned by the Tathagata,
its root destroyed, like an uprooted palm tree, deprived of the conditions of
existence, not destined for future arising. Therefore he sleeps in ease.
"Now,
what do you think, young man. Might there arise in that householder or householder's
son any bodily fevers or fevers of mind born of delusion so that -- burned with
those delusion-born fevers -- he would sleep miserably?"
"Yes, lord."
"As for those delusion-born fevers -- burned with which the householder
or householder's son would sleep miserably -- that delusion has been abandoned
by the Tathagata, its root destroyed, like an uprooted palm tree, deprived of
the conditions of existence, not destined for future arising. Therefore he sleeps
in ease.
"Always, always,
he sleeps in ease:
the brahman totally
unbound,
who doesn't adhere
to sensual pleasures,
who's without acquisitions
& cooled.
Having cut all ties
& subdued fear in the heart,
calmed,
he
sleeps in ease,
having reached peace
of awareness."
[AN III.34]
§
5.6.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Anupiya
in the Mango Orchard. Now at that time, Ven. Bhaddiya Kaligodha, on going to a
forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, would repeatedly exclaim,
"What bliss! What bliss!" A large number of monks heard Ven. Bhaddiya
Kaligodha, on going to a forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling,
repeatedly exclaim, "What bliss! What bliss!" and on hearing him, the
thought occurred to them, "There's no doubt but that Ven. Bhaddiya Kaligodha
doesn't enjoy leading the holy life, for when he was a householder he knew the
bliss of kingship, so that now, on recollecting that, he is repeatedly exclaiming,
'What bliss! What bliss!'" They went to the Blessed One and, on arrival,
having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting there, they told
him: "Ven. Bhaddiya Kaligodha, lord, on going to a forest, to the foot of
a tree, or to an empty dwelling, repeatedly exclaims, 'What bliss! What bliss!'
There's no doubt but that Ven. Bhaddiya Kaligodha doesn't enjoy leading the holy
life, for when he was a householder he knew the bliss of kingship, so that now,
on recollecting that, he is repeatedly exclaiming, 'What bliss! What bliss!'"
Then the Blessed One told a certain monk, "Come, monk. In my name, call
Bhaddiya, saying, 'The Teacher calls you, my friend.'"
"As you say,
lord," the monk answered and, having gone to Ven. Bhaddiya, on arrival he
said, "The Teacher calls you, my friend."
"As you say, my friend,"
Ven. Bhaddiya replied. Then he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having
bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said
to him, "Is it true, Bhaddiya that, on going to a forest, to the foot of
a tree, or to an empty dwelling, you repeatedly exclaim, 'What bliss! What bliss!'?"
"Yes, lord."
"What meaning do you have in mind that you
repeatedly exclaim, 'What bliss! What bliss!'?"
"Before, when I
was a householder, maintaining the bliss of kingship, I had guards posted within
and without the royal apartments, within and without the city, within and without
the countryside. But even though I was thus guarded, thus protected, I dwelled
in fear -- agitated, distrustful, and afraid. But now, on going alone to a forest,
to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, I dwell without fear, unagitated,
confident, and unafraid -- unconcerned, unruffled, my wants satisfied, with my
mind like a wild deer. This is the meaning I have in mind that I repeatedly exclaim,
'What bliss! What bliss!'"
Then, on realizing the significance of that,
the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:
In whom there exists
no provocation,
for
whom becoming & non-becoming
are overcome,
he is one -- beyond fear,
blissful,
without grief,
whom the devas can't see.
[Ud II.10]
6.
Seclusion
§ 6.1.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One
was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that
time a certain lay follower from Icchanangalaka had arrived in Savatthi on some
business affairs. Having settled his affairs in Savatthi, he went to the Blessed
One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting
there, the Blessed One said to him, "At long last you have managed to come
here."
"For a long time I have wanted to come see the Blessed One,
lord, but being involved in one business affair after another, I have not been
able to do so."
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed
One on that occasion exclaimed:
How blissful it is, for one who has nothing
who has mastered the Dhamma,
is learned.
See how they suffer, those who
have something,
people bound in body
with people.
[Ud II.5]
§
6.2.
"'This Dhamma is for one who is reclusive, not for one who is entangled.'
Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where
a monk, when living in seclusion, is visited by monks, nuns, lay men, lay women,
kings, royal ministers, sectarians & their disciples. With his mind bent on
seclusion, tending toward seclusion, inclined toward seclusion, aiming at seclusion,
relishing renunciation, he converses with them only as much is necessary for them
to take their leave. 'This Dhamma is for one who is reclusive, not for one in
entanglement.' Thus was it said. And with reference to this was it said.
[AN
VIII.30]
§ 6.3.
Now at that time a large number of monks, after the
meal, on returning from their alms round, had gathered at the meeting hall and
were engaged in many kinds of bestial topics of conversation: conversation about
kings, robbers, & ministers of state; armies, alarms, & battles; food
& drink; clothing, furniture, garlands, & scents; relatives; vehicles;
villages, towns, cities, the countryside; women & heroes; the gossip of the
street & the well; tales of the dead; tales of diversity, the creation of
the world & of the sea; talk of whether things exist or not.
Then the
Blessed One, emerging from his seclusion in the late afternoon, went to the meeting
hall and, on arrival, sat down on a seat made ready. As he was sitting there,
he addressed the monks: "For what topic of conversation are you gathered
together here? In the midst of what topic of conversation have you been interrupted?"
"Just now, lord, after the meal, on returning from our alms round, we
gathered at the meeting hall and got engaged in many kinds of bestial topics of
conversation: conversation about kings, robbers, & ministers of state... tales
of diversity, the creation of the world & of the sea; talk of whether things
exist or not."
"It isn't right, monks, that sons of good families,
on having gone forth out of faith from home to the homeless life, should get engaged
in such topics of conversation, i.e., conversation about kings, robbers, &
ministers of state... talk of whether things exist or not.
"There are
these ten topics of [proper] conversation. Which ten? Talk on modesty, on contentment,
on seclusion, on non-entanglement, on arousing persistence, on virtue, on concentration,
on discernment, on release, and on the knowledge & vision of release. These
are the ten topics of conversation. If you were to engage repeatedly in these
ten topics of conversation, you would outshine even the sun & moon, so mighty,
so powerful -- to say nothing of the wanderers of other sects."
[AN X.69]
§
6.4.
MahaKassapa:
One shouldn't go about
surrounded, revered
by a
company:
one gets distracted;
concentration
is hard to gain.
Fellowship
with many people
is painful.
Seeing this,
one shouldn't approve
of a company.
A sage shouldn't visit families:
one gets distracted;
concentration
is hard to gain.
He's eager & greedy for flavors,
whoever misses the goal
that brings bliss.
They know it's a bog --
the reverence & veneration
of families --
a subtle arrow, hard to extract.
Offerings
are hard for a worthless man
to let go.
[Thag XVIII]
§ 6.5.
Renouncing
violence
for all living beings,
harming not even a one,
you would not
wish for offspring,
so how a companion?
Wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
For a sociable person
there are allurements;
on the heels of allurement,
this pain.
Seeing allurement's drawback,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
One whose mind
is enmeshed in sympathy
for friends & companions,
neglects
the true goal.
Seeing this danger in intimacy,
wander alone, a rhinoceros
horn...
If you gain a mature companion,
a fellow traveler, right-living
& wise,
overcoming all dangers
go with him, gratified,
mindful.
If you don't gain a mature companion,
a fellow traveler, right-living &
wise,
go alone
like a king renouncing his kingdom,
like the elephant
in the Matanga wilds,
his herd.
We praise companionship
-- yes!
Those
on a par, or better,
should be chosen as friends.
If they're not to be found,
living faultlessly,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
Seeing radiant bracelets
of gold,
well-made by a smith,
clinking, clashing,
two on an arm,
wander
alone, a rhinoceros horn,
[Thinking:]
"In the same way,
if I were
to live with another,
there would be careless talk or abusive."
Seeing
this future danger,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
Because sensual pleasures,
elegant,
honeyed, & charming,
bewitch the mind with their manifold forms --
seeing
this drawback in sensual strands --
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
"Calamity,
tumor, misfortune,
disease, an arrow, a danger for me."
Seeing this
danger in sensual strands,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn...
Avoid the
evil companion
disregarding the goal,
intent on the out-of-tune way.
Don't
take as a friend
someone heedless & hankering.
Wander alone, a rhinoceros
horn.
Consort with one who is learned,
who maintains the Dhamma,
a
great & quick-witted friend.
Knowing the meanings,
subdue your perplexity,
[then]
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn...
Unstartled, like a lion at sounds.
Unsnared,
like the wind in a net.
Unsmeared, like a lotus in water:
wander alone,
a rhinoceros horn...
At the right time consorting
with the release through
good will,
compassion,
appreciation,
equanimity,
unobstructed by
all the world,
any world,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
Having let
go of passion,
aversion,
delusion;
having shattered the fetters;
undisturbed
at the ending of life,
wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
People follow &
associate
for a motive.
Friends without a motive these days
are rare.
They're
shrewd for their own ends, & impure.
Wander alone, a rhinoceros horn.
[Sn I.3]
§ 6.6.
Then a large number of monks went to the Blessed
One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting
there, they informed him: "Lord, there is a certain monk by the name of Elder
who lives alone and extols the virtues of living alone."
Then the Blessed
One told a certain monk, "Come, monk. In my name, call the monk named Elder,
saying, 'The Teacher calls you, my friend.'"
"As you say, lord,"
the monk answered and, having gone to Ven. Elder, on arrival he said, "The
Teacher calls you, my friend."
"As you say, my friend," Ven.
Elder replied. Then he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down
to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him,
"Is it true, Elder, that you live alone and extol the virtues of living alone?"
"Yes, lord."
"But how do you live alone and extol the virtues
of living alone?"
"Lord, alone I enter the village for alms, alone
I return, alone I sit withdrawn [in meditation], alone I do walking meditation.
That is how I live alone and extol the virtues of living alone."
"There
is that way of living alone, Elder. I don't say that there isn't. Still, listen
well to you how your living alone is perfected in its details, and pay close attention.
I will speak."
"As you say, lord," Ven. Elder responded.
The
Blessed One said: "And how is living alone perfected in its details? There
is the case where whatever is past is abandoned, whatever is future is relinquished,
and any passion & desire with regard to states of being attained in the present
is well subdued. That is how living alone is perfected in its details."
That
is what the Blessed One said. Having said it, the One Well-gone further said this:
"All-conquering,
all-knowing, intelligent;
with regard to all things,
unadhering;
all-abandoning,
released in the ending of craving:
him I
call
a man who lives
alone."
[SN XXI.10]
7.
Persistence
§ 7.1.
"'This Dhamma is for one whose persistence
is aroused, not for one who is lazy.' Thus was it said. With reference to what
was it said? There is the case where a monk keeps his persistence aroused for
abandoning unskillful mental qualities and taking on skillful mental qualities.
He is steadfast, solid in his effort, not shirking his duties with regard to skillful
mental qualities. 'This Dhamma is for one whose persistence is aroused, not for
one who is lazy.' Thus was it said. And with reference to this was it said.
[AN
VIII.30]
§ 7.2.
As if struck by a sword,
as if his head were on
fire,
a monk should live the wandering life
-- mindful --
for the abandoning
of sensual passion.
[Thag I.39]
§ 7.3.
"Furthermore, the monk
finds pleasure & delight in developing [skillful mental qualities], finds
pleasure & delight in abandoning [unskillful mental qualities]. He does not,
on account of his pleasure & delight in developing & abandoning, exalt
himself or disparage others. In this he is diligent, deft, alert, & mindful.
This is said to be a monk standing firm in the ancient, original traditions of
the noble ones."
[AN IV.28]
§ 7.4.
"And how is a monk
devoted to wakefulness? There is the case where a monk during the day, sitting
& pacing back & forth, cleanses his mind of any qualities that would hold
the mind in check. During the first watch of the night [dusk to 10 p.m.], sitting
& pacing back & forth, he cleanses his mind of any qualities that would
hold the mind in check. During the second watch of the night [10 p.m. to 2 a.m.],
reclining on his right side, he takes up the lion's posture, one foot placed on
top of the other, mindful, alert, with his mind set on getting up [either as soon
as he awakens or at a particular time]. During the last watch of the night [2
a.m. to dawn], sitting & pacing back & forth, he cleanses his mind of
any qualities that would hold the mind in check. This is how a monk is devoted
to wakefulness."
[AN IV.37]
§ 7.5.
The Buddha:
To me --
resolute in exertion
near the river Nerañjara,
making a great effort,
doing
jhana
to attain security from bondage --
Namuci[1] came,
speaking words
of compassion:
"You are ashen, thin.
Death is in
your presence.
Death
has 1,000 parts of you.
Only one part
is your life.
Live,
good sir!
Life is better.
Alive,
you can do
acts of merit.
Your
living the holy life,
performing the fire sacrifice,
will heap up much merit.
What use is exertion to you?
Hard to follow
-- the path of exertion --
hard
to do, hard
to sustain."
Saying these verses,
Mara stood in the
Awakened One's presence.
And to that Mara, speaking thus,
the Blessed One
said
this:
"Kinsman of the heedless,
Evil One,
come here for whatever
purpose:
I haven't, for merit,
even the least bit of need.
Those who
have need of merit:
those are the ones
Mara's fit to address.
In me
are conviction
austerity,
persistence,
discernment.
Why, when I'm
so resolute
do you petition me
to live?
This wind could burn up
even
river currents.
Why, when I'm resolute,
shouldn't my blood dry away?
As
my blood dries up
gall & phlegm dry up.
As muscles waste away,
the
mind grows clearer;
mindfulness, discernment,
concentration stand
more
firm.
Staying in this way,
attaining the ultimate feeling,[2]
the mind
has no interest
in sensual passions.
See:
a being's
purity!
Sensual
passions are your first army.
Your second is called Discontent.
Your third
is Hunger & Thirst.
Your fourth is called Craving.
Fifth is Sloth &
Drowsiness.
Sixth is called Terror.
Your seventh is Uncertainty.
Hypocrisy
& Stubbornness, your eighth.
Gains, Offerings, Fame, & Status
wrongly
gained,
and whoever would praise self
& disparage others.
That,
Namuci, is your army,
the Dark One's commando force.
A coward can't defeat
it,
but one having defeated it
gains bliss.
Do I carry muñja
grass?[3]
I spit on my life.
Death in battle would be better for me
than that I, defeated,
survive.
Sinking here, they don't appear,
some
priests & contemplatives.
They don't know the path
by which those with
good practices
go.
Seeing the bannered force
on all sides --
the
troops, Mara
along with his mount --
I go into battle.
May they not budge
me
from
my spot.
That army of yours,
that the world with its devas
can't overcome,
I will smash with discernment --
as an unfired pot with
a stone.
Making my resolve mastered,
mindfulness well-established,
I
will go about, from kingdom to kingdom,
training many disciples.
They --
heedful, resolute,
doing my bidding --
despite your wishes, will go
where, having gone,
there's no grief."
Mara:
"For seven
years, I've dogged
the Blessed One's steps,
but haven't gained an opening
in
the One Self-awakened
& glorious.
A crow circled a stone
the color
of fat
-- 'Maybe I've found
something tender here.
Maybe there's something
delicious' --
but not getting anything delicious there,
the crow went away.
Like
the crow attacking the rock,
I weary myself with Gotama."
As
he was overcome with sorrow,
his lute fell from under his arm.
Then he,
the despondent spirit,
right there
disappeared.
[Sn III.2]
Notes:
1. Mara. [Go back]
2. The highest equanimity that can be attained through
jhana. [Go back]
3. Muñja grass was the ancient Indian equivalent of
a white flag. A warrior expecting that he might have to surrender would take muñja
grass into battle with him. If he did surrender, he would lie down with the muñja
grass in his mouth. The Buddha, in asking this rhetorical question, is indicating
that he is not the type of warrior who would carry muñja grass. If defeated,
he would rather die than surrender. [Go back]
§ 7.6.
"Monks,
there are these eight grounds for laziness. Which eight?
"There is the
case where a monk has some work to do. The thought occurs to him: 'I will have
to do this work. But when I have done this work, my body will be tired. Why don't
I lie down?' So he lies down. He doesn't make an effort for the attaining of the
as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the
as-yet-unrealized. This is the first grounds for laziness.
"Then there
is the case where a monk has done some work. The thought occurs to him: 'I have
done some work. Now that I have done work, my body is tired. Why don't I lie down?'
So he lies down. He doesn't make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained,
the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
This is the second grounds for laziness.
"Then there is the case where
a monk has to go on a journey. The thought occurs to him: 'I will have to go on
this journey. But when I have done on the journey, my body will be tired. Why
don't I lie down?' So he lies down. He doesn't make an effort for the attaining
of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization
of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the third grounds for laziness.
"Then
there is the case where a monk has gone on a journey. The thought occurs to him:
'I have gone on a journey. Now that I have gone on a journey, my body is tired.
Why don't I lie down?' So he lies down. He doesn't make an effort for the attaining
of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization
of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the fourth grounds for laziness.
"Then
there is the case where a monk, having gone for alms in a village or town, does
not get as much coarse or refined food as he would like for his fill. The thought
occurs to him: 'I, having gone for alms in a village or town, have not gotten
as much coarse or refined food as I would like for my fill. This body of mine
is tired & unsuitable for work. Why don't I lie down?' So he lies down. He
doesn't make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching
of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the
fifth grounds for laziness.
"Then there is the case where a monk, having
gone for alms in a village or town, gets as much coarse or refined food as he
would like for his fill. The thought occurs to him: 'I, having gone for alms in
a village or town, have gotten as much coarse or refined food as I would like
for my fill. This body of mine is heavy & unsuitable for work -- stuffed with
beans, as it were. Why don't I lie down?' So he lies down. He doesn't make an
effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached,
the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the sixth grounds for laziness.
"Then there is the case where a monk comes down with a slight illness.
The thought occurs to him: 'I have come down with a slight illness. There's a
need to lie down.' So he lies down. He doesn't make an effort for the attaining
of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization
of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the seventh grounds for laziness.
"Then
there is the case where a monk has recovered from his illness, not long after
his recovery. The thought occurs to him: 'I have recovered from my illness. It's
not long after my recovery. This body of mine is weak & unsuitable for work.
Why don't I lie down?' So he lies down. He doesn't make an effort for the attaining
of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization
of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the eighth grounds for laziness.
"These
are the eight grounds for laziness.
"There are these eight grounds for
the arousal of energy. Which eight?
"There is the case where a monk has
some work to do. The thought occurs to him: 'I will have to do this work. But
when I am doing this work, it will not be easy to attend to the Buddha's message.
Why don't I make an effort beforehand for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained,
the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized?'
So he makes an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching
of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the
first grounds for the arousal of energy.
"Then there is the case where
a monk has done some work. The thought occurs to him: 'I have done some work.
While I was doing work, I couldn't attend to the Buddha's message. Why don't I
make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the
as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized?' So he makes an effort
for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached,
the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the second grounds for the arousal
of energy.
"Then there is the case where a monk has to go on a journey.
The thought occurs to him: 'I will have to go on this journey. But when I am going
on the journey, it will not be easy to attend to the Buddha's message. Why don't
I make an effort beforehand for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching
of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized?' So he makes
an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached,
the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the third grounds for the arousal
of energy.
"Then there is the case where a monk has gone on a journey.
The thought occurs to him: 'I have gone on a journey. While I was going on the
journey, I couldn't attend to the Buddha's message. Why don't I make an effort
for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached,
the realization of the as-yet-unrealized?' So he makes an effort for the attaining
of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization
of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the fourth grounds for the arousal of energy.
"Then there is the case where a monk, having gone for alms in a village
or town, does not get as much coarse or refined food as he would like for his
fill. The thought occurs to him: 'I, having gone for alms in a village or town,
have not gotten as much coarse or refined food as I would like for my fill. This
body of mine is light & suitable for work. Why don't I make an effort for
the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached,
the realization of the as-yet-unrealized?' So he makes an effort for the attaining
of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization
of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the fifth grounds for the arousal of energy.
"Then there is the case where a monk, having gone for alms in a village
or town, gets as much coarse or refined food as he would like for his fill. The
thought occurs to him: 'I, having gone for alms in a village or town, have gotten
as much coarse or refined food as I would like for my fill. This body of mine
is light & suitable for work. Why don't I make an effort for the attaining
of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization
of the as-yet-unrealized?' So he makes an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained,
the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
This is the sixth grounds for the arousal of energy.
"Then there is the
case where a monk comes down with a slight illness. The thought occurs to him:
'I have come down with a slight illness. Now, there's the possibility that it
could get worse. Why don't I make an effort beforehand for the attaining of the
as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the
as-yet-unrealized?' So he makes an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained,
the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
This is the seventh grounds for the arousal of energy.
"Then there is
the case where a monk has recovered from his illness, not long after his recovery.
The thought occurs to him: 'I have recovered from my illness. It's not long after
my recovery. Now, there's the possibility that the illness could come back. Why
don't I make an effort beforehand for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained,
the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized?'
So he makes an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching
of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the
eighth grounds for the arousal of energy.
"These are the eight grounds
for the arousal of energy."
[AN VIII.80]
8.
Being Unburdensome
§ 8.1.
"There is the case where a monk, reflecting
appropriately, uses the robe simply to counteract cold, to counteract heat, to
counteract the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, & reptiles; simply for
the purpose of covering the parts of the body that cause shame.
"Reflecting
appropriately, he uses alms food, not playfully, nor for intoxication, nor for
putting on bulk, nor for beautification; but simply for the survival & continuance
of this body, for ending its afflictions, for the support of the holy life, thinking,
'Thus will I destroy old feelings [of hunger] and not create new feelings [from
overeating]. I will maintain myself, be blameless, & live in comfort.'
"Reflecting
appropriately, he uses lodging simply to counteract cold, to counteract heat,
to counteract the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, & reptiles; simply
for protection from the inclemencies of weather and for the enjoyment of seclusion.
"Reflecting appropriately, he uses medicinal requisites that are used
for curing the sick simply to counteract any pains of illness that have arisen
and for maximum freedom from disease."
[MN 2]
§ 8.2.
At that
time the monks of Alavi were having huts built from their own begging -- having
no sponsors, destined for themselves, not to any standard measurement -- that
did not come to completion. They were continually begging, continually hinting:
'Give a man, give labor, give an ox, give a wagon, give a machete, give an ax,
give an adz, give a spade, give a chisel, give rushes, give reeds, give grass,
give clay.' People, harassed with the begging, harassed with the hinting, on seeing
monks would feel apprehensive, alarmed, would run away; would take another route,
face another direction, close the door. Even on seeing cows, they would run away,
imagining them to be monks.
Then Ven. MahaKassapa, having come out of his
Rains retreat at Rajagaha, set out for Alavi. After wandering by stages he arrived
at Alavi, where he stayed at the Chief Shrine. Then in the early morning, having
put on his robes and carrying his bowl & outer robe, he went into Alavi for
alms. The people, on seeing Ven. MahaKassapa, were apprehensive, alarmed, ran
away, took another route, faced another direction, closed the door. Then Ven.
MahaKassapa, having gone for alms, after his meal, returning from his alms round,
addressed the monks: "Before, friends, Alavi was a good place for alms. Alms
food was easy to come by, it was easy to maintain oneself by gleanings & patronage.
But now Alavi is a bad place for alms. Alms food is hard to come by, it isn't
easy to maintain oneself by gleanings or patronage. What is the cause, what is
the reason why Alavi is now a bad place for alms?..."
Then the monks
told Ven. MahaKassapa about that matter.
Then the Blessed One, having stayed
at Rajagaha as long as he like, left for Alavi. After wandering by stages he arrived
at Alavi, where he stayed at the Chief Shrine. Then Ven. MahaKassapa went to the
Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he
was sitting there he told the Blessed One about that matter. Then the Blessed
One, because of that issue, because of that affair, had the community of monks
convened and asked the Alavi monks, "They say that you are having huts built
from your own begging -- having no sponsors, destined for yourselves, not to any
standard measurement -- that do not come to completion; that you are continually
begging, continually hinting: 'Give a man, give labor, give an ox, give a wagon,
give a machete, give an ax, give an adz, give a spade, give a chisel, give rushes,
give reeds, give grass, give clay'; that people, harassed with the begging, harassed
with the hinting, on seeing monks feel apprehensive, alarmed, run away; take another
route, face another direction, close the door; that even on seeing cows, they
run away, imagining them to be monks: is this true?"
"Yes, lord.
It is true."
So the Blessed One rebuked them: "Misguided men, it's
unseemly, unbecoming, unsuitable, and unworthy of a contemplative; improper and
not to be done... Haven't I taught the Dhamma in many ways for the sake of dispassion
and not for passion; for unfettering and not for fettering; for letting go and
not for clinging? Yet here, while I have taught the Dhamma for dispassion, you
set your heart on passion; while I have taught the Dhamma for unfettering, you
set your heart on being fettered; while I have taught the Dhamma for letting go,
you set your heart on clinging. Haven't I taught the Dhamma in various ways for
the fading of passion, the sobering of pride, the subduing of thirst, the destruction
of attachment, the severing of the round, the depletion of craving, dispassion,
cessation, unbinding? Haven't I advocated abandoning sensual pleasures, understanding
sensual perceptions, subduing sensual thirst, destroying sensual preoccupations,
calming sensual fevers?... Misguided men, this neither inspires faith in the faithless
nor increases the faithful. Rather, it inspires lack of faith in the faithless
and wavering in some of the faithful."
Then, having given a Dhamma talk
on what is seemly & becoming for monks, he addressed the monks:
"Once,
monks, there were two brothers who were hermits living on the banks of the Ganges.
Then Manikantha, the naga-king, coming up out of the river Ganges, went to the
younger hermit and, on arrival, having encircled him seven times with his coils,
stood spreading his great hood above his head. Then the younger hermit, through
fear of the naga, became thin, wretched, unattractive, & jaundiced, his body
covered with veins. The elder brother, seeing his younger brother thin... his
body covered with veins, asked him, 'Why are you thin... your body covered with
veins?'
"'Manikantha, the naga-king, coming up out of the river Ganges,
comes to me and, on arrival, having encircled me seven times with his coils, stands
spreading his great hood above my head. Through fear of the naga I have become
thin... my body covered with veins.'
"'But do you want that naga not
to return?'
"'I want the naga not to return.'
"'Do you see that
this naga has anything?'
"'I see that he is ornamented with a jewel on
his throat.'
"'Then beg the naga for the jewel, saying, "Good sir,
give me your jewel. I want your jewel."'
"Then Manikantha, the naga-king,
coming up out of the river Ganges, went to the younger hermit and, on arrival,
stood to one side. As he was standing there, the younger hermit said to him, 'Good
sir, give me your jewel. I want your jewel.' Then Manikantha, the naga-king, thinking,
'The monk is begging for my jewel. The monk wants my jewel,' hurried off. Then
a second time, the naga-king, coming up out of the river Ganges, went toward the
younger hermit. Seeing him from afar, the younger hermit said to him, 'Good sir,
give me your jewel. I want your jewel.' Then Manikantha, the naga-king, thinking,
'The monk is begging for my jewel. The monk wants my jewel,' hurried off. Then
a third time, the naga-king came up out of the river Ganges. Seeing him come up
out of the river Ganges, the younger hermit said to him, 'Good sir, give me your
jewel. I want your jewel.'
"Then Manikantha, the naga-king, addressed
the younger hermit with this verse:
My food & drink
are produced grandly,
abundantly,
by means of this jewel.
I won't give it to you.
You're one
who asks
too much.
Nor will I come to your hermitage.
Like a youth
with a sharp sword in his hand,
you scare me, begging for my stone.
I won't
give it to you.
You're one who asks
too much.
Nor will I come to your
hermitage.
"Then Manikantha, the naga-king, thinking, 'The monk is begging
for my jewel. The monk wants my jewel,' went away. And having gone away, he never
again returned. Then the younger hermit, from not seeing that lovely naga, became
even thinner, more wretched, unattractive, & jaundiced, his body cover with
veins. His older brother saw that he was even thinner... his body covered with
veins, and on seeing him, he asked him, 'Why are you even thinner... your body
covered with veins?'
"'It's from not seeing that lovely naga that I am
even thinner... my body covered with veins.'
"Then the elder hermit addressed
the younger hermit with this verse:
Don't beg for what you covet
from one
who is dear.
Begging too much
is detested.
The naga, begged by a brahman
for his jewel,
went away from there,
never again to be seen.
"Monks,
begging is unpleasant, hinting is unpleasant even to those who are common animals
-- how much more so to human beings?"
"Once, monks, a monk lived
on the slopes of the Himalayas in a forest grove. Not far from the grove was a
broad, low-lying marsh. A great flock of birds, after feeding all day in the marsh,
went to roost in the grove at nightfall. The monk was annoyed by the noise of
that flock of birds.
"So he came to me and, on arrival, having bowed
down, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, I said to him, 'I hope, monk,
that you are well, that you are getting along, that you have completed your journey
with little fatigue. Where have you come from?"
"I am well, lord,
am getting along, and have completed my journey with little fatigue. Lord, there
is a large forest grove on the slopes of the Himalayas, and not far from it is
a broad, low-lying marsh. A great flock of birds, after feeding all day in the
marsh, goes to roost in the grove at nightfall. That is why I have come to see
the Blessed One -- because I am annoyed by the noise of that flock of birds.'
"'Monk, you want those birds to go away for good?'
"'Yes, lord,
I want them to go away for good.'
"'Then go back there, enter the forest,
and in the first watch of the night make this announcement three times: "Listen
to me, good birds. I want a feather from everyone roosting in this forest. Each
of you give me one feather." In the second watch... In the third watch of
the night make this announcement three times: "Listen to me, good birds.
I want a feather from everyone roosting in this forest. Each of you give me one
feather"... (The monk did as he was told.) Then the flock of birds, thinking,
'The monk begs for a feather, the monk wants a feather,' left the forest. And
after they were gone, they never again returned. Monks, begging is unpleasant,
hinting is unpleasant even to these common animals -- how much more so to human
beings?"
"Once, monks, the father of Ratthapala the clansman addressed
Ratthapala with this verse:
Although I don't know them, Ratthapala,
many
people,
on meeting me,
beg from me.
Why don't you beg from me?
[Ratthapala:]
A beggar isn't liked.
One who,
on being begged,
doesn't give
isn't liked.
That's why I don't beg from you:
so that you will not detest
me.
"Monks, if Ratthapala the clansman can speak this way to his father,
why not a stranger to a stranger?"