A Discourse On The Purabheda Sutta

Contents A
A Discourse on the
Purbheda Sutta
by
Tle Veneiable Mals Saydaw
of
Burma
An English rendering by
U Htin Fatt (Maung Htin)
Buddla Ssannuggala Oiganization
Mals Tianslation Committee, Rangoon
A Discourse on the
Purbheda Sutta
by
Tle Veneiable Mals Saydaw
of
Burma
Translated by
U Htin Fatt (Maung Htin)
First printed and published in the Socialist
Republic of the Union of Burma
December 1982
New Edition
Edited by
Bhikkhu Pesala
May 2011
All rights reserved
iii
Contents
Editors Preface.....................................................................................vii
Foreword............................................................................................viii
A Discouise on tle Puibleda Sutta ..........................................................1
Introduction to the Discourse................................................................1
Verse One: The Replica Buddhas Question................................................1
Listening to a Discourse to Gain Peace of Mind..............................2
Repeated to Make Everyone Understand........................................3
Verse Two: The Buddhas Answer...............................................................3
Noble Attributes of the Dhamma..........................................................4
The Way to Gain Immediate Benefits...............................................4
How to Eradicate Craving Before Death..........................................6
How to Expel Defilements by Morality............................................7
How to Expel Defilements by Concentration...................................8
How to Eradicate Defilements by Wisdom......................................8
Two Kinds of Latent Defilements.....................................................9
Tle Guaiantee Given by Geneial Sla...........................................10
How Calm and Blissful Is It?..........................................................11
How to Eradicate Craving..............................................................13
Immediate Personal Realisation.....................................................14
Courage Is Tested When Faced with Danger.................................15
One Only Gets Satiated If One Eats ...............................................16
Do Not Rely on the Past.......................................................................17
Relying on Craving and Wrong View............................................17
Abandon All Hope for the Future........................................................20
Do Not Get Enlisted in the Middle......................................................22
A Stoiy fiom tle Malosadla Jtala...............................................24
The Wisdom of Mahosadha............................................................25
How Anger Arises on Reflection....................................................29
How to Avoid Enlistment...............................................................29
An Arahant Is Free from Entanglement.........................................31
Verse Three.................................................................................................32
Tame Anger and Exercise Restraint in Speech...............................33
Resembles a Toad............................................................................34
The Remedy for Anger...................................................................35
Nine Causes of Resentment............................................................35
Should Have No Fear or Anxiety...................................................37
Should Have No Pride....................................................................38
Remorse Should Be Dispelled..............................................................39
The Reverence of Kandaraka..........................................................40
King Kosalas Solicitation................................................................41
iv Contents
Scruples about Disciplinary Rules..................................................43
Remorse and Regret........................................................................43
The Story of a Sick Young Monk.....................................................45
Consider Carefully before Speaking....................................................49
With the Mind Restrained..............................................................51
Verse Four..................................................................................................51
Verse Five...................................................................................................52
Make No Pretensions...........................................................................54
1. Pretension in the Use of Property ..............................................54
2. Pretension Relating to Noble Attributes.....................................55
3. Pretensions Relating to Deportment...........................................55
Do Not Be Envious...............................................................................55
Vulgarity Should Be Avoided.........................................................57
Verse Six.....................................................................................................60
Not Drifting towards Pleasurable Sensations......................................62
Flowing to the Highest Existence...................................................62
Is Hell Pleasurable?.........................................................................65
Wrong Notion of Bad as Being Good.............................................66
The Abode of Hungry Ghosts Also Seems Pleasurable.................67
Animals Also Enjoy Their Own Existences....................................68
ia Klma and Udala Rmautta............................................70
Likely to Drift Up to Maturity Knowledge....................................71
Resembles a Wealth-conscious Person ..........................................72
Any Kind of Merit Should Be Cultivated.......................................73
Maturity Knowledge Can Be Pleasurable......................................75
Gestation for Seven Years and Seven Days.....................................76
Deceiving by Pretending to Be Pleasant.........................................77
Kammic Effects Known after Death ..............................................78
Essential Not to Forget...................................................................78
Suffering from the Viewpoint of Insight........................................79
Not Puffed Up with Conceit...........................................................81
Nine Qualities of a Good Benefactor..............................................82
The Pride of the Sakyans................................................................82
Viabla Was Sliglted..................................................................84
The Sakyans Meet Disaster.............................................................85
Becoming Gentle in Behaviour and Speech....................................86
Gentle Mental Character.................................................................87
Ready Wit.......................................................................................88
Truly Learned Only after Meditating.............................................88
Theoretically Easy but Practically Difficult....................................89
Contents v
Analytical Knowledge of Body and Mind......................................89
Even the Illiterate Can Realise the Dhamma..................................90
How to Know Arising and Dissolution..........................................90
Not Being Credulous......................................................................92
Knowing Is More Noble than Believing.........................................92
Citta tle Houseloldei and Nigala Nautta............................96
Personal Knowledge versus Believing Others...............................97
Should Be Free from Attachment...................................................98
In the Process of Getting Free from Attachment............................99
Not in the Process of Getting Free from Attachment.....................99
Verse Seven..............................................................................................100
Verse Eight...............................................................................................101
Being Mindful at All Times...........................................................101
How Purity of Mind Is Achieved.................................................103
Analytical Knowledge of Body and Mind....................................103
Knowledge of Equanimity About Formations.............................105
Free From the Three Kinds of Conceit..........................................106
Verse Nine................................................................................................108
Verse Ten..................................................................................................109
Verse Eleven.............................................................................................109
Verse Twelve............................................................................................110
Verse Thirteen..........................................................................................110
Verse Fourteen.........................................................................................111
Conclusion of the Discourse...............................................................111
vii
Editors Preface
A numbei of tle late Veneiable Mals Saydaws lectuies lave
been uanslated into Englisl foi tle benet of a widei audience. Most
of these valuable books have been reprinted before in Malaysia but
tlis new edition las been secially ieaied foi disuibution in tle
UK.
Tle Veneiable Saydaws discouises weie addiessed to meditatois
iactising intensively at Mals Ssana Yeiltla, in Rangoon. Tley
therefore contain many Pali words which, though familiar to those
who have heard regular discourses, may not be so familiar to others.
I lave ieaied tlis edition of tle Saydaws discouise on tle
Puibleda Suua beaiing in mind tlat it will be iead by many wlo
may be unfamiliar with Pali terms. Nevertheless many Pali terms
iemain foi tle benet of tlose wlo aie familiai witl tlem.
In the footnotes, references are to the page numbers of the Pali
texts of tle Pali Text Socie[ wlicl, in tle uanslations, aie given at
the top of the page or sometimes in the body of the text. But in the
case of tle Dlammaada oi Suua Nita, iefeiences aie simly given
to verse numbers.
Tlis edition, wlicl was ist ublisled in 1982, was not comleted
before now due to the large number of changes required. Even now,
I am lesitant to ublisl it witl so many alteiations nom tle oiiginal
witlout being able to consult tle uanslatois. I aologise foi any
eiiois I may lave inuoduced in my auemt to ll in gas tlat I found
in tle uanslation of tle Pali veises of tle Puibleda Suua. I loe
tlat ieadeis will benet nom tle Saydaws teaclings in site of any
shortcomings in this edition.
The discourses were delivered in Burmese, and the recorded
discouises weie latei uanslated to Englisl and ublisled in bool
foim. Tley weie nevei wiiuen as bools, but I lave done my best to
adapt them, so that my edition will be easier to follow.
Please do not lost tle PDF le on youi own web site, noi linl
diiectly to tle PDF le losted on mine, but by all means ost a linl
to the page on my web site where visitors can read the book in its
proper context.
Bhikkhu Pesala
London, May 2011
viii
Foreword
Tlis Puibleda Suua is tle last of a seiies of six discouises deliveied
by tle Buddla on tle Gieat Occasion (Malsamaya), wlicl tool lace
in tle Gieat Foiest (Malvana) in tle Himalayan footlills neai tle ci[
of Kailavaulu. Piesent at tlis uniecedented gatleiing weie innu-
meiable devas and bialmas nom ten tlousand woild systems wlo
had come of their own accord without being invited, to pay obeisance
to tle Buddla and tle ve lundied Aialants. Tlese Aialants gatleied
iound tle Buddla soon ahei tleii auainment of Aialantsli to ay
homage. The wide expanse of the pleasant forest and entire universe
oveiowed witl devas and bialmas eagei to listen to wlat tle Buddla
would teacl. Tle illusuious gatleiing of celestial beings was unaial-
leled. Tle Buddla occuied a cenual osition emiuing biilliant iays
of six dieient colouis, anled by noble Aialants wlo lad just cleansed
tlemselves of all delements. Tle Buddla, ahei obseiving witl lis
divine eye the latent dispositions of the respective devas and brahmas,
tauglt six dieient discouises suited to tlose iesent accoiding to tleii
respective mental disposition to enable them to gain awakening.
Of tle six discouises, tlis Puibleda Suua was meant foi
individuals with very keen intellect. realising that no other individual
lad tle atitude to iaise questions to satis( tle cuiiosi[ of tlose
devas and brahmas, the Blessed One created an image of himself by
lis sueinoimal oweis. Descending nom tle sly witl iadiance,
this created image of the Buddha majestically took a seat before the
real living Buddha, and began raising questions related to the six
discouises. Tle ist was tle Sammaiibbjanya Suua, intended
for those devas and brahmas who were dominated by lust (rga).
Tle last of tle six was tlis Puibleda Suua.
It is so iofound tlat men of oidinaiy intellect would nd it
dicult to exlain. It will even be fai moie dicult to male it
comprehensible with particular reference to the actual application
and iactice of meditation. Yet, tle Veneiable Mals Saydaw, witl
lis eneuating wisdom and gieat comassion, exlained tlis
iemailable discouise, outlining a vaiie[ of metlods witl iefeience
to the Commentaries and Subcommentaries. The discourse was
couched in plain Burmese to enable the audience to easily understand
the deeper aspects of the discourse.
Tle Puibleda Suua comiises fouiteen veises of wlicl only one
is a question, while the remaining thirteen are replies. The object of
Foreword ix
tle question is to nd out wlat lind of moiali[ and insiglt a eison
should possess to deserve being regarded as a wise and noble person
witl seieni[ of mind. Tle Buddla uiosely made ieeated
uueiances in veise conveying tle same sense to male lis audience
undeistand easily. Tle fundamental oint suessed tleiein is to suive
for personal realisation of the Dhamma during ones present lifetime
befoie deatl. Tle answeis ielating to tle noble auibutes of tle
Dhamma lay emphasis on the need to eradicate craving in as much
as auaclment to tle leasuies of life can diag a eison down to tle
lower realms. The noble qualities of peaceful sage are described fully
witl lucidi[. It las also been made obvious tlat sucl an individual
is an Aialant in wlom all delements lave been extinguisled. Tle
metlod of seveiing tle bonds of delements las been eectively
prescribed, and this method of practice is nothing but insight
meditation. This would involve contemplation of the four founda-
tions of mindfulness (satipahna). It has been clearly stated that this
meditation exeicise must be develoed to ensuie beuei iosects
foi futuie existences ahei ones demise. It is also ievealed tlat wlile
living, an ordinary person will be beset with so many kinds of pitfalls
in lis lifetime and witl obsessions in tle slae of angei, laued, envy,
pride, worry, and improper behaviour, and that if these evils cannot
be rejected by contemplating and noting in his pursuit of worldly
aaiis oi siiitual lnowledge, le will iemain unlibeiated nom
ciusling miseiy and sueiing in tle iesent existence, and in tle
life leieahei. If vices become iedominant by tle inammation of
craving, it is most likely that he will descend to the lower realms.
The best remedy therefore lies in practising insight meditation for
ones own salvation to auain tle Noble Patl. Dieient stages of
aclievement tlat can be ieacled u to lnowledge of equanimi[
about formations (sakhrupekkh-a) leading to nibbna las been
elaborated by the author of this discourse. While emphasising the
signicance of insiglt meditation, tle metlod of iejecting all linds
of vulgaii[ and iemoise, veibally, mentally, and lysically, las been
lucidly explained. Clear exposition has been made that by contem-
lating and noting witl good concenuation ahei equiing oneself
witl uii[ of moiali[, one can aclieve tle liglest state in iogies-
sive insiglt. Fuitlei amlication las been made in tlis discouise
relating to the essential need to avoid all improper behaviour, to
x Foreword
subdue anger, and to eschew self-conceit, which can hinder progress
in the realisation of the noble Dhamma.
Fuitleimoie, tlis Puibleda Suua las been cleaily exlained by
the author, besprinkling it with relevant anecdotes, making it all the
moie eective and inteiesting. Tle Veneiable Mals Saydaw witl
his genius has made us fully understand without skepticism the
auibutes of insiglt meditation. Tlis is tle only way to gain insiglt
knowledge stage by stage bringing Arahantship within easy reach
if there is faith, devotion, and diligence. Furthermore, the noble
auibutes of an Aialant aie amly desciibed.
The unprecedented nature and scope of this highly philosophical
discouise, leie exounded by tle Veneiable Mals Saydaw in
simple language, which had once made its impact on a deeply
aieciative audience to auain Aialantsli in myiiads on tle sot,
will, I am suie, lilewise biing benecial iesults to all meditatois,
monls, and lay eisons. Tle Veneiable Saydaw emlasised tle
goal of nibbna as auainable in tlis veiy life existence. Tle ioei
iactice of Buddlas docuine is cleaily manifested to lave involved
a technique of living, which, while not worrying about the past, or
the present or the future, would place upon the individual the art of
living in sancti[ until le las auained in tlis life tle goal, nibbna.
This way of living is essentially to practise insight meditation by
developing constant mindfulness on the phenomenal occurrences
of body and mind to the extent of gaining full awareness or
eicetion of tleii uue claiacteiistics of imeimanence, sueiing
and non-self, which will eventually lead to insight wisdom of varying
degiees u to tle auainment of Aialantsli. By tlis ultimate
auainment, delements togetlei witl ciaving and wiong view wlicl
in fact bind a eison nom one existence to anotlei, will be comletely
eiadicated. One slould tleiefoie suive to accomlisl tlis Dlamma.
It is quite obvious that neither Buddha, nor anyone, prayer nor bribe,
can help and that man alone is the architect of his future.
May you all be able to ut foitl eoit to iactise viitues
unceasingly as a good person does, and follow a way of life that
would end in the realisation of the goal, here and now.
Min Swe (Min Kyaw Thu)
Secietaiy, Buddla Ssannuggala Oiganization
Mals Ssana Yeiltl, Setembei, 1982
1
A Discourse on the Purbheda Sutta
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahanto Sammsambuddhassa
Introduction to the Discourse
The teaching to be delivered today is on the last of a series of six
discourses, taught by the Buddha at the gathering of a huge multitude
of devas and bialmas, lnown as tle Gieat Occasion (Malsamaya).
Tle essence of eacl dieient discouise is ielated to tle natuial
inclinations and propensities of the respective deva or brahma. This
is tle Puibleda Suua (Sn vv 854-867).
Purbheda is a compound of two words: bheda, which means
annililation oi desuuction, wlile pur conveys the meaning of
before, prior to, or foremost. Hence, Purbheda connotes before
desuuction, oi iioi to deatl. Tle discouise las tleiefoie been
given the name of Purbheda for being related to or in reference to
the things that one should accomplish and would surely come across
befoie lis nal deatl oi uuei desuuction of lis life.
The essence of what is contained in the Discourse will be clearly
revealed in the course of my lecture explaining the basic facts of the
Dhamma. In delivering this Discourse, as in the case of the
Sammaiibbjaniya Suua, tle cieated image of tle Buddla iaised
tle following question as desiied, foi tle benet of tlose wlo weie
very learned with keen intellect, having a natural aptitude and
inclination to acquire profound knowledge.
Verse One: The Replica Buddhas Question
Kathadass kathaslo, upasantoti vuccati.
Ta me Gotama pabrhi, pucchito uama nara.
Addressing the Buddha who belonged to the noble
lineage of the Gotama clan, the question that we ask is
what kind of insight and moral conduct should a person
possess to be worthy of being called a sage (upasanta)?
Please tell us who is such an excellent person.
This is the question put by the created image of the Buddha to the
real Buddha. These two Buddhas, the created image and the Buddha
limself lad a dialogue, tle one uuing questions wlile tle otlei
giving answers. There was only one question as stated in the above
2 A Discourse on the Purbheda Sua
Pi veise, wleieas tle answeis comiised tliiteen veises. I will
amli( in full only a few veises since an elaboiated statement would
probably be considered as mere repetition by some of the audience.
In fact, there are only a very few unique features in each verse
tleie aie many wlicl lave similaii[ in meaning. I will tleiefoie
deal with only a few verses comprehensively.
Listening to a Discourse to Gain Peace of Mind
Tle iimaiy object of tle question is to nd out wlat lind of
conduct and what sort of insight a person should possess to be
iegaided as a distinctive individual endowed witl seieni[. In so fai
as tlis Dlamma is conceined, seieni[ oi eace of mind iefeis to
needom and libeiation nom eveiy asect of sueiing, toil, and suife.
Those presently listening to this lecture who are meditating, aim at
achieving that kind of peace and calm. All meditation practices in
the realm of this Buddhas dispensation seek to realise real peace and
happiness. Other religions outside the domain of the Buddhas
teaching likewise expect to gain such kind of peace. In their own
way tley all suive wisling to aclieve tlat objective. Tle only
dieience between tle two concets lies in tle lind of eace deiived
as to whether it is genuine or not.
There is no reason to doubt that in this universe every individual
wants to enjoy peace and happiness. Nowadays, peace initiatives
advanced by counuies all ovei tle woild aie intended to biing about
Woild Peace witl tle sole object of nding a way foi tle defence of
peace in the interests of all mankind. The main intention, however,
is to avoid conicts between nations and catasuolic consequences.
This aim and object does not embrace a wider scope. The peace
envisaged in this Dhamma is ultimate peace that would eradicate
all uoubles, uibulations, anxieties, miseiies, and ain, and would
iesult in extinguisling all linds of sueiings and woiiies, tleieby
biinging eteinal eace and lainess. One wlo nds sucl noble
peace and calm is called a sage. This means a person who has a
uanquil state of mind. Sucl a eison must be leained, wise, and
noble and must have adequate worldly experience and knowledge.
The created image of the Buddha asked the Blessed One as to what
kind of knowledge and worldly experience and good conduct such
a eace-minded man slould cometently and suciently ossess.
Verse Two: The Buddhas Answer 3
I will iecite tle following mouo foi you to memoiize easily. Wlat
knowledge and what conduct, if acquired, would deserve to be called
peace a sage?
The thirteen verses taught by the Blessed One in response to the
queiy made by tle Relica Buddla disclosed tle noble auibutes of
a sage. Some of the words in the answers convey almost the same
sense. To male tle teaclings undeistood by dieient linds of devas
and bialmas witl dieient outlool and idiosynciasies eculiai to
the celestial realm to which they belonged, repeated explanations
weie iendeied in a vaiie[ of ways. Among sucl an audience wlo
were present at the Great Occasion, there were some who could not
grasp the essence of the teachings if rendered ordinarily by the
Buddla. Tlis is wly dieient veisions of teaclings conveying tle
same underlying meaning were repeated.
Repeated to Make Everyone Understand
Lilewise, I lave to ieeat teaclings in a vaiie[ of ways altlougl
they carry the same sense to enable the audience to gain fuller
appreciation. At the Great Occasion innumerable devas and brahmas
nom dieient celestial iealms weie iesent. Even in tle luman woild
dieient dialects solen in a vaiie[ of languages aie involved.
Lilewise, colloquial exiessions witl dieient slades of meaning
could be in use among dieient celestial beings.
Verse Two: The Buddhas Answer
Vtataho pur bhed, (iti Bhagav) pubbamantamanissito.
Vemajjhe nupasakheyyo, tassa nahi purakkhata.
The meaning conveyed by the above verse is: Venerable sir! I
would say that a person who is not obsessed by craving, or in other
woids, wlo is nee nom clinging desiies is a sage.
Befoie one meets witl deatl, one slould be nee nom assion and
craving. Such a person who gets rid of craving is said to be a sage,
having been imbued with peace of mind. It means that one should
be able to equi limself witl tle Dlamma emanciated nom tle
bonds of auaclment, i.e. nee nom tle taint of ciaving. It is vital to
iemain unblemisled by ciaving. Tlose wlo ossess moiali[ and
sound intelligence, natuially lave tle abili[ to judge ioeily. Tlis
discourse was taught purposely for such learned people. This initial
single expression itself stands out in conveying a profound meaning
foi tle wise. Tleie aie dieient linds of ieligious docuines tlat eain
reverence in this world. In most of these religions, reference is made
to wlat will laen ahei deatl, sucl as tle destiny tlat will befall
a eison ahei deatl. Howevei, no one can veii( wlat ieally laens
to a eison ahei deatl.
The fundamental point is to gain personal realisation of the
Dhamma before death comes. One can rest assured if one could
aclieve tle Dlamma tlat ouglt to be iactised, and iea tle benets
duiing tle iesent existence. Tle wise would iobably be satised
and nd contentment only if tley could cleaily iealise tle uutl of
the Dhamma before death occurs. Only that would give them positive
assurance for the future.
Noble Attributes of the Dhamma
Some intelligent laymen, brahmins, and wise ascetics asked the
Blessed One: Veneiable sii! Fiequent uueiances aie made saying
that this Dhamma can be achieved right now. To what extent should
a person possess the noble qualities to be able to claim that he has
personally gained immediate results?
The Buddha extolled his own Dhamma as: It is a Dhamma that
can be experienced personally in this present lifetime through
practice leading to personal insight (sandihiko). It bestows benets
without delay (akliko). It invites investigation as: Come and see for
yourself (ehipassiko). It is worthy of practising and conducive to
perfect realisation by oneself (opneyyiko). It can benet and be
experienced by each and every person (paccaa veditabbo vihi).
The question relates to these noble qualities. The Buddha
answered the wise interrogators to their entire satisfaction. However,
tlese questions and answeis aie not nom tlis Puibleda Suua. I
lave claiied by diawing iefeiences nom otlei discouises to male
the meaning clearer and more convincing since they are relevant to
the statement that craving should be dispelled before death.
The Way to Gain Immediate Benefits
The Buddhas answer to the question on the Dhamma being
iealisable leie and now was: Bialmin! You slould ieect tlus: a
The Way to Gain Immediate Benets 5
person who is overwhelmed and oppressed by lust and passion,
may do tlings tlat aie deuimental to limself and otleis, being
incited by assion. He oi sle is caable of commiuing immoial deeds,
by actions, seecl, oi tlouglt. On tle otlei land, if one is nee nom
lust, one will abstain nom doing any sucl evil deeds. Hence, is it not
uue tlat needom nom lust and abstention nom unwlolesome acts
aie benets to be actually iealised in tlis iesent lifetime'
It is, in fact, a counter-question put by the Buddha to let the
questioneis ieect and considei tle immediate benecial iesults of
being able to expel lust and avoid evil deeds. This enabled the
questioners to understand clearly. Of course, not all of them were
able to dispel lust completely. There were some who just perceived
tle signicance of tle answei given in tle foim of a countei-question.
Tle gist of it is uiging tlem to iactise meditation to get nee nom
lust and assion. It is essential to get nee nom lust in tle iesent
lifetime, foi as long as lust las a im gii, one is liable to commit
evil deeds tlat aie deuimental to oneself and to otleis.
Such malicious actions or evil deeds might also be done out of
site oi angei, blinded by delusion. Lust is one of tle conuibutoiy
factors that stir up a person to commit evil deeds. It is because they
are gripped by lust, being obsessed by their own happiness at the
expense of others, that they tend to do evil wilfully and without
slame. Tleie aie many instances wleie muidei, tleh, iobbeiy, and
otlei laimful and foolisl oences aie commiued. Commission of
sucl evil deeds is mainly auibutable to tle iesence of lust. Otlei
evil deeds aie commiued due to iide oi conceit (mna). Some do
evil, male mistales, and uuei obscene woids imelled by egoism.
Wrong view (dihi) is a belief which is erroneously considered as
uue. Deending on sucl wiong views, evil deeds aie lilely to be
done. Sometimes, laim may be inicted uon tlose lolding dieient
beliefs. Leaving aside ieligious beliefs, in tle woild, lot conuoveisies
ohen aiise in olitical aaiis among bigoted eisons. Sucl incidents
occui due to gieed, laued, delusion, iide, and wiong views.
Dogmatic and iiiational views cause animosi[ and violence,
which harm the interests of both the wrong-doers and their victims.
We see tlese eects in tle iesent day. Tle ill-eects will be even
greater in the next existence. With the extinction of lust and the
complete eradication of delusion, pride, and wrong views, such evil
lammas will lave no ooituni[ to occui. No laimful acts will be
done to others. To get rid of these abominable feelings of lust, anger,
ego, etc., there is a method of practice. If this method is adhered to
and iactised in tle iiglt way, you will iealise tle uutl eisonally.
Tlis uutl of tle Dlamma is iealisable leie and now.
When the Buddha replied those who asked the question became
convinced and enligltened. Nobody can say witl ceitain[ wlat tle
destiny of a being will be ahei deatl. Tlat is wly tle Buddla tauglt
this Dhamma that could be personally realised in the present lifetime.
Befoie deatl, tlat is, befoie tle desuuction of tlese aggiegates of
auaclment, ciaving is uueily desuoyed. In otlei woids, ciaving
should be completely expelled before death. What the Buddha taught
is tlat a eison wlo is totally libeiated nom ciaving slould be called
a eison endowed witl seieni[ of mind a sage.
How to Eradicate Craving Before Death
The method to get rid of craving before death is the Noble
Eigltfold Patl. In teims of conduct and moial uaining tleie aie tliee
asects: moiali[, concenuation, and wisdom. It is essential to
obseive iecets, to iactise ecstatic concenuation, and to gain
insiglt lnowledge. Moiali[, oi living accoiding to iecets, will
disel tle gioss foim of active delements (vitikkama-kiles), passion-
ate cravings, both physical and verbal, which exceed the limits of
moial iesuaint. Concenuation exels wild imaginings tlat aiise in
a eisons mind. Wisdom exels latent delements (anusaya kiles),
wlicl may give iise to delements wlen ciicumstances aie favouiable.
Sensual craving is of six kinds: craving for beautiful visual objects,
melodious sounds oi a sweet voices, nagiant odouis, delicious tastes,
soh toucles, and iened ideas. If elaboiated, tle linds of ciaving
would be innumeiable. Just uy to imagine low many deligltful
sensations may occur at the sight of a single visual object. There is a
multitude of dieient asects. Auaclment and ciaving not only
occui in connection witl ones own lools and eisonali[, but also
las an inclination to nd otleis, sucl as family membeis and niends,
as beautiful and smait. You want to ossess ie and dain[ clotles
of ne textuie and otlei luxuiy goods. You may dieam of nice tlings
that you wish to own. If these have come into your possession, you
will again continue to lave leasuiable auaclment to tlem. You lile
How to Eliminate Delements by Morali 7
to cloose dieient colouis and designs of gaiments leasing to youi
eye for your dress, foot-wear, umbrellas, motor-cars, etc. Everything
tlat aoids satisfaction will auact ciaving. In iegaid to beautiful
siglts and scenes, leasant tunes and sweet voices, nagiant odouis,
tas[ food, and tendei toucles, tlese would stimulate deligltful
sensations. Such sensations are too many to enumerate. In the case
of fantasies and day-dieams tlat may nd a lace in youi leait,
enjoyable feelings might arise in longing to have them. This is craving
for mental objects. All those cravings, which are likely to occur
through the six sense-doors, and bring pleasurable sensations, must
be extinguished. Such cravings can be got rid of if you maintain
constant vigilance by full accomlislment of moiali[, wlicl will
eliminate tle exueme foims of lysical and veibal inuusions.
How to Expel Defilements by Morality
A eison wlo does not iesect and obseive tle iules of moiali[,
may cheat, steal, or even commit murder to get something that seems
liglly auactive. If sucl an evil deed is commiued, it would amount
to a bieacl of moiali[. Tlen it means tlat ciaving aiose and went
beyond tle bounds of moiali[. One wlo iesects moiali[ and lees
it intact will not give way to ciaving, and so will abstain nom cleating,
stealing, oi lilling. By so doing, le oi sle is nee nom tle ciaving
which could have urged him or her to resort to an evil deed. This
slows low exueme foims of ciaving could be exelled.
As for monks, there are many things that they ought not to do or
say, though they may wish to. Mental perversion should also be kept
in clecl. Self-iesuaint oi avoidance of eiveise tlouglts amounts
to leeing oneself nee nom ciaving. It is not eimissible foi a monl
to asl foi a tling nom a lay eison witl tle motive to male lim
oei it. Resuaint slould be exeicised even tlougl a monl may be
eagei to obtain some ioei[. No auemt slould be made diiectly
oi indiiectly to asl foi anytling. Inducing otleis to oei donations
is prohibited. If such inducement or insinuation is made, irrespective
of wletlei a tling oi ioei[ is ieceived oi not, tle uii[ of moiali[
is deemed to have been broken according to the rules of monastic
disciline. If moiali[ is ioeily iotected and let uie, it would
amount to iemaining nee nom ciaving tlat goes beyond tle bounds
by viitue of moial iesuaint.
In biief, obseivance of tlese moial iinciles by way of ienaining
nom commiuing evils eitlei lysically oi veibally, tle least tlat
must be done in this Buddhas dispensation is to eliminate the gross
foims of ciaving tlat lead to moial uansgiessions (vitikkama kiles).
How to Expel Defilements by Concentration
Howevei, tle subjugation of ciaving by moiali[ is not sucient.
It becomes moie stable witl tle develoment of concenuation
tliougl uanquili[ meditation (samatha). Fixed concenuation on tle
meditation device (kasia), a process inducing jhna with constant
mindfulness is samatha-bhvan. By being mindful witl xed
concenuation, tle mind is iiveted on a single object. If tle mind
sometimes wanders, it should be recalled and put back on the object
of contemlation. Tleiefoie, duiing uanquili[ meditation, leasui-
able auaclment to sensations on siglts, sounds, etc., that may arise
by wishful thinking, will cease to occur. This is how nascent craving
is exelled by develoing concenuation.
How to Eradicate Defilements by Wisdom
Concenuation can only disel ciaving duiing meditation. Once
meditation is ovei oi loses is momentum, ciaving will inluate and
oveicome concenuation. To ioot out ciaving, insiglt meditation must
be practised to develop wisdom. This simply means meditation to
gain insight knowledge. Accordingly, contemplation with mindful-
ness must be made at every moment of seeing, hearing, smelling,
tasting, touching, or thinking, whether walking, standing, lying
down, bending, suetcling, oi moving. In biief, all lenomena aiising
at the six sense-doors must be contemplated. If this is done, what is
seen, heard, or cognised will not being regarded as delightful or
pleasurable, and so no passionate desire will have the chance to occur.
An ordinary worldling who fails to contemplate and note, will
nd leasuie in eveiytling good and agieeable tlat is seen, leaid,
or cognised, giving rise to craving. If disagreeable things are
encountered, craving will arise for agreeable sense-objects. However,
a meditator who constantly contemplates every phenomenon arising
at the moment of seeing, hearing, or knowing, will (if insight is
developed to the stage of knowledge of dissolution) no longer think
of the phenomena as being agreeable or disagreeable, but will become
Two Kinds of Latent Delements 9
awaie of tlem as being imeimanent, laving uuly iealised tle
phenomenal arising and dissolution of things. Moreover, because of
the natural characteristics of impermanence, the meditator will realise
them as unsatisfactory. Having appreciated this in relation to all that
is seen, heard or cognised, no pleasurable sensation associated with
craving will occur. In respect of every sense-object contemplated, no
craving will arise, and so the mind remains at peace. This is how
latent craving is removed.
Two Kinds of Latent Defilements
rammanusaya means the passionate desire that can occur with
ieuosective ieection on tle objects of sense tlat lave escaed tle
auention of contemlation by means of insiglt. A meditatoi wlose
insight knowledge has matured to the stage of dissolution, will not
miss a single phenomenon that occurs at every moment of seeing,
hearing, touching, and knowing. All mental and physical phenomena
that appear will be found to vanish and dissolve immediately
whenever they are contemplated. Thus the meditator will realise
these phenomena as impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not-self.
Having realised them as such, the phenomenal nature of all such
laenings will be ieected uon and eiceived in tle liglt of tleii
uue claiacteiistics tleieby ieventing ciaving nom aiising. Tlis
explains the eradication of the subtle form of craving latent in
sense-objects by means of insight.
Santnnusaya means the passionate desire that can occur in an
ordinary person under suitable circumstances, and which has not
yet been diselled by tle Noble Patl. Tlese latent delements can
only be eradicated by the Noble Path. The manner of removal is that
while in the process of contemplating on the continual dissolution
of mind and mauei, tle aiising and assing away of mental
formations is realised through the achievement of the path of
Sueam-winning. Wlen nibbna is ieacled all latent delements aie
found to lave been exteiminated by matuie insiglt. A Sueam-winnei
is totally nee nom tle latent delements of eisonali[-view
(sakkyadihi), and doubt (vicikiccha). Whether practising insight
meditation or not, no false view or doubt about the Dhamma can
possibly occur connected with any kind of sense-object. Nevertheless,
a Sueam-winnei is not yet nee nom assionate desiies. Howevei,
powerful and unruly passionate desires, which can drag down an
oidinaiy woildling to tle lowei iealms, will not aiise in a Sueam-
winnei. Tleiefoie, a Sueam-winnei will abstain nom lilling, stealing,
lying, etc., which could relegate a person to the lower realms. An
ordinary worldling could do these misdeeds, either because of
auaclment to ioei[, to family membeis, oi to lis oi lei own life.
In connection witl tlis fact, tleie aie many instances in tle Pi
texts. Among these, the most interesting example relates to the
eisonal guaiantee oi aimation made by tle Commandei-in-Clief
of tle aimy, Geneial Sla, wlo was a Sueam-winnei.
The Guarantee Given by General Sha
Na ca maya jvitahetupi sacicca pa jvit
voropeyymti.
Tle gist of tle above Pi liase is: Having iegaid foi life, we
will never intentionally take the life of another living being in
self-defence to iotect oui own life nom imminent dangei of deatl.
This is not just a fanciful statement. It is a guarantee by General
Sla, a Sueam-winnei, of lis own mental auitude. In tlat statement
the word jvitahetupi slould be given aiticulai auention. Some
may lold tle oinion tlat a Sueam-winnei in wlom gieed and angei
still remain, could commit an act of killing in self-defence or in anger,
when faced with an enemy who is going to harm him or her to the
extent of causing deatl. Geneial Slas statement is tlat even to save
his own life, he could not possibly kill another. This statement accords
fully with the Buddhas teaching. It should be remembered that
tlougl a Sueam-winnei is not totally nee nom ciaving, le oi sle is
nee of tle suong ciaving tlat could lead to iebiitl in tle lowei iealms
foi laving commiued sucl acts of lilling, stealing, etc.
An oidinaiy eison wlo las not iejected even a naction of ciaving,
will no doubt commit evils as urged by violent passions, which can
cause iebiitl in tle lowei iealms ahei deatl. Neitlei will le oi sle
avoid doing unwlolesome acts sucl as stealing otleis ioei[. Tlis
ieveals tle unabated suengtl of ciaving. Tleie aie some oidinaiy
people who dare not commit evil deeds. They have sincere devotion
due to laving leaid oi studied tle Dlamma witl concenuated
auention. Howevei, tlis is not guaianteed. If falling into bad
Slasuua, Giadual Sayings, Bool of Eiglts. (A.iv.187)

How Calm and Blissful Is It? 11
company and repeatedly hearing evil or profane talks, an ordinary
eison miglt deviate nom tle iiglt atl eitlei in tlis iesent
life-time oi in futuie existences. A Sueam-winnei is not lile tlis.
Passionate desiies involing auaclment lave become weal, and so
he or she cannot even think of doing unwholesome actions that will
lead to the lower realms, neither in the present or in future existences.
This is indicative of the liberation or disengagement of craving.
On tle auainment of Once-ietuining one will be nee nom tle
suong foims of ciaving, ill-will, and angei.
When reaching the stage of Non-returning, the passionate desire
and ill-will are totally eradicated. As such, a Non-returner becomes
uanquil in tle mauei of sexual desiie. Desite tlis aclievement, as
feelings of delight and pleasure in respect of existence remain, a
Non-ietuinei is not totally nee nom sueiing. Tle desiie foi
existence will be eliminated only ahei one las ieacled Aialantsli.
Tlen only, all otlei delements sucl as delusion and iide aie
comletely annililated. Sucl a state of sancti[ can be iealised in tlis
veiy life existence. A noble eison ossessing sucl auibutes and
devoid of ciaving is called a sage, one wlo las auained uanquili[
of mind according to the teaching of the Buddha. Such an Arahant,
ahei parinibbna, will not be reborn again since the aggregates of
mind and mauei lave become extinct. No new existence will come
into being and with the absolute extinction of becoming eternal peace
will be gained. Such a blissful stage is called cessation without
remainder (anupdisesanibbna). A sage wlo is need nom ciaving
before death remains in a blissful state known as cessation with
remainder (sa-updisesanibbna), which means annihilation of
eveiytling excet tle ve aggiegates.
How Calm and Blissful Is It?
The meaning is that an Arahant who is totally devoid of craving,
still ossesses tle ve aggiegates, wlicl continue to undeigo tle
process of arising and dissolution. For this reason, he or she still
experiences and perceives the sense-objects of sight, sound, odour,
etc. In aiticulai, le oi sle is still subject to bodily sueiing caused
by leat and cold. Owing to tle indisosition and uansient natuie of
tle bodily elements, tle body las to suei ailments sucl as stiness,
pains, and aches. An Arahant may also fall sick. However, there is
a complete absence of miserable mental feelings even if an Arahant
las to enduie exciuciating ain. Tlis is tle exuaoidinaiy claiactei-
istic of an Arahant, who is mentally unperturbed and at peace, the
mind being calm, unaected, and uiied. It is tle sobeiing and
unincling eect of feeling exuemely beuei and uanquil.
Tlose Sueam-winneis and Once-ietuineis wlo lave not yet
escaed nom tle feuei of ciaving will lave two linds of sueiing:
disagreeable sensations while in physical pain or discomfort, and
unlainess wlen ieecting on miseiy enduied. It is lile geuing a
thorn stuck in the hand or the foot, then taking out the thorn with a
needle. Pain will be felt in two ways, the painful sensation caused
by tle iece of tloin tlat iemains in tle esl and tle ain tlat is
felt wlen exuacting tle tloin witl tle needle. Lilewise, an oidinaiy
woildling will suei two linds of miseiy: one nom disagieeable
sensations and tle mental disuess caused by laving a sensitive mind.
As for an Arahant, he seldom meets disagreeable sensations. If
disagreeable sensations do occur, there will be no consequential
unlainess. Tle mind iemains seiene and uie. Aait nom tlat,
all delements sucl as angei, delusion, conceit, iide, etc., have been
removed. Therefore, the Arahant is neither irritated nor excited by
any foim of feeling no mauei low unleasant oi leasant it may be.
Tlat is wly, wlen an Aialant auains parinibbna, the mental and
physical aggregates will not arise again. It is eternal peace. Such a
eison is, tleiefoie, said to be a sage. As stated eailiei, a sage is need
nom ciaving befoie deatl. He oi sle lolds no auaclment to tle
present, and neither longs for the future nor reminisces about the
ast, iemaining calm and seiene, nee nom ciaving.
Let us iecite tlis mouo:
Whoever eradicates craving before death, neither relying
on the past nor longing for the future, avoiding the two
exuemes by being mindful of tle iesent, is called a sage.
If that is so, the question may arise as to why the teaching is
repeated as pubbamanta manissito, etc. In brief, due to not being
undeistood yet by tle devas and bialmas, ieeated uueiance was
made to amli( tle teacling. Tlis las been iefeiied to in tle
beginning of this lecture. In the part that follows too, teachings are
repeated in the same way.
How to Eradicate Craving 13
How to Eradicate Craving
How to eradicate craving before death is explained as pubba-
manta-manissito, etc. Tlat means iactice to escae nom clinging to
the past, and abandon all hope for the future. In the present, practice
to avoid enlistment. This statement is not easy to comprehend either.
Howevei, as mentioned at tle beginning, tlis Suua was intended
for those who possessed the highest degree of intellect. These
intelligent individuals were able to understand the teachings, though
persons of mediocre intellect might not comprehend. Since it is meant
for the learned, it is necessary to mention a few things that need
ieection. As sucl, nom tle veiy outset, it las been tauglt in tlis
discourse that craving must be eradicated before death.
This is interesting for intelligent people. In practising religion, only
if its benet could be deiived befoie deatl, can one iest assuied. It is
unceitain wlat will laen ahei tle iesent life las ended. Foi instance,
wlen sueiing nom a disease, only if it could be cuied will it be woitl
taling ueatment. If it could be cuied in tle next life, no one will be
inclined to tale ueatment. Tle quiclei tle iecoveiy, tle beuei. In tle
same way, if peace of mind can be acquired in the present lifetime, it
will be exuemely satisfactoiy. Only if one iactices seiious ly, can one
auain Aialantsli in tlis veiy existence. If sucl an auainment is
achieved, one can be called a sage. Therefore, in the ninth verse given
in reply, it states: Ta brmi upasantoti, which means: a person totally
libeiated nom ciaving is called a man of seieni[. In tle last veise too,
it has been taught as: sa ve santoti vuccati. All qualities mentioned in
the previous verses shall be ended with either one of the aforesaid two
liases. Hence, a eison wlo is devoid oi entiiely need of ciaving is
said to be a sage. Tle metlod of iactice embiacing moiali[, concenua-
tion, and wisdom, has already been described fully. However, a few
oints deseive mention on low seieni[ occuis witlout tle sligltest
tinge of craving at the moment of insight contemplation.
Insight means constant contemplation of all phenomena arising
at the six sense-doors at every moment of seeing, hearing, touching,
and cognising. It is done to get rid of craving. In respect of every
sense-object contemlated, delements cease to occui momentaiily.
Meanwhile, craving also becomes extinct. The more intense contem-
plation becomes, the more craving can be mopped up. When
contemlation is iolonged, delements will be gieatly ieduced.
Velement and coaise delements will be minimized. At times,
seieni[ of mind will be aclieved to tle extent tlat one miglt tlinl
tle coaise delements will nevei aiise again as befoie. Tlis seieni[
is only a momentary achievement while contemplation is going on.
Some people have a wrong notion that this peaceful state of mind is
indicative of tle comlete cessation of delements. Howevei, until
and unless tle Noble Patl is auained, tle seieni[ aclieved is not
stable yet. Ahei a consideiable lase of time, say, a numbei of days
ahei insiglt iactice las stoed, coaise delements will giadually
ieaeai. Seieni[ is iealised wlile contemlation is being done. Tlis
seieni[ is tle benet gained befoie ones own deatl.
It is moie obvious to tlose wlose concenuation is suong.
Pleasurable sensations that may arise will vanish without recurrence
ahei contemlating and noting tlem once oi twice only. Ciaving
will be found to lave ceased altogetlei. Wlen concenuation becomes
deep, pleasurable and delightful sensations will subside without
being able to manifest. Although the pleasurable sense-objects are
noticed, since contemplating and noting are vigorous, they will be
vanishing so fast that they will not even be thought of as pleasurable.
Hence, seieni[ of mind ievails witlout leasuiable auaclment.
This is the way that craving is removed while contemplation is
ioceeding. It is tle benet iealised befoie deatl comes.
As contemplating and noting continue to accelerate, the Noble
Path is reached by virtue of insight knowledge, which becomes
mature with full accomplishment. All craving that can cause one to
land in the lower realms will then be extinguished followed by
personal realisation of real peace. This is also evidence of how
needom nom ciaving is exeiienced iioi to deatl. All assionate
desiies and leasuiable auaclments will be comletely eliminated
wlen Aialantsli is auained. Tlis is, in fact, tle cleaiing away of
craving, human passions, before demise.
Immediate Personal Realisation
Ciaving, lust, and auaclment cease altogetlei in an Aialant, tlen
all is peaceful. This realisation is achieved in this very life (sandihiko),
and without delay (akliko). To put it another way, this Dhamma can
be aclieved in no time. Moieovei, as tle benets can be ieaed
immediately, it warrants urging and inviting others to come and see
Courage Is Tested When Faced With Danger 15
(ehipassiko). Ahei extending an invitation to otleis, if no benecial
results are derived at once by them despite their practice of the
Dhamma, it would be unsatisfactory. Satisfaction will be obtained
only if tle benets aie gained moie oi less immediately oi witlout
undue delay. If satisfaction is obtained, thanks will be showered
upon the person who urges or encourages others to do the practice.
An analogy may be given. If a sick man was advised to take
medical ueatment failed to iecovei immediately, le may lose
condence in tle lysician. Only if le iecoveied oveiniglt ahei
taling medicine, will le lave condence in tle medicine iesciibed,
tle lysician, and tle eison wlo eainestly oeied advice. Similaily,
the Buddhas Dhamma deserves inviting and encouraging others as:
Come and see and Try the practice for yourself. If practice is
eifoimed witl diligence as uiged, one will be libeiated nom ciaving
in tlis iesent life. Ceitainly, if tle uutl of Dlamma is iealised, one
who practices meditation will be grateful to the one who urged him
to practise the Dhamma as prescribed by the Blessed One.
Let the Dhamma, which is worthy of practising (opneyyiko),
permeate your mind. Let it pervade the whole body and remain
absorbed just like taking medicine orally or as an injection to cure a
disease oi to iejuvenate ones suengtl. It is a Dlamma deseiving of
practice to spread it within yourself. If the Dhamma could be retained
in oneself by practising it, pleasant or odious sensations can be resisted.
Tle disease of delements can be comletely cuied. How' Wlen
encounteiing a sensation tlat may aiouse delements, it slould be
rejected by contemplating and noting it, as it arises. If it is noted and
contemplated, the sensation, whether good or bad, will be found to
vanish. Then, no craving will occur at all, and anger will cease too. If
craving or anger do occur, they will disappear at once if contemplated
and noted with constant mindfulness. This vanishing will become even
more conspicuous when unhappiness occurs. If a person who practises
cannot as yet disel sucl miseiable feelings of disuess by contemlating
and noting, then it may be considered as unsatisfactory. If so, it should
be noted that one is not yet accomplished in the Dhamma.
Courage Is Tested When Faced with Danger
Undei oidinaiy ciicumstances, a eisons uue calibie cannot be
judged, though he might have been extolled as a brave person with
gieat abili[. It is only wlen faced witl dangei tlat a eisons uue
courage can be known (padsu thmo veditabbo).
An accurate
assessment of couiage and abili[ can only be made if someone can
tolerate severely adverse conditions, and make decisions that run
counter to personal interest in a perilous situation. However much
someone may slow biavado, it is laid to judge tleii uue colouis.
Only wlen connonted witl ieal dangei and ut into a tiglt coinei
tlat calls foi decisive combat and uue valoui, if le is found glting
against his foe valiantly at the risk of his life, then it can be said that
le is a tougl and couiageous man. Lilewise, in maueis conceining
the Dhamma, one may be said to be highly accomplished and noble,
but unless he faces adverse conditions, he cannot be vouched for as
uuly noble and lnowledgeable. Only if le can toleiate and exeicise
self-iesuaint in subduing assionate desiies, wlicl wlen tley occui,
or in suppressing his anger to the point of near obliteration, or when
sorrowful sensations that might arise do not manifest, he is praise-
woitly. Accoiding to tle quali[ of tle Dlamma tlat is aclieved,
tle moie toleiance and foibeaiance le will slow, no mauei nom
which sense-door unpleasant and harmful sensations might appear.
This Dhamma therefore needs to be practised with all ones might to
let it permeate ones whole body and mind (opneyyiko).
Then this Dhamma can be realised by oneself by practising it
(paccaa veditabbo). It is solely deendent uon ones own eoit
and cannot be achieved indirectly. The Dhamma that has been gained
by ones own personal perseverance cannot be given or shared with
another. The teacher cannot bestow the Dhamma he has in him upon
his disciple. Parents cannot hand it down to their children. Neither
can clildien give it to tleii aients, noi can close niends slaie it
with each other.
One Only Gets Satiated If One Eats
In this world, during ones lifetime, only by doing the work that
needs to be done, will ones objective be achieved. Even in taking
meals, only if one eats, will one be satiated. If another person eats
one will not be satiated. Likewise, one should sleep for ones own
recuperation. A good sleep cannot be hired. Any kind of phenomenon
that occurs in ones self cannot be done by a proxy. Similarly, if one
S.i.78 and in many other places (ed.)

Relying on Craving and Wrong View 17
personally devotes oneself to practice, no one but oneself will gain
accomplishment in the Dhamma. The Dhamma can be fully appreci-
ated individually and separately by those who practise. To make the
meaning of this sandihika aspect of Dhamma, more distinct, the
Buddla tauglt in tlis Puibleda Suua tlat befoie tle desuuction
of the aggregates, craving should be eradicated. The phrases that
followed tle ist weie statements of exlanation in detail, tlat is
wly tleie is similaii[ in tleii meanings. Let me continue by
explaining the subsequent phrases.
Do Not Rely on the Past
No reliance should be placed on the former existences
(pubbamanta), if said in terms of existences. However, it is rare for
humans to recall past existences. There are only a few who are said
to iemembei tleii foimei existences. As tle majoii[ of luman beings
are unable to do this, the expression should be taken to mean earlier,
that is all preceding years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds.
Looling bacl nom tlis time of teacling, wlat las been seen, leaid,
sensed, or known are all recollections of the past. Even the words
just spoken and heard already belong to the past. What is being
spoken or heard at this very moment constitutes the present. What
is going to be said or heard may be regarded as the future. In this
case, what has been seen, heard, sensed, or known previously are
what is meant by former existences. It was stated that these should
not be relied upon.
Relying on Craving and Wrong View
Relying on means nothing but craving and wrong view. I have
given lectuies about ciaving and wiong view so ohen tlat tle subject
has become somewhat stale for our benefactors. However, I have to
repeat it here or there will be a gap in my teaching. In all the Buddhas
teachings, whenever the expression relying on is used, it refers to
craving and wrong view. Only with reference to these two, either
relying on (nissito) and not relying on (anissaya) has been taught. This
is uue. Wlen a leasuiable sensation occuis in iesect of a sense-
object, it amounts to relying on the sensation. Because of wrong view,
if craving or grasping is occurring, it is relying on the sensation that
aiises, witlout leuing go of it. If tleie is auaclment to ast events,
it is said to be relying on with craving. For instance, if one sits against
a wall, it may be said to be relying on the wall. One is leaning against
tle wall, wlicl lends its suoit. If siuing against a column, tle
column is ielied uon as a suoit. If siuing on tle ooi, it amounts
to ielying on tle ooi. Lilewise, ciaving, by ieecting ieeatedly
on the past sensations that had been perceived, it relies on them with
pleasure. Various kinds of sense-objects that have been seen, heard,
smelt, tasted, oi toucled in tle ast, aie ohen ieected uon witl
pleasure. Such reminiscence constitutes acts of reliance accompanied
with and stimulated by craving. Delightful and pleasant sensations
tlat lave aiisen in ieuosect ielating to events of tle foimei existence
should be regarded as reliance made with craving. Those who
remember their former existences are few.
However, since this discourse was delivered at the Great Occasion,
the devas and brahmas who were present could probably remember
the events that happened in their former existences. If pleasurable
sensations aie felt by ieecting on tle events tlat lad occuiied in
the former existences, it must be interpreted as being relied upon
with craving. As far as human beings are concerned, it is hard to
iemembei ast events nom ones clildlood, let alone nom foimei
existences. The key point is that events occurring in the past could
be ieected uon nom tle time of becoming adults. Tleie aie ast
events relating to food taken with relish, or joy and happiness found,
oi activities done in tle comany of niends, etc., to which pleasurable
sensations lave become auacled. Sometimes, sucl events miglt
come into ones head spontaneously without making any special
eoit. Tlis lind of iecollection of tle ast witl leasuie means
relying on the past. Such a state of mind should not be allowed to
occur. As taught before, if craving is eliminated, it can no longer be
relied upon. Therefore, the phrase stating that no reliance should be
made on tle ast aeais to be iedundant. Neveitleless, tle ist
liase wleiein mention las been made as nee nom ciaving, is
the summarised statement. Teaching was done to elaborate that no
reliance should be made on the past, and it was meant for those
people who could not yet understand with just a brief statement.
This is important for those who are currently engaged in medita-
tion. Wlile meditating, if one ieects on ast events witl leasuiable
feelings, it would amount to relying on the past. No such reminis-
Relying on Craving and Wrong View 19
cence should be allowed to occur. If such feelings do appear, they
should be abandoned by contemplating and noting them. If imagi-
nation occuis by ieecting on wlat las been seen, leaid, oi tasted
with enjoyment before, it must be dispelled by contemplating and
noting. All such events of the past should be contemplated and noted
the moment they creep into ones mind. If this is done, reminiscence,
wlicl is lilely to auact leasuiable auaclment, will not occui. One
will tlen be comletely nee nom ielying on tle ast.
With regard to this, it includes all kinds of recent events. It may
be things that took place on the previous day, in the morning or
aheinoon, oi events tlat lave only just been leaid, sensed, oi lnown.
Recent events are more conspicuous. Things that happened just a
few seconds ago, oi in tle moining oi aheinoon miglt aeai in tle
minds eye witlout ieection. Tley aeai sontaneously, so moie
care should be taken regarding recent events. All such sensations
should be abandoned by contemplating and noting at every moment
of their arising. This is how reliance on with craving is abandoned.
Relying on with wrong view is similar. What has been seen, heard,
touched, or known is wrongly assumed as I saw, or heard, or knew.
Tle sense-object is ieected on as a eison, a luman being, an animal,
etc. Since tle mannei of tlis ieection is as a eison oi being, it may
be said tlat ieliance las been made on wiong view. Tlis is ieuosec-
tion witl eisonali[-view and self-view. If sucl tlouglts aiise, tley
must be contemplated and noted, and thus abandoned. Therefore,
tle mouo was said: He wlo eiadicates ciaving befoie deatl neitlei
relying on the past, etc.
The expression neither relying on the past refers to the events
that had happened in the past. A pleasurable sensation with craving
slould not be allowed to occui by ieecting on ast events. If sucl
a sensation or thought arises, it should be abandoned by contemplat-
ing and noting. Tlis metlod is exuemely subtle. If noting is done
through mindfulness on the consciousness that arises, it will be found
to be disaeaiing. Tlis state of mind oi mental activi[ was absent
before. It occurs at this very moment and vanishes at once, hence it
is clearly realised as impermanent. Nor is there any living being. It
will be vividly known as a natural phenomenon arising and passing
away. Having iealised tle uutl, ciaving foi tle leasuiable sensation
cannot arise. Nor will wrong view appear with the idea that it is a
living being or a person. Therefore, this method of contemplation
and noting is veiy eective in abandoning tle ciaving and wiong
view that occur by relying on the past. All imaginations that may
arise relating to past events should be dispelled by contemplating
and noting in the way stated. If rejection is done by contemplating
and noting witl mindfulness, it will eventually lead to tle auainment
of Arahantship. On reaching that stage, craving and wrong view,
which are prone to rely upon the past, will be uprooted. This is why
iactice slould be done nom tle veiy beginning by an oidinaiy
person to get rid of craving and wrong view completely. Without
practising in this way, craving and wrong view could never be
abandoned. If one takes up the practice as an ordinary person, one
will become a Sueam-winnei ahei one las develoed insiglt
knowledge in the course of meditation. When one reaches this status,
coarse craving that could lead to the lower realms will be removed.
If a Sueam-winnei continues to meditate, le oi sle will become
a Once-returner. Further practice will bring progressive insight and
one will become a Non-returner. On reaching that stage, all desires
connected with sensual pleasures will be extinct. If a Non-returner
proceeds with contemplation, he or she will become an Arahant,
wleieby all delements will be eiadicated. Of couise, wiong view
las been exelled since tle time of Sueam-winning. Howevei,
Sueam-winneis, Once-ietuineis, and Non-ietuineis still lave iide
or conceit (mna). Tlis conceit, tlougl devoid of auaclment to tle
existence of a self, it resembles wrong view. Pride may cause one to
think of virtues as ones own. It is because of the presence of wrong
view working as an agent, it is called self-pride (asmimna) or pride
of views (dihimna). Tle tliee lowei stages of tle atl auained by
insight will abandon wrong view. However, on reaching Arahantship,
all clinging, wrong view, and pride will be completely eradicated. It
was with the intention of eradicating all leaning or grasping that
may appear in connection with the past that it was taught that the
ast is one exueme tlat slould not be ielied uon.
Abandon All Hope for the Future
Let me exlain low to iesuain oneself nom looling foiwaid to
the future, having mentioned about non-reliance on the past,
accoiding to tle mouo. Tlis was contained in tle teaclings as tle
Abandon All Hope for the Future 21
fourth stanza of the verse, which runs as Tassa nahi purakkhata.
It means, a person who does not hold any expectations for the future.
Foi examle, one wlo intends to uavel by uain will lave to aiiange
to get to the railway station, and reserve a seat for a comfortable ride
on tle uain to ieacl a ceitain destination, witlout any litcl. Tlis is
lanning and maling aiiangements in so fai as uavelling is
concerned. The same thing is found in the Dhamma. All beings are
meie uavelleis jouineying witlout a ause in tle cycles of existence.
They are therefore looking forward to what might happen to them
in tleii next existences, loing to nd tlings accoiding to tleii
desiies. Tley yeain foi a beuei life, asiiing to gain gieatei owei
and ioseii[ in tle next existence in tle luman woild. Tley wisl
to be born into an aristocratic family, or a wealthy family of higher
social status. Moreover, they wish to be born with handsome looks,
fair complexion, and hope for a luxurious life in the company of
followeis and auendants. If tley weie to be boin in tle celestial
realms, they hope to become powerful devas. In the present existence
too, tley want to be nee nom all dangeis, and to become oulent
among a ligl class socie[ of niends and ielatives. Tlese aie longings
foi tle futuie. It is just looling foiwaid, and lence in tle mouo, it
has been stated as: nor looking forward to the future. The gist of
it is not to look forward to and yearn for the future. If you happen
to imagine so, you should contemplate, note it, and then abandon it.
This advice is intended for those who are practising meditation
and not for those who are preoccupied with their daily chores at
home. As regards people who have to perform their domestic duties
and are fully preoccupied, not having time to meditate, it is
impossible to take up the practice and to contemplate and note.
Therefore, the method of practising contemplation on the right lines
is only important for those who are meditating. If and when practical
exercise in meditation is made, say, for an hour or so, or both day
and niglt continuously, it will be tle meditatois du[ to contemlate
and note with diligence. Hence, if any thought or imagination occurs
ielating to maueis conceining tle futuie, it must be noted. Tleie aie
so many things to be contemplated and noted. If what is going to
laen in tle futuie is ieected uon, tle tlouglt oi imagination
that arises must be noted. In the present lifetime, one is likely to think
and yearn for what one wishes to acquire or to be done according to
his own will or desire. Sometimes, one may be imagining and longing
for happiness in the world of human beings or devas by virtue of
moiali[ wlicl one las gained. Tlese aiising tlouglts and imagina-
tions should be contemplated, noted, and then abandoned, Also,
one may be planning to promote the practice of meditation. That of
course, is a virtuous thought. However, if one dwells on it for a
signicant eiiod, it will inteifeie witl tle iactice of meditation. If
tlis laens, lnowledge tliougl concenuation will fail to occui.
Then the progress of insight will be deterred. So even virtuous
thoughts should be abandoned by contemplating and noting them.
If one intends to develo dee concenuation, contemlation and
noting will be lindeied. As sucl, tlis [e of imagination must
always be abandoned by proper contemplation and noting.
If all such thoughts, ideas and longings for the futures are rejected,
iogiessive insiglt lnowledge will develo leading to tle auainment
of the Noble Path. On the achievement of Arahantship such thought-
ful imaginations will be totally eradicated. For this reason an Arahant,
having got rid of all craving, will have no new existence of mental
and lysical aggiegates ahei deatl tleieby gaining eteinal eace.
Oidinaiy eole and uainees on tle atl, laving lad ciaving, will
cling to one of the sensations appearing as kamma, signs of kamma,
and signs of destiny visualized on the verge of death. Then the mind
being xed on tlat aiticulai sensation, tle decease-consciousness,
sometimes called relinking-consciousness, hangs on to it leading to
rebirth, That is how they will be reborn in another existence with a
new set of aggregates. Rebirth and a new existence opens the door
to misery such as old age, disease, and death. Therefore, to be able
to avoid sucl miseiy, do not ieect on ast events oi long foi anytling
to tale lace in tle futuie. Tlese tlouglts slould be abandoned ahei
contemplating and noting.
Do Not Get Enlisted in the Middle
No auaclment slould be made between tle two exuemes, tlat
is, do not permit oneself to reach a situation whereby enlistment
could occur in the present existence. This means to avoid being
regarded as a person indulging in sensual pleasures or debauchery.
Avoid being regarded as a person full of anger and spite. Give no
chance to be regarded as a deluded, egoistic, or arrogant person; nor
Do Not Get Enlisted in the Middle 23
as a faithless sceptic, nor as an immoral person full of licentious
desires. Dont become one heading for the lower realms of animals
or hungry ghosts; nor even one who will be reborn a human being
oi a deva. In essence, meditation slould be iactised to escae nom
enlistment as a person belonging to any of the foregoing categories.
The statement, Do not rely on the past, and abandon all hope for
the future was the terminology used in the discourse. It is nearly
impossible to understand for the present generation. This Dhamma
taught in ancient times was not meant for ordinary people. It was
meant for persons of very high intellect. It would be easier for them
to understand. The expression Do not get enlisted in the middle
(nupasakheyyo), is even more profound, so I will explain it again.
In the phrase, Do not get enlisted in the middle (vemajjhe
nupasakheyyo), the middle refers to the phenomena occurring at
the six sense-doors on every moment of seeing and knowing. One
should not allow oneself to be enlisted as a person dominated by
passion or seething with rage regarding any kind of sensations that
occui in tle iesent. If leasuiable sensations occui witl auaclment
at the sight of a visual object, one should be called a lustful person.
All kinds of sensations arise at every moment of hearing, smelling,
tasting, touching, knowing, etc. A person who feels angry on seeing
a sense-object, may be called an angry man. Then, one can be called
deluded if one does not aieciate tle uutl of tle lenomena tlat
lave aiisen and auacted ones auention. Similaily, if one feels elated
and lonouied in connection witl tle sensations aiising nom wlat
have been seen, heard, touched, or known, a person deserves to be
called proud. If one considers that it is ones own self who sees or
hears, then one should be called a holder of wrong views. If demerits
occur relating to what has been seen, heard, or known, one may be
said to be heading for the lower realms. On the other hand, if merits
are being achieved one may be called a virtuous person who will be
reborn as a human being or a deva. Hence, one must conduct oneself
to avoid being enlisted as stated.
Then, what should one do to achieve that objective? The method
is to contemplate and note, as they really are, all mental and physical
phenomena that arise at the six sense-doors on every moment of
seeing, hearing, touching, and knowing. If thus contemplated and
noted, it will be clearly known that the arising phenomena are merely
mind and mauei, wlicl, in fact, aiise and vanisl immediately and
tlat tley aie imeimanent, unsatisfactoiy, and not-self. If tlis is uuly
iealised, leasuiable feelings and auaclment will cease to occui. If
not, all sensations will stick to the sensitive mind just like an image
sticls to a lm wlen taling a lotogial. Deligltful sensations may
occur repeatedly when the mind is impressed with the picture of a
leasuiable sensation on wlicl mental ieection is made. If it
happens to be a grudging or spiteful sensation, anger may arise. I
will relate a story where anger became prominent.
A Story from the Mahosadha Jtaka
In the Malosadla Jtala,
tle Bialmin Kevaa advised tle ling:

Youi Majes[! If you follow my advice and caiiy out eveiytling
exactly in accordance with my directions, you will become a
Universal Monarch. The king replied, Venerable sir! This is quite
simple and easy.
You slould mobilise youi uoos and iaise a big aimy, and subdue
with the great force at your command all neighbouring states that
are weak.
The king remarked in agreement: What has been stated by the
Bialmin Kevaa is uue. It is easy foi a oweifully nation to invade
a weak nation and conquer it. This plan is acceptable and will be
adopted. Threaten them by a show of force and pressure them to
submit to oui autloii[ as vassal states. Any counuy tlat concedes
to oui demands will be leh unlaimed and will be allowed to maintain
its status quo. We will tell them to follow our leadership and extend
full co-operation according to our dictates. These smaller nations
will no doubt obey our directions through fear. With the enlistment
of tleii suoit, as oui counuy gets suengtlened, we will ioceed
to coerce and subdue the bigger nations in a similar way. These big
nations too will have no alternative, but to acquiesce to our will.
Tle Bialmin Kevaa tleiefoie gave oideis tlat all neiglbouiing
states slould be subjected to tleii lings conuol. Kevaa was quite
intelligent. Of couise, if one las tle necessaiy suengtl, lots can be
hatched. In the modern world, imperial colonists assume a similar
aggiessive auitude.
In the DPPN and PTS uanslation it is called tle Mal Ummagga Jtala (J 546),
but in tle Buimese Tiiala it is tle Umagajtala (J 542), (ed.)
The Wisdom of Mahosadha 25
King Cani Bialmadaua found it aioiiate to adot tle olicy
of aggiandizement tle suong oiessing tle weal as advocated
by Kevaa. He met witl outstanding success in lis ventuie as
advised by Kevaa. If a small nation is tlieatened witl aggiession
by a big nation backed up by a huge army with overwhelming
sueiioii[ of suengtl, tle small nation las to give way and obey in
the face of an imminent danger to avert disaster. In this way, all
neighbouring states, big or small, had to capitulate and concede to
lumiliating negotiation as dictated by King Bialmadaua.
Ahei succeeding in its eoits to subjugate a good numbei of states,
and on maling fuitlei incuisions witl tleii militaiy suengtl, some
of the big nations became concerned and could not endure any more.
Tle migl[ foice was giadually advancing towaids tle counuy of
Videla. It was a modest sized state in cenual India, lying to tle noitl
of Mgadla. In tlose days, tle states weie not veiy big. None of
them would be comparable in size to the Union of Burma, though
tleii size is exaggeiated in liteiatuie. Tle Bialmin Kevaa uiosely
delayed tle execution of lis lan to invade tle counuy of Videla
simply because of the presence of the minister Mahosadha, who was
a reputed sage. In the Commentary, it mentions that the royal army
besieged a fairly small state of Videha with eighteen divisions of
armed forces. It was very large and broad-based. In those ancient
times, the weaponry used in warfare was mainly swords, spears,
and bows. There were then no sophisticated weapons as there are
in modein times. As sucl, it is lilely tlat tle suengtl of tle glting
foices miglt lave been faiily laige. Mitlil, tle caital ci[ of Videla,
was suiiounded by eiglteen aimy divisions. Tle auacling foice sent
a message to tle besieged ci[ wletlei tley would male an
unconditional surrender. The king of Videha sought the advice of
Mahosadha asking, How would you suggest that we combat this
dire situation which calls for an urgent solution?
The Wisdom of Mahosadha
Malosadla lad envisaged befoieland tlat Kevaas aimed foices
would one day march on Videha and lay siege. He had therefore
made eaily ieaiations to male tle ci[ self-sucient witlin its
own ci[ limits in food and otlei essential mateiials. Dams, lales,
and canals weie consuucted witlin tle iecincts of tle ci[ to ensuie
an adequate supply of water both for consumption and for cultivating
cios. Sies and infoimeis lad been sent to vaiious otlei counuies.
Even among Kevaas aimy tleie weie hl-columnists wlo lad
done tle woil of ioaganda to tle eect tlat food sulies weie
in abundance witlin tle ci[, etc. They, of course, made exaggerated
statements regarding the stock-piling of all sorts of provisions, and
the state of preparedness in the event of a siege. This information
lad made Kevaas uoos to considei an alteinative suategy to tle
oiiginal lan. Tleii new suategy was to ioose a baule of wits
between intellectuals of eitlei ai[ and mutually agiee to submis-
sion to the winner of the contest.
Mahosadha accepted this proposal. He therefore sent word to the
enemy cam tlat on tle next day at suniise, le would come out nom
tle westein gate of tle ci[ witl valuable gihs to lold negotiations,
and tlat tley slould wait foi lim. Kevaas ai[ witl a luge aiiay
of armed forces awaited eagerly for the occasion. Since they had to
wait at the western gate, selected for the rendezvous, their faces were
scorched by the burning rays of the rising sun. The climate in India
at that time was unbearably hot. They were facing the sun as they
looked up at the eastern horizon while waiting for Mahosadhas
arrival. Mahosadha did not arrive early. His delay was intended to
lee tle otlei ai[ in susense and male tlem suei witl tle leat.
It was a cunning way of ill-ueating otleis. Kevaas uoos, wlo
weie eisiiing leavily, lad to suei. Only about midday, Malo-
sadla and lis ai[ made tleii aeaiance. Kevaa tlen said,
Friend! As we two are men of wisdom, courtesy should have been
shown between intellectuals. Depending upon you all, Mahosadha,
we arrived here a few days ago, yet, until today you have not made
a niendly gestuie by iesenting us witl gihs. Tlis was an insinua-
tion. Malosadla tlen iesonded tlat le lad not been able to oei
gihs yet, due to tle time talen in consideiing wlat lind of gihs
would be appropriate. I have brought a priceless gem to be
iesented as a gih, lease lonoui us by acceting it, said Malosadla.
So saying, he made as if about to hand over the gem.
Kevaa ieected in tlis way. As Malosadla las come to oei
tlis gih, it amounts to aying lomage and submiuing to subjugation.
So he thought he was the victor. With great delight and eagerness,
le extended lis lands and siead lis alms to ieceive tle gih.
The Wisdom of Mahosadha 27
Malosadla ut tle gem on tle to of Kevaas ngeis so tlat it slide
down. Being heavy, the gem dropped through the gaps in the
Bialmins ngeis and landed on tle giound between Malosadlas
feet. Imelled by gieed, Kevaa bent foiwaid to icl u tle gem. At
that moment, Mahosadha caught hold of the Brahmins neck, pressing
his head down, causing his brow to touch the ground, and exclaimed
loudly, Venerable Brahmin! Im obviously younger than you. You
are senior to me. Please dont worship me. It is highly improper.
In fact, Kevaa was ceitainly not aying lomage to Malosadla,
le meiely bent foiwaid and uied to icl u tle gem. Howevei, it
would appear to others by his posture that he was paying homage.
Mahosadha therefore, placing his one hand on the neck of the
Brahmin and holding the knot of the garment at the waist of the
Brahmin with the other hand, pressed him down, brushing the
Brahmins forehead against the ground, and exclaiming, Oh, teacher!
Please stand up, Im too young to be deserving of reverence in this
way. Im only about the age of your grandson. Dont worship me.
So saying, le swet tle Bialmin o lis feet by ulling lim laid.
Almost at once, Malosadlas sies among Kevaas ietinue
ioclaimed, Oui teaclei, tle gieat Bialmin Kevaa is aying
lomage to Malosadla foi laving failed in tle baule of wits. Wlen
this loud proclamation rang forth, the entire armed forces of King
Bialmadaua ian leltei-sleltei. King Bialmadaua also ed laving
been cauglt unawaies. Many soldieis must lave sueied injuiies
in the commotion. Fear usually spurs men to take to their heels in a
mle to save their own lives. It is really dreadful. In ancient times,
it must been all the more horrible.
Tle victois in baule lundei tle ioei[ of tle vanquisled as
tley lease. Botl life and ioei[ may be desuoyed, lundeied, oi
seized. Towns and villages are razed. Men are captured and might
be executed. Piisoneis-of-wai aie ueated as slaves. Tlose defeated
in baule and tle counuy tlat is invaded, lose tleii needom,
soveieign[, and national iestige, and may be ciuelly suiessed.
Tlis feai of imending disastei must lave made King Bialmadaua
and lis aimed foices tale iglt.
Tle Bialmin Kevaa cauglt u witl King Bialmadaua and
ievented lim nom iunning away. He exlained tlat tley weie not
defeated yet, and that he had not paid homage to Mahosadha. The
baule of wits lad not staited and it was meiely a uicl layed by
Malosadla by oeiing a gem as a gih. King Bialmadaua, iealising
wlat lad actually laened, iallied lis scaueied and disoiganized
uoos, came bacl again, and laid siege to tle ci[ of Mitlil witl lis
aimed foices imly itcled foi baule.
Despite the siege, the sage Mahosadha deputed a Brahmin of his
own cloice, named Anulevaa undei slam oideis of exulsion.
Anulevaa souglt to auend on Bialmadaua and sclemed to incite
susicion about Kevaa, and among otlei ministeis and tle uoos.
Investigations weie made by King Bialmadaua, and soon le could
no longei uust any of lis geneials and otlei couitieis including lis
advisei Kevaa, laving found witl tlem in ossession of weaons
and presents bearing the insignia of Mahosadha. Suspicion over-
whelmed him, thinking that his courtiers had surreptitiously pledged
allegiance to Malosadla. One niglt, Anulevaa and King Bialma-
daua secietly ed tle lace as aiianged by tle sy, Anulevaa. At
the same time, other spies working for Mahosadha publicly
announced tle seciet and sudden deaituie of King Bialmadaua.
The royal army of great magnitude woke up in surprise and dismay,
and ed at once in confusion. Fiom tle oint of view of some tlese
days, such an incident might be regarded as just a myth. However,
consideiing Malosadlas iemailable abili[, wisdom, and gloiious
auibutes, it could lave ieally laened in tlose sueistitious days.
Even in Burmese history, such incidents were said to have taken place
when people were seized by fear.
As a iesult of tlis baule, Kevaas foielead was disguied by an
ugly scar. It is said that every time he looked at a mirror, the scar
reminded him of past events. Brooding over the past humiliation
infuiiated Kevaa wlo swoie vengeance on Malosadla foi causing
him injury, humiliation, and ignominy. Every time he saw the scar on
lis foielead, it made lim ieect on tle ast incident, wlicl stiiied u
his imagination: Mahosadha deceived me. I failed to get the gem and
the only result I have is this scar on my brow. He is really wicked. I
will tale my ievenge one way oi anotlei, and male lim suei. Witl
tlis iesentment goading lim, le was constantly louing against
Mahosadha. The ruse he employed was to invite the king of Videha to
be given tle daugltei of King Bialmadaua in maiiiage. Tle intention
behind this move was when the king of Videha with Mahosadha and
How To Avoid Enlistment 29
tleii ietinue came witlout taling due iecautions foi tleii secuii[,
they were to be captured and massacred. However, this plot was spoilt
by cautious handling of the situation by Mahosadha who had taken
preventive measures, being aware of the plot prior to the occasion.
How Anger Arises on Reflection
The point that needs emphasis here is the way in which anger
aiises wlen ieecting on ast events. Angei does not noimally aiise
on seeing a scar. In this case, however, the reason for the upsurge of
angei at tle siglt of tle scai was because Kevaa, tle Bialmin, lad
an indelible impression of the past events. If he could forgive
Mahosadha, there is no reason why he should get angry with
Mahosadha. It happened because of the presence of the wrong notion
of self and the scar on his forehead as being mine, which is a
concept, just as Mahosadha was thought of as a being, an illusion
tlat is lnown oi manifested in name only. If it was uuly lnown and
realised, anger would not have had any place to stand on. If the mind
clings to a sensation, and if ieection is made on it, it would be tle
root cause for the occurrence of greed, anger, delusion, and other
delements. Tlese sensations aiise nom wlat is seen, leaid, toucled,
oi lnown. It is uue. If no contemlation and noting is done at tle
moment of seeing, hearing, touching, and knowing, greed, anger,
delusion, pride, etc., can occur.
It iesembles taling a tling nom ones oclet and looling at it
nequently. Reeated occuiiences of gieed, angei, and otlei dele-
ments, occui by ieecting on wlat las been seen, leaid, and lnown.
A person who fails to contemplate and note at every moment of
seeing, etc., will be wiaed u in gieed nom tle time of seeing,
hearing, or knowing. Such a person can be called avaricious. They
may also be said to be someone in whom anger, delusion, and pride
have arisen. Since he or she has been enlisted as a person accepting
and receiving unwholesome kamma, he or she is included in the list
of those who are destined for the lower realms, such as animals or
lungiy glosts. If tlat is tle case, it is uuly a cause foi gieat alaim.
How to Avoid Enlistment
This is to say that if one fails to contemplate and note at every
moment of seeing a sense-object or hearing a sound, etc., greed and
angei can aiise out of tle sensation tlat occuis nom wlat is seen,
heard, touched, or known. When greed, anger, etc., have become
overwhelming, either foul or fair deeds are liable to be done. If it
yields unmerited results, he will descend to the lower realms.
Therefore, he has been enlisted as one who will go down to hell, the
lower realms, or the animal kingdom.
Merits can also be derived depending on greed or anger. How? It
is done, for example, by giving donations wishing to acquire and
enjoy tle lind of leasuiable sensation tlat can be deiived nom wlat
is seen, heard, touched, or known in the next existence even though
it may not be within ones reach in the present lifetime. One may keep
the moral precepts wishing to gain merits. It shows how moral merits
are derived depending upon greed. If meritorious deeds are done in
angei witl a view to fullling ones own desiie, tle iesultant eects
will be gained relying upon anger. If merits are acquired in this
manner, these actions will pave the way or bring good results to be
reborn as human beings or devas. If exertion is made to achieve jhna,
it can biing benecial iesults even to tle extent of becoming a bialma.
Such kinds of action, speech, or thought bringing forth good and bad
eects aie exeiienced by eveiyone. Tlese lave so laened and
made their appearance at the time of seeing, hearing, touching, and
knowing, and since then they have become enlisted.
Meditation should be practised to avoid being enlisted. The way
of practising is to contemplate and note constantly without a break on
tle aiising lenomena of mind and mauei nom tle six sense-doois
at every time of seeing, hearing, touching, and knowing. While
contemlating, tle uue claiacteiistics of imeimanence, unsatisfacto-
riness, and not-self should be clearly perceived. Awareness occurs in
this way. It will be known as vanishing if contemplation and noting is
carried on at the moment of seeing. It is also realised as arising and
passing away instantaneously. Hence, it becomes obvious that it is
impermanent and not lasting. If also what is heard is contemplated
and noted, it disaeais all at once ahei leaiing las talen lace. It is
also found disappearing and dissolving. Awareness then comes of the
uutl of imeimanence. In tle same way, wlat las been contacted and
known immediately disappears. It arises and dissolves, and this
phenomena will be realised as impermanence. If realisation occurs in
the way stated, no enlistment is possible as a man of greed, anger, or
An Arahant is Free From Entanglement 31
delusion. Such a person should not be called greedy or lustful. Nor
should he or she be called an angry or deluded person, nor one who
is ued u witl false iide, noi one witl delements, noi, one
deiiving meiits oi demeiits. One will tlen escae nom enlistment as
a person who will have take rebirth either in the lower realms or in the
human or celestial realms as a result of demeritorious or meritorious
deeds. Meditation slould be iacticed to escae nom being enlisted
by every sensation that may arise, to avoid becoming entangled.
An Arahant Is Free from Entanglement
On becoming an Arahant, all sensations that cause entanglement
and pave the way for enlistment are eradicated. Even a Non-returner
is not yet be nee nom all linds of sensations. Sensations wlicl aie
listed and present in a most complex form remain to be accounted
for in the case of an ordinary person. Those that need be reckoned,
comprise rebirths as a human or a deva, or in the lower realms of
animals and hungry ghosts. Hence, ordinary people have all these
things to be reckoned and to give their results. In this regard, a
Sueam-winnei is beuei o, being less entangled. Tleie is no cause
to be relegated to hell or the lower realms. He or she has been enlisted
to become a human being, deva, or brahma. A Once-returner is in
the same boat. A Non-returner, however, has hardly anything to be
accounted for since there is no enlistment to be reborn a human or
a deva. He oi sle las been imly enlisted to become a bialma. Wlen
Aialantsli is auained, tleie is notling leh to be iecloned.
Eveiytling las been comletely seuled and fully accounted foi. Tlat
is wly it is vital to iactise to seule and liquidate all entanglements.
Regarding this point, the teaching is profound. However, those who
lave tle iiglt inclination witl noble auibutes can undeistand and
appreciate these profound aspects of the teaching.
In tle mouo, tle statement is to avoid being enlisted in tle middle,
i.e. in the present existence, by practicing meditation. To elucidate
fuitlei, tle middle means tle aiising of mind and mauei at tle
moment of seeing, hearing, touching, and knowing. This is how
contemplation is done by our meditators. They have to contemplate
at every moment that physical phenomena arise according to the
method of mindfulness. They have to contemplate every sensation
that occurs at the moment of seeing, hearing, or thinking, and on all
sensations of stiness, leat, ain, acling, etc. This is done to prevent
delements nom aiising in tle iesent, and to avoid being assailed
by passion, ill-will, and delusion, or to avoid being enlisted as one
destined foi leavenly abodes, oi tle lowei iealms, oi diihing in tle
endless cycle of existences. On becoming an Arahant, the things to
be accounted for will be totally removed. A person becoming fully
accomplished as such, is a sage who has gained real peace.
Tle ist veise uueied by tle Buddla in answei to tle question
was:
Vtataho pur bhed, pubbamantamanissito.
Vemajjhe nupasakheyyo, tassa nahi purakkhata.
Tle above Pi stanza may be exlained tlus: an individual wlo
is nee of ciaving in tle iesent lifetime, neitlei ieminisces about tle
past, nor craves for the present, nor longs for the future. Such an
individual is uuly a sage witl eace of mind. It is adequate even
with this explanation relating to a single verse. However, when the
Buddha delivered this discourse, only a few devas and brahmas were
able to gias tle full meaning of tlis ist veise. Some weie unable
to appreciate it fully. For those who still failed to comprehend, the
Blessed One proceeded to deliver the remaining twelve verses to
enable them to realise the Path and Fruition and become well
accomplished.
Verse Three
In tle text of tlis Suua, tleie is only one question in tle foim of
a verse while the answer embraces thirteen verses. Therein, it is
stated that if craving has been got rid of before death, one has already
become an Arahant. If a person does not deserve being called one
who relies on the past, longs for the future, or is wrapped up in
delements in tle iesent, le is said to be an Aialant. Ahei auaining
Arahantship no further practice is needed. That is why the Dhamma
is found to be adequate and comprehensive even with the exposition
given in tle ist veise. Howevei, to male some of tle devas and
brahmas clearly understand the Dhamma, which they had failed to
appreciate fully, the Blessed One continued to elucidate it in detail.
Akkodhano asants, avikah akukkuco.
Mantabh anuddhato, sa ve vcyato muni.
Tame Anger and Exercise Resaint in Speech 33
The meaning of the above phrase is: One who is not prone to
angei. In otlei woids, a eison slould be nee nom angei, mild and
gentle, witlout site oi iesentment. He is also nee nom woiiy and
anxie[. Neitlei is le egoistic and boastful. He is fai above contemt
in regard to his physical and mental behaviour and does not adopt
a desicable auitude in seecl oi deed. He does not seal witlout
ieecting wisely. He is not iestless, and is endowed witl stabili[ of
mind. A monl ossessing sucl noble auibutes is one wlo exeicises
iesuaint in seecl. Tle Buddla said: Sucl an individual is, I say,
a person who is at peace, calm, and serene a sage. For the sake of
memoiising, let us iecite a mouo. Tlen, I will exlain its meaning a
bit more.
Tame the anger and avoid worry without being arrogant
and stay nee nom iestlessness and iemoise (kukkucca).
Restlessness and remorse (kukkucca) cannot be uanslated satisfac-
toiily in one woid it will be exlained latei. It slould be ieected
uon witl ones own lnowledge. Tlese aie tle six noble auibutes
of a sage. As it would be laid to undeistand in Pi, it is comosed
in plain English as concisely as possible.
Tame Anger and Exercise Restraint in Speech
A person should not allow himself to become indignant. In other
words, do not let the anger overwhelm you. All individuals with the
exception of Non-returners and Arahants, have anger to varying
degrees. When loathsome sensations arise, anger generally occurs.
Leaving aside oidinaiy eole, even Sueam-winneis and Once-
returners still have anger. Anger arises in them when disagreeable
sensations are felt. Fury or violence is the natural characteristic of
angei. It is fai nom being meel and mild. It iesembles a cobia, wlicl
raises its head and hisses with anger the moment it is touched. Anger
may suddenly become velement beyond conuol. Angei iages on
hearing unfair criticism or any kind of harsh talk. If is just like a snake
hissing with great fury. Greed and anger are in rivalry. Anger is, of
course, more conspicuous because of its ferocious nature. Anger
uuly ieects tle mood of an individual oi a eisons mental
disosition. Since angei is iougl, wild, and eice in natuie,
contemplation should be done to dispel it completely.
Ill-will usually arises when one comes across loathsome sensations.
The moment contact occurs, causing disagreeable sensations, ill-will
arises. Unpleasant and hideous sounds stimulate wrath almost
simultaneously the moment they are heard. It is more likely that
feeling of ill-will will arise when a sound or voice is heard rather
than when an object is perceived by the eye. One can tolerate to a
certain extent when a disagreeable object is seen, but it is hard to
toleiate abuse oi deiision, wlicl cause biuei feelings oi indignation.
Ill-will becomes violent anger if one is abused with obscene words.
Such words, however, do not cause even a slight injury, not even an
abrasion on the physical body. It is just a voice, yet it may provoke
biueiness to tle extent of muidei. Sucl a luman uagedy begins nom
the time of hearing harsh words. Nations may even declare war over
disutes aiising nom disaiaging tall due to diveigent dogmatic
views about political issues, which eventually lead to a crisis. Hence,
abusive seecl may cause a gieat deal of uouble.
Sometimes, a foul odoui nom a neiglbouiing louse may cause
a nuisance to otleis living neaiby, and may lead to e quaiiels
between neiglbouis. Disagieeable oi biuei food can male a eison
angry. A married couple may quarrel over likes and dislikes of food
according to their preferences. Such cases are fortunately very rare.
Ones patience may be tested by sensations of touch. Painful
sensations aiising nom toucl may male a eison angiy, sucl as tle
irritation caused by mosquitos biting. One may also get angry if
suiling ones toe against sometling laid even tlougl it was ones
own fault. If someone shoves us while rushing in a crowd, or hits us
with a stick, these are obviously instances when anger might arise.
Anger may not always occur at once. If someone insult us or talks
iudely, it miglt lead to angei latei eitlei ahei ieeated iovocation
or by brooding over what was said. Anger brings about a change in
ones aeaiance, wlicl becomes sullen. Wlen temeis aie, angiy
woids follow. Angei giadually male one iiate, leading to ts of iage,
oi it may develo into a blind fuiy to tle extent of commiuing muidei
or suicide. Anger may progressively swell up to a raging fury.
Resembles a Toad
It las been tauglt in tle Vammila Suua tlat angei is lile a toad
tlat us u if toucled. In Slwebo disuict, sucl a toad is called a
Nine Causes of Resentment 35
Phar-om. Some called it Phar-gon-hnyin. In some places it is called
Phar-byoke, which is poisonous. The toad called uddhumyika in
Pi is not oisonous. Eveiybody will lnow if it is desciibed as a nog
that swells in size every time it is touched. It stays among dry leaves
oi at tle foot of a uee. Sometimes, it may stay inside a lole in tle
earth. As it grows swollen every time it is touched, it eventually
becomes unable to move. If it is put upside-down, it will not be able
to resume its normal posture on its legs. It cannot even move about
if crows or other birds come to prey on it. It will then become a victim
to crows and birds.
Anger is similar to that kind of toad. On hearing unpleasant or
undesiiable sounds, unleasant sensations become ued u. If sucl
contacts occur repeatedly, anger grows in proportion. It may cause
one to do tlings tlat slould not be done. It can go to exuemes.
The Remedy for Anger
Since anger tends to increase, the moment it arises, it should be
dispelled by contemplating and noting. Those unfamiliar with
contemlating and noting will lave no iemedy. Tley will suei
mentally wlenevei angei aiises just as a sicl eison las to suei
due to lack of medicine. If medicine is readily available, relief can
be obtained and tle atient can iecovei nom lis illness. If tle
Dhamma is not available, there is no helping a person if anger has
giied lim. He will suei nom mental disuess. Some aie so blinded
by ignorance that they cannot help behaving impulsively in fury.
This shows the nature of anger. However, those who know the
Dhamma well, can easily contemplate, note, and dispel anger
whenever it appears.
Nine Causes of Resentment
When arising anger is unabated and becomes intense, malice and
desire for vengeance can occur. The vengeance or ill-will that occurs
in connection with human beings, is of nine categories. This is known
as nine occasions for ill-will or resentment (ghta).
A person may bear a grudge merely out of discontent. Then,
awaieness of giievance will occui. He may ieect on tle ast,
remembering and feeling hurt that a particular person has given him
a lot of uouble deuimental to lis well-being. Tlis is beaiing
iesentment against tlat eison to ietaliate foi tle ill-ueatment
received. Again he may think of taking revenge on a person who is
doing him harm at the present, assuming that in future this person
is likely to harm his interests. These are the three kinds of resentment
arising out of the present situation. This kind of resentment may be
generated not only against people, but also against other sentient
beings. Vindictive tlouglts can occui even against mosquitoes, eas,
ants and other biting insects. These tiny insects may be regarded as
a nuisance, and so feelings of disgust oi laued may occui. If no
virtuous thoughts were entertained, these insects would be killed. A
eison may tale ievenge on a dog tlat lad once biuen lim, oi bailed
at him. These sorts of grudge are not uncommon. Much worse are
massacres of innocent people that can happen due to resentment and
vindictive feelings.
The above three forms of wreaking vengeance due to resentment
will usually laen ahei biooding ovei incidents wleie laim las
been done in the past, is being done at present, or worrying that harm
may be done in the future. There are three further kinds of resentment
ielating to a eison foi wlom one las dee love and aection. One
may harbour resentment against someone who has done harm to a
loved one in the past, is doing wrong now, or may do harm in the
future. Then, with regard to a person whom one hates, vengeance
may be taken on another person for giving help to the person whom
one hates, for giving assistance to that person at the moment, or for
any oeiing assistance tlat may be iendeied in tle futuie. Tlus, in
all, tleie aie nine linds of basis foi iesentment. Aait nom tlese,
one may unnecessarily become angry with lifeless or inanimate things,
such as, sharp-pointed stumps, pegs and thorns, or the burning rays
of the sun, a sudden downpour, and so on. This is called ahnakopa.
Including resentment of inanimate things, there are ten categories
in all. I will exlain a liule moie low iesentment of inanimate tlings
occurs. Anger may arise if the weather becomes hot when coolness
is desired, or, if there is a heavy downpour when rain is not wanted,
oi if a suong wind blows wlen it is not needed. Sometimes, one may
get angiy witl tle disease le is sueiing, wlicl may be iolonged
in spite of his wish for a speedy recovery. When natural phenomena
such as, wind, rain, thunder, etc., occur, or if unpleasant sensations
arise in him according to circumstances, one may be intolerant and
Should Have No Fear or Anxie 37
angry. These events are indicative of wrath in cases where angry
sensations should not have arisen. Some people even become angry
at a stump on which they have stumbled while walking. If this
happens, they may even kick it repeatedly in a rage. Some may
become so eniaged by laving dioed sometling nom tleii lands
tlat tley tliow it away oi beat it in an unconuollable temei.
There are occasions when anger arises without any known reason.
To ievent sucl angei nom aiising, it slould be contemlated, noted,
and then rejected. All undesirable sensations arising at the six
sense-doors that invoke impulsive angry moods should be dispelled
by contemplating and noting. If anger appears, it should be sup-
iessed nom tle veiy outset to biing it to cessation to ievent any
imioei lysical belavioui. Ahei tle iejection of sucl undesiiable
sensations, wlen insiglt becomes suongei, tle Noble Patl can be
auained. A Sueam-winnei is not yet nee nom angei, but no velement
anger will arise in him or her to be capable of killing another person,
wlicl if commiued, would lave caused one to descend to tle lowei
iealms. A Sueam-winnei will be able to conuol lis oi lei temei
nom becoming fuiious tlougl le may still become angiy witl
undesirable sensations that may arise. However, no anger that can
cause lim to steal otlei eoles ioei[, oi biing nancial iuin to
others, or to tell lies, will occur. He or she may therefore be said to
be relieved of sinful acts.
On reaching the stage of Non-returning, all kinds of anger will
cease. Notling need be said of an Aialant in wlom all delements
have become extinct. Hence, it is stated as one not prone to anger
(akkodhano). Non-returners and Arahants, in whom anger does not
ieside, aie libeiated nom sueiing and miseiy in so fai as delement
of ill-will is concerned. Such a person is called a sage.
Should Have No Fear or Anxiety
Moieovei, it is stated as nee nom feai and anxie[ (asantsi). In
tlis woild, tle majoii[ become anxious, woiiied, and dejected if
unable to full tleii desiies. In tle veise iefeiied to, tlis feeling of
anxie[ oi woiiy is called santsa. Monks may become worried
and dejected due to scaici[ of donois oi leleis. Sometimes tley
may become down-leaited foi not laving niends and disciles on
whom to rely. In brief, out of eight worldly conditions, if any
unpleasant or unhappy circumstances such as, loss, dishonour, blame,
oi sueiing, aie met witl, a eison may become dejected. He may
be disaointed oi discontented foi lacl of loed foi gihs oi
privileges, or for having no followers or companionship, or for want
of assistance when the need arises. It is only natural for people to
wish for fame and honour, and to avoid criticism. They hope to be
foitunate and nd lainess, and to avoid miseiy. Hence, if tley
have come across miserable conditions that bring them no happiness,
tley may become deiessed, ieecting tlat misfoitune las come as
a result of bad kamma.
The above instances reveal how dejection occurs because of
unfullled desiies biouglt about by unfavouiable ciicumstances.
Hence, such depression should be discarded. If such bad moods do
occur, they must be abandoned by contemplating and noting them.
There is no reason why a person should be morose and dispirited.
He needs encouiagement nom otleis. Some eole aie otimistic
while others are pessimistic. Some people become very disheartened
and miserable when they are sick. It is vital to learn how to withstand
the onslaughts of worldly conditions. One should remain serene and
unaected wlatevei tle consequences of woildly vicissitudes. If one
does become dejected, dejection should be contemplated, noted, and
abandoned. Tleiefoie, tle mouo says, Avoid angei and woiiy. Do
not let anger raise its ugly head. If anger does arise, it should be
contemplated, noted, and then dispelled. Then it says Avoid worry.
Do not become dejected due to not geuing leasant sensations,
ioei[, comanions, oi leleis tlat you want. If you aie disa-
pointed this should be contemplated, noted, and abandoned.
Should Have No Pride
Aait nom geuing iid of angei and woiiy, a eison slould also
have no pride. It has been stated as avikah and that means not
to allow pride to manifest. This discourse was taught with particular
reference to monks for whom it is intended, and the Commentators
lave tleiefoie exounded tle natuie of a vaiie[ of ciicumstances
that are likely to happen in connection with monks. Particularly,
monks should have absolutely no pride all pride must be avoided.
Some speak falsehood relating to their lineage as if they have
descended nom a noble and distinguisled family line. Some boast
Remorse Should Be Dispelled 39
of ossessing moiali[ altlougl tley do not, oi witlout laving mucl
learning, they may pretend to be learned in the scriptures. Some
pretend to have undertaken the ascetic practises, without having
done so. Tley may even boast of laving auained jhna or sampai
witlout any genuine auainment. Tlis discouise does not embiace
the supramundane. Hence, without being fully accomplished in
worldly Dhamma, one should not boast of accomplishments.
As regards lay people, they should not be proud of their success
in social and nancial status in woildly and business aaiis. Neitlei
slould tley be ioud of tleii ielatives, niends, and good comany.
Some have a natural inclination to brag, while some are humble and
honest. In this regard, even as a lay person who is practising the
noble Dhamma, if the feeling of pride appears, it should be noted,
contemlated, and tlen discaided. Eoits slould be made to get iid
of tlis iide by constant iactice. A Sueam-winnei will lave no sucl
pride. That is why it has been stated that meditation should be
practised, and pride rejected by contemplating and noting. Let us
iecite tle mouo:
Suppress anger, dont worry, subdue pride, dispel remorse.
Consider carefully and dont talk rashly. With the mind
iesuained, six auibutes aie lis gloiious aiiay.
Tlese aie tle six auibutes:
1. Not to getting angry,
2. Not being anxious and worried because of unfulfilled desires.
3. Not being boastful.
4. Being free from doubt, remorse, etc.
5. Speaking what is appropriate when the occasion arises, after
careful consideration.
6. Remaining calm and serene with complete control of the flitting
mind after gaining concentration.
Remorse Should Be Dispelled
It las now time to seal about needom nom iemoise (kukkucca)
one of tle auibutes just mentioned. It needs to be exlained in
detail, as it is noteworthy. It is of three kinds: 1) Hahapda-kukkucca,
2) Vinaya kukkucca, and 3) Vippaisra kukkucca. Kukkucca means
misbelavioui. It is so called because it is devoid of benet to lave
bad manners or misbehaviour. Being contemptible, misbehaviour
may be said to be malevolent.
Haha-kukkucca and pda-kukkucca are misbehaviour with the
lands and feet. Peole wlo lacl mindfulness and concenuation aie
restless, and unable to keep their hands and feet still. Nor can they
iemain silent. Tley clauei and ohen clange tleii siuing ostuie by
moving their hands and feet to relieve discomfort even while
deliveiing a lectuie. Tlis iestlessness is indicative of a clle mind
that wanders without steady mindfulness. Not only the hands and
feet, but also the head or the entire body not remaining still, being
in a state of agitation, may be regarded as hahapda-kukkucca. Only
an Aialant will be totally nee nom iestlessness. It is tleiefoie advised
that all others should devote themselves to mindfulness to get rid of
this defect. Care should be taken to reduce feelings of restlessness.
Those who are mindful will be calmer than those who do not meditate.
Tle Kandaiala Suua seives as evidence of tlis.
The Reverence of Kandaraka
Two wandering religious mendicants, Pessa and Kandaraka, once
visited the Blessed One. At that time monks had come to pay homage
to the Buddha. Kandaraka noticed that the monks were serene. None
of tlem weie dgeting tleii lands, feet, oi lead. None weie talling,
dgeting, oi even cougling. Not one of tlem made a sound. All of
tlem weie absolutely still, calm, and seiene. It is stated in Pi
as:
tuhbhta tuhbhta. Despite the presence of a large number
of monls, all of tlem weie uanquil. Tle eect of tle quiet and
peaceful atmosphere was such that as a wandering hermit himself,
it generated profound respect and awe in Kandaraka, who marvelled
at tle eect of tle Buddlas noble teaclings. Tlis state of mind lad
aroused faith in him, and he respectfully told Buddha, Venerable
sir! It seems to me that all Fully Enlightened Buddhas of the past
must have taught their disciples in the same way as you do now. The
audience in those days might be similar to the present audience.
Fully Enlightened Buddhas in the future will teach their disciples
just as you are now doing. Moreover, the entire gathering of noble
ones is likely to be of the same kind, and being calm, serene, and
gentle, they are indeed worthy of reverence.
Kandaiala Suua, Suua 51, M.i.339.

King Kosalas Solicitation 41
In response to this praise, the Blessed One said, Kandaraka! You
know only this present audience. I will explain to you the reason for
tleii uanquili[ and seieni[. Among tlis assembly, tleie aie Aialants
who are fully accomplished in the practical knowledge of mindfulness,
laving eiadicated all delements ahei iactising tle noble Dlamma.
Of course, no commendation is called for in regard to the noble
Aialants. Being Aialants, tle noble quali[ of mindfulness ieects in
them and makes a full display with reference to all sensations arising
nom tle six sense-bases. How could one ienain nom iesecting and
ieveiing tlem' All lave become admiiably noble, gentle, and iened.
The Buddha then went on to say that among the congregation present
weie tlose iactising meditation called uainees (sekkha). This includes
Non-ietuineis, Once-ietuineis, Sueam-winneis, and oidinaiy good
eole. All of tlem aie called uainees laving lo moiali[, lo
tlouglts, and lo wisdom, and tley aie undeigoing uaining in tle
four foundations of mindfulness (catsu satipahnesu suppatihitaci).
Tle meaning of tlis Pi liase is tlat, ossessing mental stabili[ by
earnest devotion to the four foundations of mindfulness, they remain
in a uanquil state of mind cultivating tlese foui linds of mindfulness:
mindfulness on tle imuii[ of tle body, on tle evils of sensations, on
the evanescence of thoughts, and on the conditions of existence.
Meditators are well aware of these four foundations of mindful-
ness. Nevertheless, an explanation will be given to make the meaning
vivid. Some have established their mindfulness on the body, some
on feelings, some on consciousness, and some on mental states. If
auention is establisled on tle foui foundations of mindfulness, one
does indeed become calm and uanquil. No clange of ostuie is made
without mindfulness. If any change in posture is made, or arising
thoughts are noted, since mindfulness is established, they are always
gentle and composed. Nothing is done haphazardly or in a disorderly
way. This is because contemplation and noting is done with mindful-
ness acting as a forerunner. That is why the Blessed One said that
tlis entiie assembly was exuemely calm, uniued, and fully iened.
King Kosalas Solicitation
King Pasenadi of Kosala once reverentially said to the Buddha:
Venerable Sir, we are monarchs with absolute powers. We have the
oweis to conscate tle ioei[ of tle eole and imose enal[
on them. We can also punish them with death sentence according to
our own will, or banish them if we prefer.
It is uue. Sucl desots wielded suieme soveieign oweis unlile
the present day rulers of states in which the rule of law prevails.
Hence, in modern times, cases involving any breach of law are
biouglt befoie tle couits foi uial wleie tle accused las tle iiglt
to be defended by lawyers and advocates. Only in cases where there
is sucient evidence against tle accused foi tle oences commiued,
appropriate punishments are imposed. In cases where there is no
clear, substantiated evidence against an accused person for the
alleged oence, le is eitlei disclaiged oi acquiued by tle couit
according to law. These despotic rulers of ancient times had unlimited
powers and their word was law. There was no right of appeal against
the orders passed by them. Sometimes, however, there had been
instances where the ministers commented upon the kings orders or
pronouncements with the best of intention, though their behaviour
might have been looked upon as disrespectful. On such occasions,
it was stated tlat tley lad to be enueated oi aeased.
The audience consisting of the disciples of the Blessed One was
exuemely gentle. Tle Buddla nevei iesoited to foice, inuence,
coercion, or threats. He merely gave his exhortation or due admoni-
tion by way of delivering a lecture. Yet, his adherents who formed
tle congiegation weie iemailably iened and delicate in manneis.
While listening to a discourse with great reverence, the whole
congregation was perfectly calm. If a monk could not help coughing,
the other monks nearby would nudge him to remain silent to avoid
causing interference to others. King Pasenadi of Kosala extolled the
qualities of tle membeis of tle Sagla in tle way desciibed above
stating that all of them were perfectly pure in thoughts and faultless
in manneis, and weie tleiefoie entiiely nee nom iestlessness. In tle
era of the Buddhas dispensation, if meditation is practised with
mindfulness and clear comprehension (satisampajna), one would
become gentle. However, some people who are not able to exercise
iesuaint in action and tlouglts, would seal ill of otleis, disaiag-
ing them while acting pretentiously. Some monks teach without
dignied manneis, yet some eole may aieciate tlat lind of
misbelavioui. Dieient eole lave diveise outlools and mentalities.
Sucl an imioei auitude beais testimony to tle absence of tle noble
Remorse and Regret 43
quali[ of mindfulness. Tlese imioei acts and misconduct slould
be discarded. If they cannot be completely eradicated, practice should
be done to avoid or reduce such misbehaviour as far as possible. It
has therefore been stated that restlessness should be dispelled.
Scruples about Disciplinary Rules
We now come to the subject of vinaya kukkucca. Doubt may arise
conceining ceitain maueis ielevant to tle iules of disciline (vinaya).
Sceptical doubt may arise regarding ones own actions or the use of
requisites as to whether it is suitable or allowable. When such doubt
occuis, it las not yet ieacl tle stage of commiuing an oence. Tlis
kind of doubt is relevant to the rule of discipline. It is therefore regarded
as an auibute tlat all monls slould ossess. Yet some monls ay no
heed to any such doubt that might occur. In the absence of any such
doubt oi lesitation, tley may do a misdeed tlat amounts to conuaven-
ing tle iules of disciline. Tlese monls will not lave uii[ of mind
oi moiali[. Witlout ieecting on tle ioiie[ oi imioiie[ of any
such acts, they may do anything they like regardless of the rules of
discipline laid down for monks. If they misbehave in this way, they
aie oen to deiision and it amounts to deieliction of tleii du[ as monls.
It is quite natural that this doubt will arise where it should and it cannot
possibly be entirely dispelled. However, if one knowingly eats, drinks,
or makes use of anything with doubt in the mind, it amounts to
commiuing an oence. Tlis woiiy and doubt about tle discilinaiy
rules should be expelled by avoiding any dubious actions.
Remorse and Regret
Tle next [e of iemoise is called vippaisra kukkucca, which is
the remorse where there is regret. This regret is of two kinds: one may
occur for any wrong-doing one has done, and the other for not doing
something that should have been done. Wrongful acts means unwhole-
some acts or evil deeds. Feelings of repentance may occur when
ieecting tlat one las done sometling wiong, and low unslillful it
was, relating to any improper act done physically, verbally, or mentally.
One may become sad and iemoiseful witl biuei iegiet foi any
wrong-doing. If this state of mind pervades, it is known as vippaisra
kukkucca. It it is good if this remorse could be dispelled. Of course, it
will be almost imossible to get iid of tlis feeling entiiely. To nd a
eison wlo is totally nee nom iegiets foi wiong-doing, wlicl could
lave talen lace at any time nom tle time of biitl u to tle iesent
moment, will be exuemely iaie. Tle only dieience may be tlat
remorse may or may not occur though wrongful acts would have been
commiued. Hence, feeling of iemoise may oi may not tale lace.
Neveitleless, if it occuis, it slould be iejected ahei contemlating and
noting it. This wrong-doing was a thing of the past, and therefore, it
is not woitl iecalling and iegieuing wlat lad been done ieviously.
This kind of thought may be dispelled determining that such acts will
in future be avoided. It is best to dispel any regrets that may arise.
Acts that ought to be done are meritorious deeds. These virtuous
deeds aie claii[ (dna), moiali[ (sla), etc. Repentance may occur
for not having performed such merits. Such remorse should be
discaided too. Acts of claii[ and obseivance of moiali[ slould be
done as fai as ossible witlin ones own means and caabili[. One
may worship the Buddha whenever time permits, and pay respects
to tle teacleis as and wlen an ooituni[ aiises. If sucl good
actions or meritorious deeds are performed, there is no need to worry.
That means one should do everything that ought to be done within
ones own caabili[. Wlen sucl feelings of iemoise aeai, tlese
slould be diselled by contemlating and noting tlem witl a im
resolve that no such shortcomings will be allowed to happen again
and that what should have been done, would certainly be done
without lapse in the future.
Among such remorse, feelings of regret that may arise for not being
able to fully accomlisl moiali[ is aiticulaily imoitant. Remoise
may arise for having so far failed to practise meditation to gain
concenuation, wisdom, and tle Noble Patl, and tlen foi not being
accomlisled in Dlamma to escae nom tle cycle of existence. Is it
not uue tlat you aie now iactising meditation to subdue sucl woiiies'
Those who are now practising meditation have this objective in mind
and, if full accomplishment is achieved, no such feelings of regret will
worry them. This is even more important on the threshold of death.
On tle veige of deatl, one will no doubt ieect on wlat las been done
tliouglout life to ensuie well-being in futuie existence. Wlen ieecting
tlus, one would lave biuei feelings of iegiet if one las not yet
accomplished the Dhamma. Therefore, to get rid of such worries and
anxieties, one slould iactise as eaily as ossible. Tle soonei tle beuei.
The Story of a Sick Young Monk 45
The Story of a Sick Young Monk
During the lifetime of Buddha, there was a sick monk. Usually,
of course, a number of monks were on the sick list. For easy
remembrance, we shall give an account relating to only one such
sick monk.
Another monk was deputed to inform the Buddha about

the serious illness of a young monk. Though this young monk was
an ordinary monk the Buddha was requested to give him a blessing
in person. Hearing the news of this poor sick monk belonging to an
unknown lowborn family without any helper to nurse him, the
Blessed One, with great compassion, decided to visit him. On his
arrival at the place of where the young monk was residing, the
Buddha asked the young monk how he was faring and whether he
was geuing beuei oi woise. Undei oidinaiy ciicumstances, tle
young monk would have been greatly encouraged and enraptured
by the presence of the Buddha in person before him. However, his
condition being serious, he replied that the condition of the disease
was deteriorating. Although the condition of a patient is known to
be bad, an inquiry should be made in that way. In any case, the
Buddha had come over to this place to bless him with some teaching.
The Blessed One them asked the young monk whether he had
anything to be worried about. The young monk replied that he was
full of remorse, saying: Anappaka kukkucca anappako vippaisro.
The Buddha then asked him whether he had feelings of repentance

foi not being accomlisled in moiali[. Tle answei given was tlat
le lad notling to iegiet wlatsoevei in connection witl moiali[.
It is important that monks are scrupulous
iegaiding moiali[. Tley

may not be nee nom doubt about tleii moiali[. Tlis oint is
imoitant foi monls. It is easiei foi tle lai[ if tley lave bieacled tle
iinciles of moiali[, tley can iegain moial uii[ by taling tle ve
iecets. It is moie dicult foi tle monls to do so. Ceitain oences
cannot be exiated by meiely uueiing and listening to tle foimula foi
confession. Tley must abandon any ioei[ in tleii ossession tlat
Tle two dieient answeis given by sicl monls aie nom two dieient discouises
one saying that the Dhamma was taught for the cessation of passion, the second
saying tlat it was foi tle sale of auaining parinibbna (ed.)
Palama Gilna Suua, S.iv.45.
Tle Pi woid, kukkucca conveys all slades of meaning nom being sciuulous
to avoid wiong-doing, to anxie[ tlat one miglt be blamewoitly, and iemoise tlat
one las done wiong, lence it is dicult to uanslate witl a single woid (ed.)
was acquired improperly, or they must undergo probation (parivaha)
and rehabilitation (mnaa) if tley lave commiued a Sagldisesa
oence. Tlat is wly tley would usually become ieentant in
connection with their moral conduct. This is why the Buddha asked
wletlei tle young monl lad any iegiets iegaiding lis moiali[.
Tle Buddla fuitlei asled tle young monl, If youi moiali[ is
uiied, wlat else aie you conceined about' Tlis question was ut
to let the young monk divulge his problem. The young monk
fervently replied. Venerable sir, as I understand it, the Dhamma
tauglt by tle Blessed One is not iactised only foi tle uiication
of moiali[. Tle Buddla asled fuitlei: Deai son! If it is not meant
just foi tle sale of uii[ of moiali[, do you lnow tle otlei uiose
for which it is intended?
Tle young monl tlen iesectfully ielied: Foi tle auainment
of nibbna wlicl is devoid of ciavings foi luman assions (rga
virgaha),
one should follow the practice leading to the extinction

of assionate desiies to auain nibbna witl no iemaindei (anupda-
parinibbnaha).
I understand this is the Buddhas teaching, so I

lave been iactising tle Dlamma to ieacl nibbna, wleie all ciaving
foi luman assions is annililated. Howevei, nibbna not being
within my reach as yet, I have become very anxious.
The reply given by the young monk was quite realistic and natural.
It is essential to have something to rely on to face any crisis that may
arise when death approaches. To have such reliance close to death
is moie imoitant tlan otlei maueis. It tleie is notling to deend
on, feelings of iemoise and anxie[ may occui. If one feels suie of tle
uii[ of lis moiali[, le will lave full condence in iebiitl in tle
celestial realms in the next existence. This young monks objective
was not just to ieacl tle leavenly abode of devas ahei lis demise.
His ultimate goal was to aclieve nibbna. Howevei, not laving
achieved his objective yet, he was greatly worried. This feeling of
anxie[ is notling but kukkucca. So one should practice meditation
to get nee nom tlis lind of anxie[. In iesonse to tle young monls
answer, the Buddha taught as follows:
Ol, deai son, you slall ay caieful auention to my teaclings. Tle
Buddha began by asking whether the eye is permanent or impermanent.
It asks if the material form of the eye is everlasting or not. If the answer
Palama Gilna Suua, S.iv.45.

Dutiya Gilna Suua, S.iv.47.
The Story of a Sick Young Monk 47
were to be given according to the sense conveyed in the question, it
would be quite easy. If such a question were raised at a congregation,
the questioners expected answer being clearly known, the answer to
be given would be simple enough to meet the wish of the teacher. The
question now ut by tle Buddla was lowevei to be answeied ahei
the underlying meaning of the question had been fully grasped. That
is wly it is iatlei dicult to give tle iiglt answei. Tleiefoie, tle answei
would be meaningful as expected, only if one has the knowledge of
the characteristic of impermanence in as much as what has been
ascertained is whether the eye is permanent or not. Roughly speaking,
wlen deatl occuis, tle mateiial eye is desuoyed. If tlis is aieciated
and if the answer were that the eye is impermanent, it would be relevant.
Then also, if the eye were damaged by some kind of accident, it could
lave been desuoyed. Tle desuuction of tle eye may be caused by
seiious injuiy oi by aiction of tle disease. Hence, tle answei can be
considered as proper if it is stated that the eye is not permanent.
However, such an answer, being simplistic without the essential or
deeei meaning, is not deiived nom insiglt lnowledge.
Insight can be gained only through the practice of meditation.
Wlile contemlating on mind and mauei at tle moment of tleii
occurrence at the six sense-doors, every time it is perceived by the
eye, if contemplated as seeing, seeing, both the tangible physical
eye, the visual object, the eye-consciousness, and the mind that is
contemplated and noted, will be found to disappear at every moment
of noting. Only if tlese natuial lenomena aie uuly lnown and
realised, would it be possible to give a proper and accurate answer.
The young monk, being an insight meditator, was able to give a
proper answer. Hence, he replied: It is impermanent, venerable sir.
A question may, therefore, arise as to why it is impermanent. It is
because at every moment seeing occurs, it disappears, or in other
words, the moment it is perceived, dissolution of the sensation arising
nom eicetion follows suit. Wlen asled if tle tling tlat is seen is
permanent, or impermanent, the answer given by the young monk
was: It is impermanent. In the same way, the subsequent answers
given in respect of consciousness of sight, awareness of the visual
contact, and the pleasurable or unpleasurable sensations arising out
of contact with the eye and the visual object, were impermanent
and not lasting. The characteristic of impermanence is likewise
found when hearing occurs. The sound, the knowing mind, the sound
tlat is eiceived by tle eai into wlicl it ows, and tle leasuiable
and unleasant sensations aiising nom contact witl tle sound,
disappears all at once the moment it is heard.
Similarly, when smelling, tasting, and touching, all good and bad
sensations tlat aiise nom contact, ass away oi disaeai at eveiy
moment they are contemplated and noted.
Bending and suetcling aie tactile. Eveiy time it is noted as
bending oi suetcling, tle mind tlat eiceives tle sense of toucl
will be found to be arising followed immediately by dissolution. The
same nature of phenomena will be realised at every moment of noting
stiness, leat, ain, oi acling as tley occui. Sucl occuiiences
are personally found to be occurring by the meditators themselves.
When imagination or mind-consciousness occurs, the mind that
imagines, the sensation that appears and the knowing mind, and all
contacts and awareness of thoughts will be found to be vanishing.
While imagining, delightful or unpleasant feelings, or feelings of
indieience may occui. All tlese sensations wletlei good, bad, oi
neuual aie imeimanent simly because tley aiise and tlen
disaeai, being uansient by natuie.
All those who are meditating now should note each and every
phenomenon that arises at any of the six sense-doors and all of them
will be found to be arising and vanishing. Nothing will be found to
iemain constantly. Tleii uue natuie will be iealised eisonally tliougl
tle minds eye. Realisation tlen comes of tleii uansient natuie
incessantly aeaiing and disaeaiing in a state of ux. Being
impermanent, they are unsatisfactory. There is, therefore, no such thing
as an individual oi a living enti[. All tlese aie conditions coming into
being and passing away in a ceaseless whirlwind. This is natural
phenomena occurring in accordance with their own conditions under
dieient ciicumstances, and all aie aiising and vanisling. Hence, tley
are stated to have the characteristic of impermanence. They are
unsatisfactory and never oblige one with what one wishes to happen.
They are unmanageable and ungovernable. As such, they are to be
contemlated witl awaieness as being unconuollable, and as not-self.
Tlen, altlougl tley aie said to be unsatisfactoiy oi sueiing
(dukkha), it is not that they are unendurable. What is meant is that
they are conditions that cannot be regarded as desirable and reliable.
Consider Carefully Before Speaking 49
How could one rely upon them if they fade away in a split second
ahei emeigence' In fact, eveiy time tley vanisl, deatl can tale lace.
If new mind and mauei fail to aeai, deatl is inevitable. As tlis is
so, it is ieally teiii(ing. Foi tlis ieason, it is said to be ainful, miseiy,
and sueiing, and as tley aeai and disaeai on tleii own because
of their phenomenal nature, they are also ungovernable. Since these
conditions aie unconuollable, low can tley be a self' Yes, tley aie
uuly not-self. Tle Buddla tleiefoie tauglt tle young monl to
contemplate on impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and not-self.
When impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and not-self are realised,
one becomes weaiy of tle vani[ of life, oi in otlei woids, disgusted
with existence (nibbindati). On becoming disgusted with these
weaiisome conditions, one will be nee nom ciaving and auaclment
(nibbinda virajjati). Then, one is fully released or emancipated,
having got rid of desire for human passions (virg vimuccati). When
fully liberated in accordance with what has been stated as having
desuoyed biitl (kh jti) and having lived the holy life (vusita
brahmcariya), and so on, no new existence will take place. The
Supreme Buddha gave his teachings up to the stage of Arahantship,
saying that one would also come to realise by ones own personal
insiglt lnowledge tlat one lad ieacled tle nal goal of iactice.
Wlile listening auentively to tlis Dlamma, tle sicl young monl
auained Aialantsli. All iemoise and iegiets weie eiadicated.
It is vital to get rid of all restlessness and remorse as explained
above. I exhort all meditators not to become dispirited, though they
may not yet be fully accomplished in the practice of the Dhamma.
You can all gain realisation of the special Dhamma if you carry on
with the contemplation like the sick young monk on his deathbed.
This young monk achieved the highest stage of Arahantship. This
should serve as an encouragement. Hence, it is vital to practice before
one becomes old oi sicl, and befoie deatl aiiives, to disel anxie[.
Remorse will be eradicated on becoming a Non-returner. Nothing
further need be said regarding an Arahant. A person who is entirely
nee nom iestlessness and iemoise is called a sage.
Consider Carefully before Speaking
Next, one should consider carefully before saying something.
Only speak what is proper and appropriate to the occasion. It has
been taught as: Weigh things up before speaking (mantabh), ahei
caieful consideiation and ieection, and be one wlo seals in tlis
way. Avoid talking nonsense, but speak what is suited to the occasion.
It is not time-consuming. What is to be spoken will come into ones
head automatically while conversation is going on. Avoidance of
making improper and inaccurate statements amounts to weighing
things before speaking. If one does so, words that will bring demerits
cannot come out of ones moutl. It will lave tle eect of deteiiing
one nom sealing falselood oi telling lies (musvda). Nor will one
slander others or gossip (pisuavc). Harsh or abusive speech
(pharusavc) will be avoided too. It is imoitant to tame and conuol
the tongue simply because, if something disagreeable is heard, anger
can suddenly arise, possibly leading to the use of aggressive and
oensive woids tlat insult otleis. Vulgai and unbiidled seecl must
be iesuained. A eison wlo ondeis befoie sealing is lilely to
avoid nivolous, uiing, and futile tall (samphappalpa). However, it
will not be easy foi some to abstain nom talling foolislly if tley aie
habitually inclined to talk insolently. Those not accustomed to talk
rudely seldom slander or insult others. Only appropriate words
suited to the occasion should be spoken gently. Words of Dhamma
are included in the ten suitable topics for conversation (kathvahu).
1. Speech relating to lack of greed.
2. Speech relating to contentment.
3. Speech on how to remain in solitude for meditation to eradicate
delements.
4. Speech relating to the manner of exemplary behaviour avoid-
ing contact and familiaii[ witl male and female benefactois
witlout auaclment.
5. Speech relating to the practise of meditation seriously with
relentless exertion.
6. Seecl ielating to moiali[.
7. Seecl ielating to concenuation.
8. Speech relating to wisdom.
9. Speech relating to liberation.
10. Speech relating to knowledge and vision of liberation.
Tlese aie secically foi monls. Lay eole need to be tall about
business dealings as and when necessary. When talking, only
benecial seecl slould be used witlout laiming otleis inteiests.
Verse Four 51
With the Mind Restrained
Next, tle mind slould not be eimiued to wandei. Tlis iequiies
accomlislment in concenuation. To gain concenuation, one must
iactise meditation suenuously. Only wlen meditating, tle mind
will iemain stable witlout iuing. Wlile not engaged in meditation,
one should continue to maintain mindfulness. The mind shall be
iesuained to ievent it nom iuing leie and tleie. All Aialants
ossess a uanquil mind tlat does not suay. An Aialant witl eace
of mind iemains calm witl constant concenuation. Sucl a eison
wlo las dee concenuation is called a eison witl seieni[ of mind.
Wlat las just been stated aie tle noble auibutes ossessed by a sage.
Verse Four
Tle Buddla ioceeded to ieeat tle noble auibutes of a sage in
the fourth verse:
Nirsai angate, atta nnusocati.
Vivekadass phassesu, dihsu ca na nyati.
This verse has almost the same meaning as that conveyed in the
verse beginningVtataho purbhed. I mention it now biiey to
avoid any ossible ciiticism, as it was omiued in my ist lectuie.
The gist of it is that in connection with anything that may happen
in the future, one should not speculate with desire, yearning for
anticipated results. If this kind of thought anticipating the future
occurs it should be rejected by contemplating and noting. If some-
tling las laened in tle ast, sucl as tle desuuction of ones own
limbs oi sense-oigans, oi of ones eisonal ioei[, oi tle deatl of
ielatives and niends, one is lilely to become anxious, teaiful, and
sad. This worry, regret, and lamentation should be avoided, and if
such feelings do occur, they should be dispelled by contemplating
and noting them. All occurrences of what has been seen, heard, smelt,
touched, or imagined, should be realised by contemplating and
noting them as governed by the law of impermanence and that they
immediately ass away. Having caused sueiing and laiassment
without let up by continuously arising and disappearing, they are
not dependable, and do not provide any satisfaction. Thus they
should be known and realised as impermanent. Since they depend
on conditions, appearing and disappearing according to circum-
stances, one should know that they are ungovernable and not-self.
Contact does not mingle with or concern the nature of impermanence.
Neither does it mingle with the nature of pleasure, nor is it a self.
This should be fully comprehended. Furthermore, what has been
seen, heard, smelt, tasted, and touched has nothing to do with the
iesent sensations aiising nom sucl occuiiences. It will biing
satisfaction witl tle iealisation tlat wlat is going to laen ahei
subsequent contacts will be quite seaiate nom wlat is iesently
happening or what has already occurred. This is clearly evident
because of the fact that a meditator who is continuously contemplat-
ing and noting sucl uansient lenomenal occuiiences will nd tlem
in a state of ux, aeaiing and disaeaiing witlout a bieal.
Then also, one should not be subjected to persuasion in respect
of wiong views. Tlis means tlat one slould iactise to nee oneself
nom all linds of wiong views. Tle Buddla tauglt tlat a eison
endowed witl tlese auibutes is a sage witl seieni[.
One wlo is accomlisled witl tle foui auibutes: not anticiating
tle futuie, not iegieuing noi ieminiscing about tle ast, laving
distinguishing knowledge of seeing, knowing, touching, etc., and
not being persuaded by wrong views, is said to be a sage. This means
that a person is recognised as such by the Buddha.
Verse Five
Ahei exlaining tlis veise, tle Blessed One continued to teacl as
follows:
Patilno akuhako, apihlu amacchar.
Appagabbho ajeguccho, pesueyye ca no yuto.
This means that such an individual is inclined to hesitate. He is
not pretentious. Neither does he anticipate, long for or indulge in
pleasure, nor become envious, disgusted, or slanderous. A person
endowed witl sucl auibutes is a sage. To lesitate in eifoiming
noble and meritorious deeds is bad. Such reluctance or hesitancy is
laziness. Here, the meaning of the word hesitate is not concerned
witl delements. It iefeis to ieventing desiies nom aiising, in cases
where passion is likely to occur. As regards ordinary people, they
become enthusiastic and invigorated when passion arises. In those
wlo aie meditating suenuously, tle suengtl of assion becomes
Verse Five 53
weal commensuiate witl tle dieient stages of iogiess in tle
achievement of the Dhamma. Though passion may appear, it does
not become suong and violent. Foi instance, if tle aients lave
neglected to give due and proper advice to their children, the young
clildien will lave no conuol ovei tlemselves, and may uuei oi
behave or do anything according to their own wishful thinking. They
will, lowevei, lave tle owei of iesuaint nom tle time tley lave
ieceived insuuctions oi aiental advice as to low tley slould
conduct themselves in worldly life. Then they will not be very unruly
and rude in their manners as they had been before. The same thing
alies in tle mauei of noble Dlamma. In tlose wlo male no eoit
to enlance tleii moiali[ and lnowledge of tle Dlamma tliougl
meditation, passion, anger, and delusion will wreak havoc without
iesuaint. Peole wlo aie following a viituous atl will be able to
minimise passion. Shame and fear of doing what is improper will
abide in them. Therefore, what has been stated is that a sage would
hesitate to do anything that is connected with passion, anger, and
delusion. Reluctance to avoid doing unvirtuous things should be
cultivated to tle best of ones abili[. It is wise to iesuain to tle extent
of totally suppressing passionate desires, anger, and delusion. How
could one be said to lave calmness of mind and seieni[ if desiie,
anger, and delusion are generated with vigour and delight?
Among mankind, it is because of desire, anger, and delusion that
heroes and other outstanding individuals have appeared. In this world,
those who are capable of achieving Herculean tasks and who thereby
become famous and distinguished with their inherent lust for power
or fame, passion, anger, and delusion, are regarded as outstanding
personalities. They are said to have achieved success. On the other
land, nom tle oint of view of Dlamma, it is quite tle conuaiy. Tley
are not regarded as heroes, and only those who dare not perform
tlings connected witl tle contaminating inuence of desiie, angei,
and delusion aie consideied to be uuly outstanding. If seen nom a
dieient angle, tley miglt be iegaided as eisons wlo aie infeiioi
in suengtl, will-owei, and couiage wlo aie just mediocie witlout
any ambition. Those who have undertaken meditation practice
lesitate to indulge in mundane aaiis tlougl tley miglt lave been
very active, vigorous, and enthusiastic prior to taking up meditation.
Some of them may even abandon their worldly activities. It might
seem that they have become enfeebled and indolent. Nevertheless,
ahei ieacling Aialantsli, tley will be devoid of woildly desiies
and delements, wlicl become extinct. Tley will be entiiely sciuu-
lous, being caieful to oend in notling and always calm. Sucl
lesitation in woildly aaiis is anotlei auibute of a sage.
It is for those who are meditating or listening to this lecture to
weigh things and see for themselves how they have become hesitant
in tle mauei of desiie, angei, and delusion. Tle suengtl of desiie,
anger, and delusion will diminish to a certain extent. This is stated
as ieluctance oi lesitancy. Hence, tle mouo says: Seemingly lesitant
without making pretence.
Make No Pretensions
One should not make pretension to evoke awe in others. This was
said regarding monks. Pretension aims to make oneself appear
worthy of reverence by acting deceptively. There are three kinds of
ietence: 1) in tle way of using ioei[, 2) ielating to auainment
of noble auibutes, 3) in connection witl tle way of deoitment.
1. Pretension in the Use of Property
Wlen male and female benefactois oei donations, tle ietendei
would say, Ol, my benefactois! Wly do you oei sucl nice and
valuable things? I am content with robes that have been discarded
by others. As regards a monastery, I am content to remain in solitude
oi dwell at tle foot of a uee. Foi my meals, it is enougl to accet
wlat is oeied on alms iound. In iegaid to medicine diseases can
be cuied by diinling cows uiine as medicine. Exuemely good
iequisites aie not iequiied. Ahei telling tle donois tlat sucl
valuable properties are not wanted, the properties which are donated
aie stated to lave been iefused. Sucl uueiances aie made undei
false pretence although the monk may be really fond of the things
tlat aie oeied. He is in fact willing to accet tlem. Wlen sealing
in the said manner under false pretences, the benefactors faith and
geneiosi[ will be gieatly enlanced tlinling tlat tle monl is indeed
a noble person with hardly any greed. As such, the benefactors will
become all tle moie geneious and oei moie and moie. Wlen tlings
aie donated iofusely, tle ietension monl accets tle oeiings
feigning reluctance, If I refuse, the benefactors would not gain any
Do Not be Envious 55
meiits. Tle oeiings aie tlen acceted as if le las gieat comassion
for the donors. This kind of pretence concerns monks only. Such
pretentious behaviour should be avoided and dispelled.
2. Pretension Relating to Noble Attributes
Under this sub-heading, pretension is by making misleading
statements to make others think highly of him as an Arahant saying
that a monk who can be content with whatever has been provided,
such as robes, a begging bowl, a monastery or other requisites (like
himself), is an Arahant or a Noble One. Such kind of insinuation
should be avoided. Generally, it concerns the monks. However, at the
present day, even among laymen, some impostors present themselves
as Non-returners or Arahants, while leading an ignoble life with wife
and clildien, aie iidiculed by some foi not being libeiated nom
human passions and sensuous pleasures. In refuting such derogatory
remarks, they explain that their mode of living is permissible as they
enjoy no pleasurable sensations. This is ridiculous. What is even more
surprising is that some people revere such pretenders as real Arahants.
Such cases are mentioned to make you ponder and be wary.
3. Pretensions Relating to Deportment
Pretension relating to postures or deportment is to make others
think one is practising meditation without actually doing the practice.
Altlougl lacling in concenuation, le moves about as if le is calm
and uanquil. He ietends wlen taling a siuing ostuie to give a
good impression to others who might see him. Or, when walking,
he pretend to walk with complete mindfulness. In this way, whatever
he does, he will change his deportment to make himself appear noble
in the eyes of others who will overestimate his good qualities. Such
pretension should be avoided and dispelled. These three kinds of
ietensions aie dealt witl comielensively in tle Pi texts.
Do Not Be Envious
If one admiies ne clotles oi jewelleiy one may yeain to ossess
similai tlings. Yeaining is of dieient linds. Having seen sometling,
one may wisl to ossess tle object seen to full ones desiie. Similaily,
while contemplating and noting what is heard, smelt, tasted, touched,
or cognised, one may wish to be accomplished like others, to emulate
tleii aclievements in Dlamma. Tlis is longing foi auainments, and
such yearnings should be dispelled. Wishing to reach the abode of
devas to enjoy celestial pleasures and the luxurious life of celestial
beings either through reading books or listening to others, is another
kind of yearning. One should not entertain such feelings. If they do
appear, they should be rejected by contemplating and noting.
To yearn for the Noble Path is a wholesome desire, which one
should cultivate. Those who practise meditation wish to gain the
noble auibutes of insiglt lnowledge. Tley aie intent on gaining tle
Patl and its Fiuition. Howevei, if tlis desiie becomes exueme, it will
not be ioei. If exueme yeaining aeais, it slould be iejected by
contemlating and noting, otleiwise concenuation will not develo.
It is vital to reject such yearning by contemplating and noting it. In
some cases, altlougl concenuation becomes dee, no insiglt is
achieved because of excessive zeal. Excessive yearning is improper,
but if zeal is slacl it wont do eitlei. It is dicult to maintain tle
ioei balance, but tle mind must be iesuained witlin ioei limits.
Tle Paisamblidmagga says tlat tle mind, wlicl is veiy mucl
inclined towards passion, always follows in pursuit of it. (Abhinata
cia rgnupatita).
If one becomes over-enthusiastic to achieve the

Patl and its Fiuition, it amounts to assion uailing belind. Tlis miglt
give a wrong impression of the appearance of a desire to gain merits
because he would have in mind that what has been longed for is a
virtuous thought in connection with the Noble Path, but in fact,
assion is following tle mental activities. Moieovei, exueme yeaining
is a dangei to concenuation. It says: Ta sampajno hutv rga
pajahati. Tlis means tlat assionate yeaining slould be iejected ahei
contemplating and noting. The presence of a mental process with
exuemely suong yeaining would detei tle develoment of concenua-
tion, it should therefore be rejected. Meditation teachers should correct
sucl tlouglts. As concenuation gains momentum, sucl yeainings
are bound to arise. The meditator usually wishes to gain speedy
accomplishment of the Dhamma. When becoming overzealous,
yeaining accomanied by mental disuess will become exubeiant, and
tle develoment of concenuation is lilely to be lindeied.
One slould suiess sucl tlouglts, and lee tle mind iesuained,
calmly ieecting: Let concenuation tale its own couise. Secial
Ps i.167.
Vulgari Should Be Avoided 57
lnowledge may not be gained even tlougl I male tle utmost eoit
to bring about progress. Insight cannot be forced. Under favourable
circumstances that occur on their own, knowledge will arise by itself.
My business is only to contemplate and note continuously whatever
sensations aiise nom tle six sense-doois. I slall tleiefoie simly
carry on contemplating and noting these sensations without a break.
If caiiied out lile tlis, iogiessive insiglt tliougl stable concenua-
tion will soon be realised. However, yearning should not be dismissed
comletely by geuing disaointed. If tleie is a lacl of yeaining
through some kind of disappointment, it would be what is stated as:
Apanata cia bypdnupatita, which means the mind that shirks
will abide in the person who will remain aloof. If yearning is avoided
in that way, it will amount to shirking the burden of practice. Then
the mind would embrace discontent. All such thoughts should be
rejected by contemplating and noting. As such, one should have at
least a modicum of yeaining ielating to Dlamma. If exueme foims
of yearning are dispelled by contemplating and noting, progressive
lnowledge of tle Dlamma is lilely to be aclieved. Tle mouo
therefore runs as: If no pretension is shown as being reluctant, envy
is discarded. One should not be envious. To resent anothers good
fortune is meanness (macchariya). Being unsociable and unwilling to
beniend otleis, avaiicious and unwilling to slaie ones own ioei[,
and envious of anothers good fortune is meanness. The Commentary
says tlat meanness will be got iid of on auaining Sueam-winning.
One should therefore meditate diligently to reach that stage.
Vulgarity Should Be Avoided
Tle mouo says: Reject vulgaii[ wlicl is disgusting, witlout
being envious. One slould not be vulgai. Vulgaii[ comiises tliee
kinds: physical misbehaviour, coarse language or speech, and perverse
thoughts. It has been explained for monks as indiscreet or rude
behaviour without giving due respect when meeting other monks.
Those deserving respect and reverence, may be jostled while walking.
One may stand in nont of a senioi monl, blocling lis way, oi iemain
siuing nonclalantly if le enteis tle ioom, oi ass by wlile walling,
without showing respect. Such behaviour is rude and vulgar. There
are cases where seats are occupied in places reserved for the elders,
and where some of them would squeeze in making the junior monks
feel congested and become uncomfortable. These bad manners are
rude and vulgar. This kind of conduct is very disrespectful. There are
other bodily behaviours which are ugly and disgusting. Some may
spit carelessly, expel nasal secretions in the presence of others, or cough,
heedless of good manners. People in Burma are, of course, accustomed
to those kind of mannerisms which may be excused as being habitual.
Foreigners may make a wry face at such indecent mannerisms.
In iegaid to seecl, vulgaii[ is commonlace. Indecent oi laisl
words obviously run counter to any civilised culture. In an assembly
of monks, teaching should be done only when granted permission
by the elders. To join in a group discussion without invitation is
considered uncivilized. All such misbehaviour should be avoided.
As iegaids vulgaii[ oi coiiution of tle mind, tle occuiience of
wild and evil tlouglts witlout ioei iesuaint is iegaided as vulgai.
Competing with others in personal status and social standing, and
uuing oneself on an equal footing witl otleis of liglei status is
considered to be vulgar mental behaviour. This, of course, concerns
laymen oi oidinaiy eisons. Howevei, in connection witl tle mauei
relating to Dhamma, a person may speak ill of others without having
uii[ of moiali[, if tlouglt oi imagination aiises iegaiding limself
on tle same level witl otleis accomlisled witl uii[ of moials.
Oi, le may considei limself as being equal in abili[ to otleis wlo
can practise ascetic practices, while he himself is lacking in any such
practice. Or he may think of himself as being accomplished in
scriptural knowledge placing himself on equal footing with other
more learned scholars, though he himself has not studied the
Commentaries and Subcommentaries. Some individuals may think
of themselves as being equal in to those who are meditating though
they themselves are unable to meditate and contemplate. All these
aie instances of mental vulgaii[.
Reject vulgar thoughts if they occur by contemplating and noting
tlem. Howevei, if moiali[, concenuation, and wisdom lave been
metlodically iactised, no vulgai tlouglts will lave tle ooituni[
to aiise. Tlose wlo aie well-accomlisled will be nee nom vulgai
thoughts. If they do happen to occur, they can easily be dispelled by
contemplating and noting.
All behaviour that is disgusting and rude should be completely
diselled. Heie, wlat is disgusting oi iude iefeis to immoiali[. Tlose
Vulgari Should Be Avoided 59
lacling moiali[ aie disgusting to tlose wlo aie uie in tlouglts
and deeds. A vagabond arouses disgust in others who may harbour
suong feelings of dislile. Peole do not wisl to mix witl a eison
wlo is dii[ in ways of living, diess, oi in tlouglts. A eison wlose
moiali[ is olluted will be detested by eole wlo lave a uie mind.
If a eison of uie moiali[ associates witl a wicled eison, otleis
may think of him as being the same. They shun the evil-minded
because they are disgusted with immoral persons. However, it is not
out of laued. Sucl disgusting immoiali[ must be got iid of.
Moiali[ means obseivance of iecets by wlicl one slould ienain
nom commiuing imioei acts botl lysically and veibally. To
eradicate these immoral acts, one should earnestly practise meditation.
The Buddhas dispensation is where holy persons dwell in peace. It can
be considered in that light. This dispensation is the abode of Noble
Ones witl uii[ of mind lile Veneiable Siiuua, Veneiable
Moggallna, Veneiable Mallassaa, and otleis. Peole living in sucl
a holy abode should also sincerely practise to become pure in mind
lile tlese Noble Ones. If moiali[ is obseived, all disgusting factois
will disappear. This observance, however, is not as yet the practice of
meditation. Tlose wlo lave come to tlis meditation cenue aie
fullling tle need to acquiie concenuation and wisdom, not only
moiali[. Tleiefoie, botl tleii lysical and mental belaviouis aie
really courteous and worthy of reverence. If, by practising to get
accomlisled in noble qualities, one becomes nee nom all loatlsome
misdemeanours, one is deemed to be regarded as a sage who is calm
and seiene. Tle mouo goes on to say: Disgust and iudeness aie wlolly
slaueied. Woids devoid of love and fondness slall not be uueied.
Backbiting causes discord. No vile words should be spoken to
cieate a dissolution of niendsli between one eison and anotlei
who are on good terms. If malicious thoughts arise intending to
slander, they should be either discarded as improper by seeing them
as such, or rejected by contemplating and noting.
Reluctance means to lessen ones entlusiasm in woildly aaiis.
In connection with sensations likely to occur concerning passion,
one must be ieluctant to ievent sucl assions nom aiising. Similaily,
reluctance should be minimized in connection with anger, pride, or
otlei delements tlat may occui. Piactice slould be done to let all
cravings and vehement desires become subdued or dormant.
Next, maling no ietence means not to ietend to ossess auibutes
that one does not really have. Pretension should not be made to having
nei auibutes tlan tlose tlat one uuly ossesses. Tlis is ielevant to
monks as well as others who deserve reverence and respect. Monks
slould ienain nom claiming tle auibutes of moiali[, concenuation,
and wisdom tlat tley do not uuly ossess. Tley slould not boast
about tlese auibutes to eain ieveience nom benefactois. Monls wlo
are genuinely modest usually remain silent regarding their own virtues.
An Aialant will usually conceal lis auainment of tle Dlamma, and
reveal it to his fellow monks only on the eve of his parinibbna. Next,
no yearning means not to yearn for pleasurable sensations envying
others accomplishments. It also conveys the sense that a meditator
slould avoid exueme yeaining to auain secial Dlamma, because tlat
will lindei tle develoment of concenuation and wisdom. Tle mauei
conceining nee nom envy las alieady been exlained quite cleaily.
Disgust and iudeness be wlolly slaueied means, to avoid and
reject all forms of aggressive or gross forms of physical, verbal, and
mental behaviour. Disgusting moral impurities should also be
dispelled. Then it says, Words devoid of love and fondness shall
not be uueied. It is also necessaiy to abstain nom baclbiting and
slandei to cause otleis to lose condence oi iesect, oi cieate
dissension among any group of individuals. These are the seven
auibutes of a sage wlo iemains uanquil.
Verse Six
I have already explained the answers given in four verses. I will
now start with answering the sixth verse.
Stiyesu anassv, atimne ca no yuto.

Saho ca paibhnav, na saddho na virajjati.
A eison slould not indulge in and diih towaids sensations
connected witl sensual leasuies. Tlis is one of tle auibutes.
Anotlei auibute is not to be vain and lool down on otleis. Tle
otlei auibute is to be gentle and devoid of vulgaii[ in bodily, veibal,
and mental belavioui. Tle next auibute is to be wise, tlat is, to be
endowed with knowledge that will enable him to understand
Tle ist ist of tle Suua is a question ut by tle ielica Buddla, tle iemaining
tliiteen veises aie tle answeis given by tle Buddla. Tle sixtl veise is tle hl
verse given in reply to the question. (ed.)
Verse Six 61
problems relating to study and practice. Moreover, one should not
become completely dependent on others. This is also one of the
auibutes. Tlis discouise, being foi tlose of gieat intellect and sound
wisdom, contains some expressions that are profound. Since it is
said not to ieose comlete condence in otleis, it would eilas
amount to inlibiting faitl and geneiosi[. Tlis exiession is a iiddle.
I will explain it later. Then, the words na virajjati which means not
yet nee nom clinging auaclment. (Tlis exiession las a double-
meaning in tlat tle usage not as yet nee nom clinging auaclment
may caiiy tle meaning as still laving clinging auaclment. It is
not, however, intended to convey that sense. The expression not yet
nee nom clinging auaclment, in fact means nee nom clinging oi
giasing desiies. Since totally devoid of sucl clinging auaclment,
it means that no further practice needs to be done.) This also is one
of tle auibutes. Buddla lad tauglt tlus: I say tlat sucl a eison
is a uanquil sage. A eison wlo is fully endowed witl sucl
auibutes is a sage. Tle Buddla stated tlat le gave due iecognition
to such an individual. This is really worthy of noting and bearing in
mind. The practice of meditation is also included in this verse.
To male tle above statements easily undeistandable, tle mouo
that is couched in plain language, may be recited as follows:
Not diihing into tle cuiient of leasuiable sensations,
with pride dispelled and gentleness maintained, gaining
wisdom, incredulous, cravings detached by clearing
away, tlese six auibutes aie lis gloiious aiiay.
Not diihing into tle cuiient of leasuiable sensations means:
not to be mentally inclined towards pleasurable sensations with
auaclment. Witl iide diselled and gentleness maintained is not
to think highly of oneself with egotism or pride, assuming others to
be inferior, and so having a low opinion of them. Gentleness
maintained is to be iened in lysical, veibal, and mental belavioui
by dispelling all rude and vulgar manners. Gaining wisdom,
incredulous, cravings detached by clearing away means to easily
understand with ready wit all profound questions relating to study
and iactice, and to gain eison iealisation, not solely lacing uust
in otleis, and to be nee nom ciaving. A total of six auibutes aie
embiaced in tlis veise, and tley constitute tle six noble auibutes.
Not Drifting towards Pleasurable Sensations
Tle exiession Not diihing into tle cuiient of leasuiable
sensations may be elaborated in this way. Pleasurable sensations
give delight to people who crave what is desirable. Beautiful sights,
melodious sounds, nagiant odouis, delicious food, deligltful toucles,
and inspiring ideas are desirable. Delightful sensations naturally
auact one to giavitate towaids tlem. Tlose wlo aie not yet nee
nom tle feueis of delements, nd tlem leasuiable, witl deliglt
and fond auaclment. Do not, tleiefoie, allow youi mind to diih into
tlis cuiient of leasuiable sensations. Eveiy time tle mind diihs
towaids tlem, iesuain it by contemlating and noting.
Regaiding tlose wlo lave no conuol ovei tleii mind, tle iaging
toiient of delements will be iusling into tle sensations of siglt
through the eye-door. The ear, the nose, the tongue, the body, and
tle mind will, lilewise, ow in a toiient into all tle iesective
sensations of sound, odour, taste, touch, and imagination. It is like
a toiient of ood-watei in a mountain sueam owing down to a
lowei level wlen it iains leavily. In Pi tlis owing is called sava.
Tlis luman assion oi mental delement is of foui linds: sensuali[
(kmsava), becoming (bhavsava), wrong views (dihsava), and
ignorance (avijjsava). As far as this verse is concerned, it refers to
sensuali[ and becoming, wlicl aie ione to ow into tle sueam of
pleasurable sensation. In essence, they are passionate desire.
Flowing to the Highest Existence
Tlis assionate desiie ows u to tle liglest foimless iealm, if
stated with reference to abodes. From the point of view of the nature
of Dlamma, it ows iiglt u to matuii[ lnowledge (goabh a),
a stage where the mind inclines towards the Path, its Fruition, and
nibbna. Tle liglest and tle noblest existence is called bhavagga.
To understand this highest and noblest abode, one must know about
the intermediate and lowest forms of existences. Of the tlii[-one
realms of existence, the lowest are hell (naraka), hungry ghosts (peta),
animals (tiracchna), and the world of jealous gods (asr), which
together form the four lower realms (apya). The lowest of them all
is lell. Of all tle lells, tle lowest level is lnown as Avci. Foi tlis
reason, when merits are shared at a libation ceremony, it is usually
stated as nom tle liglest existence (bhavagga) to tle lowest (Avci).
Flowing to the Highest Existence 63
The human world is higher in the scale of existences than the four
lower realms. Above that are the six celestial realms (devaloka) in
oidei of iecedence: Ctumalijila, Tvatisa, Yma, Tusita,
Nimmnaiati, and Paianimmitavasavaui. In tle six celestial iealms,
as in the human world, both male and female beings are present.
There, all pleasures of sense are enjoyed in abundance. Above the
celestial iealms, tleie aie tliee abodes of tle ist jhna. Though it
is said to have three stages in the world of brahmas, they are on the
same plane. They are called three abodes depending upon the three
[es of bialmas iesiding in tlat woild. Extending above tlat, tleie
are three abodes of the second jhna. They too are on the same plane
and because of tle iesence of tliee dieient linds of bialmas it is
stated to be three abodes. Beyond that abode, come three abodes of
the third jhna. These are also on the same plane inhabited by three
kinds of brahmas. Above the abodes of third jhna, there exists the
world of fourth jhna. The lowest stage in this realm is inhabited by
two linds of bialmas: Velalala and Asaasaua. Tlis is also to
be called the two abodes.
Out of these two kinds of brahmas, Vehapphala brahmas like
otlei bialmas, lave botl mind and mauei. Tleiefoie, tle Vela-
phala brahma and the nine other kinds of brahmas belonging to the
lower three abodes or heavens, altogether ten kinds of brahmas, can
come down to devaloka and the human world to listen to the teachings
of tle Buddla. Tley also lave tle abili[ to teacl. Wlat is secial
about them is that they have no masculine or feminine sexual
characteristics. Though their facial features contain the shape or
guie of a nose, tley lave no sense of smell. Tley can lowevei tall
foi laving ossessed tle guie of a tongue, but lave no sense of
taste. They have the body but not tactile, without the sense of touch.
They possess no parts or limbs of the body which are vile to be able
to enjoy the depraved forms of sensuous pleasures, such as, the
sensations of smell, taste, and toucl. Tlis is ie good. Tley lave
eyes and ears and are therefore capable of developing merits. That
is why they can revere and worship the Buddha, and listen to the
Dlamma. Aait nom tlat, since tley ossess mind, tley can iactise
tle Dlamma. So tle majoii[ of tlese bialmas auained secial
Dhamma when they heard the discourse delivered by the Buddha.
It is indeed veiy ne. In tle case of Asaasaua bialmas, tley do
not have the knowing mind that brings consciousness. They have
only material form. It may be similar to the carved images hewn out
of wood or marble. Since they are deprived of mind they have no
consciousness. Neither do they move about, nor have the power of
mobili[. Tley cannot even slale. Tley aie lile lifeless images. Tley
are therefore not aware of the appearance of Buddhas. Nor can they
listen to tle Dlamma. Ahei tle life san of ve-lundied aeons is
exhausted, they die and return to their original abodes in the human
woild oi tle celestial iealms. Foi tlem tleie is absolutely no benet.
Tlat is wly tle Asasaua is included in tle eiglt faul[ abodes.
Above tle Velalala and Asaasaua abodes, come tle iealms
of Suddlvsa, laving ve dieient levels in seiial oidei, oulated
only by Non-returners and Arahants. The names of these realms are:
Avila, Ataa, Sudassa, Sudass and Alanila. Tlese ve iealms
of form, being inhabited only by the Non-returners and Arahants,
wlo aie nee nom any auaclment tlat can ielegate tlem to tle lowei
sensual iealms, aie lnown as tle uie abodes (Suddlvsa). Tle
inlabitants aie collectively called Suddlvsil.
Above tle Suddlvsa abodes, tleie aie tle abodes of foimless
brahmas (arpabrahmloka), consisting of four levels: the sphere of
innite sace (aksnancyatna), tle sleie of innite conscious-
ness (viacyatana), the sphere of nothingness (akica-
yatana), and the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception
(nevasa-nsayatana). In these formless realms, the brahmas
have no bodily forms, but are mere radiance endowed with intelli-
gence, and witl mind and mauei. Being foimless witlout mateiial
aggregates, they are invisible. They can neither see, nor hear, nor
appear before the Buddha to listen to the Dhamma. Ordinary beings
who reach this abode will revert to the human world or the devaloka
wlen tleii life-san exiies. Tley deiive no benets, so tlese abodes
of formless brahmas are included in what are known as the eight
unfavourable existences. Beings living in such abodes will miss the
ooituni[ of auaining nibbna. Howevei, tle Noble Ones can
progress on the path of the Dhamma while residing in these abodes.
Sueam-winneis, Once-ietuineis, and Non-ietuineis wlo aie ieboin
in sucl abodes can auain Aialantsli tliougl tle ioei metlod
of contemplation and by practising mindfulness which they have
learnt before, and while living in these abodes they will eventually
Is Hell Pleasurable? 65
auain parinibbna. Of the four formless realms, the sphere of neither
perception nor non-perception is the highest and noblest existence
(bhavagga). Tle clinging mind ooded witl leasuiable sensations
is lilely to ow into tle iealm of tlii[-one abodes beginning nom
tle lowest Avci lell, to tle liglest abode of neitlei eicetion noi
non-eicetion. Because of its tendency to ow into tle ool of
passionate desires, it is called sva in terms of abode. Since, it is
expressed as anassvi according to the verse, it may be stated as
assva. Hence, passionate desire called assva, wlicl tends to diih
along should be dispelled. It is therefore essential to practise
meditation not to let oneself diih towaids any of tle tlii[-one abodes,
witl leasuiable auaclment.
Is Hell Pleasurable?
In this regard, a question may arise. Is it possible for pleasurable
auaclment to desicable existences, to occui, since lell is tle woist
abode among tle tlii[-one dieient iealms of existence, and tle
worlds of hungry ghosts, jealous gods, and animals are obviously
infeiioi and ignoble' Tle answei is quite simle. It is uue tlat a
person who knows hell and how bad it is, will surely have no
yearning for it. However, one who is not aware of hell will become
auacled to it witl assionate desiie. Tlis is evident if consideied in
the light of what had happened to Miuavindala.
At one time, a eison by tle name of Miuavindala leh lis lome
ahei oending lis own motlei veibally and disiesectfully, and was
ioving about lile tle iesent-day youngsteis laying uuant. Wlile
thus roaming about aimlessly, he reached a wharf at a seaport, and
boaided a sli, wlicl latei leh tle oit foi a distant land. Wlen tle
sli got into uouble on tle ligl seas, tle slis ciew believed tleie
must be a vicious eison among tlem wlo lad commiued a seiious
fault. They devised a method of drawing lots by which the vicious
eison could be identied. Miuavindala, laving diawn tle sloit
suaw, was set adiih on a iah. Fiom tlat moment tle sli began to
sail smootlly. Wlile diihing in tle ocean, Miuavindala, by viitue
of meiits deiived nom laving obseived moial iecets in a ievious
existence, reached a palatial mansion, an abode of four female hungry
ghosts. Though they were hungry ghosts, their abode was the results
of mixed merits and demerits. They enjoyed the pleasures of devas
for a period of seven days, and then for the next seven days they had
to enduie vaiious linds of seveie ain and sueiing, similai to tlose
in lell. Ahei aiiiving at tlis abode, Miuavindala was veiy well
looled ahei duiing tle ist seven days. Tlen ahei tle eiiod of
warm reception was over, he was asked by the four hungry ghosts
to continue to stay in that abode and wait for them for seven days
telling lim tlat ahei exiiy of tlat duiation, tley would come bacl
and that in the meantime, they had to leave the place to undergo
toiment in lell. Miuavindala, lowevei, iefused to comly witl tleii
iequest and leh, oating away on tle small iah. Witl lis good
fortune still smiling on him for his virtuous kamma of the past, he
again ieacled tle abode of eiglt lungiy glosts. Ahei a eiiod of
seven days sojouin as in tle foimei case, le leh and lile tlis assed
through the abode of sixteen hungry ghosts, eventually reaching the
abode of tlii[-two lungiy glosts. He ut u at tlat abode foi seven
days as ieviously, and tlen ioceeded nom tleie on lis jouiney.
Finally, he landed on an island of Hell in the sea for having done
wrong, a demeritorious act, to his mother. While he was walking
about on tle island, le found a eison wlose necl was cloed o
by a machine-driven knife. He saw the red blood spilling out
iofusely nom tle necl wlicl lad been cut, and tle eison was
found slouting at tle to of lis voice and ciying biueily in gieat
ain and sueiing.
Wrong Notion of Bad as Being Good
The above sub-heading in the original Burmese version of the
lectuie is a well-lnown ioveib wlicl may be liteially uanslated as
Tle lell of a eiy owei is wiongly conceived as a leavenly ne
owei. Finding tle man being subjected to immense sueiing in
lell, Miuavindala lad a dieient oinion as to wly tle eison was
screaming and yelling despite the fact that he was adorned with an
exuemely beautiful owei on lis lead. He imagined low nice it
would be if le weie to lave tlis big ie owei stucl on lis lead.
Referring to this incident, sages of the past had provided us with a
ioveib: Tle lell of a eiy owei was wiongly conceived as a
leavenly ne owei. He tleiefoie told tle man, Please give me
tlat full-bloom owei on youi necl. Tleieuon, tle man sueiing
in lell enueated lim uutlfully tlus: I could not ossibly dodge tle
The Abode of Hungry Ghosts Also Seems Pleasurable 67
teiiible lnife wlen it is about to fall iiglt on my necl to slice it o.
Tle tling on tle bacl of my necl is not a golden owei but a slai
blade of a machine-driven knife. It is really terrible. Please do not
wisl to suei tlat gieat ain and miseiy. Howevei, Miuavindala
did not believe tle mans woids. He tleiefoie ietoited, My niend,
I lave seen tlat big owei witl my own eyes. Dont tell me lies.
Perhaps the way you have just spoken to me was probably because
you aie unwilling to oei me tlat owei. You must lave woin tlis
big owei on youi lead foi a long time. Miuavindala eisistently
asled tle man to yield to lis iequest and land ovei tle owei to
lim. Tlis ieeated uueiance made tlat condemned man ieect: Tlis
man is driven by awfully bad kamma just like me. It seems that the
time las aiiived foi me to get ieleased nom tle teiiible sueiing in
tlis lell. Tlinling tlus, le conceded, saying. Well, my niend,
since you want tlat owei, you may lave it now. So saying, le
tliew tle automatic lnife to fall onto Miuavindala. Tle moment it
came to rest on the back of his neck, the mechanical device started
to function on its own, cuuing o lis necl. Only tlen, Miuavindala
iealised tlat it was not a golden owei at all, as le lad tlouglt, but
a teiiible cuuing macline witl a slai blade. Now le was lelless
and could not get away nom it. As long as lis bad lamma was not
exhausted, he was cruelly cut by the automatic knife.
Consideiing tlis uagic eisode, it is obvious tlat tlose wlo lave
unwholesome kamma, not knowing that hell is terrible, would
probably think of it as pleasurable. Then also curiously enough,
although one may know what hell really is, when he himself has
become an inmate of lell, le could nd deliglt and leasuie in lis
own existence. One may, on lis own volition, be inclined to nd
happiness though he might even consider hell as undesirable. This
amounts to taking pleasure in the hellish aggregates. It is therefore
cleai enougl tlat leasuiable auaclment to lell itself is caused by
tlis clinging desiie and tlat tle veiy clinging desiie is diihing
towards the hellish aggregates.
The Abode of Hungry Ghosts Also Seems Pleasurable
Some lungiy glosts suei miseiy almost as mucl as tlose in lell.
A lungiy glost also nds existence leasuiable. Since tley aie
indulging in mauimonial aaiis among tleii own lind, tleie is
laidly any doubt tlat tley lave tleii own leasuiable auaclment
to one another who have the same fate and are living a similar
existence. Moreover, among hungry ghosts, there are some known
as Vemnila Petas wlo, because of tle eects of mixed meiits and
demeiits, aie sueiing all day long but enjoying leasuies at niglt
time, oi undeigoing sueiing foi seven days, and tlen becoming
enraptured with pleasurable life during the next seven days,
alternately. When the turn of meritorious kamma comes, they have
a luxurious and pleasurable life as devas do. Therefore, even an
ordinary person who has come across such pleasurable conditions,
would lave deligltful auaclment to sucl a low existence. Jealous
gods are somewhat similar to hungry ghosts.
Animals Also Enjoy Their Own Existences
Among animals, tleie aie diagons of tle Nga woild, wlicl lave
supernormal powers. It was stated that during the lifetime of our
Buddha, a daughter of the king of dragons, named Eialaaua created
herself as a human and then danced while singing a riddle. It was
mentioned that having heard an announcement made by the king
of dragons conveying the news that anybody who could solve the
riddle would be given his daughters hand in marriage, the number
of people who visited the place wishing to get the dragon princess
as a wife, was so large that there was hardly space to stand. In the
Bliidaua Jtala also, mention was made that children were born
of the two parents, the father being a human prince, and the mother,
a dragon princess, and vice-versa. In the Cameyya Jtala, it was
stated tlat tle Bodlisaua, laving yeained foi tle existence of a
dragon, had indeed been reborn as a dragon. In the Vidluia Jtala,
a deva of an infeiioi [e belonging to tle lowest celestial abode, by
tle name of Puala, was said to lave fallen in love witl a female
diagon. He caiiied o a ienowned sage by tle name of Vidluia to
the realm of dragons as prompted by his sweetheart, the female
dragon, and her parents. Hence, it cannot be disputed that one can
be auacted to tle animal lingdom, witl leasuiable auaclment
impelled by desire. People keep dogs as family pets caressing them
witl love and auaclment. In tle same way, otlei linds of animals
aie biouglt u witl aectionate caie and auention. Tlese aie all
leasuiable auaclments.
Animals Also Enjoy Their Own Existences 69
If a person, who moulds his destiny according to the law of
kamma, by force of unwholesome kamma, is reborn as an animal
sucl as a dog, ig, ox, bualo, loise, oi elelant, tlen leasuiable
auaclment to tle lysical self in any lind of existence is bound to
tale lace, wleievei le may be ieboin. Pleasuiable auaclment witl
delight also occurs in the company of those belonging to the same
woildly existence. Tlis can denitely be lnown witl iefeience to
tle Cameyya Jtala. Having seen tle iemailably ligl status and
charming appearance of Campeyya, the king of dragons, who had
come in the guise of a human with all pomp and splendour to pay
ieveience to lis fatlei, tle gieat leimit, tle Bodlisaua was gieatly
enchanted. Accordingly, he had a longing to become the king of
dragons. He was therefore reborn as Campeyya, the king of dragons,
ahei lis deatl. Initially, ahei lis iebiitl in tle new existence, wlen
he found that he possessed the despicable body of a snake, he was
said to be greatly depressed and disappointed. However, no sooner
had he become a dragon amidst the pleasant company of a retinue
of young female dragons in the guise of charming and sprightly
human dancers, singing and dancing to the accompaniment of music,
his dejection and sorrow evaporated as he was dominated by
leasuiable sensations deiived nom tle ageanuy and iejoicing.
Hence, tle iesence of leasuiable auaclment oi clinging to ones
own existence is common to everyone. No further comment is
necessary relating to the pleasurable and luxurious life in the abodes
of luman beings and devas. Even tle lives of bialmas aoid tlem
pleasure and delight in their own way.
Followers of other religions desire such brahma realms under the
false belief that such abodes are paradise, a divine state of supreme
bliss nee nom old age, sueiing, and deatl. Duiing tle lifetime of tle
Buddha, a brahma god by the name of Baka, assumed that his abode
was eteinal, devoid of old age, sueiing, and deatl. He even invited
the Blessed One to his heavenly place with great delight and satisfac-
tion. Without even entertaining such thoughts, some have been
enjoying tleii lives tleie foi laving found lainess witl longevi[.
One of the brahmas, having seen the human beings and devas coming
into being and passing away in so short a time with a brief span of life,
was said to be teaching with eagerness to practise mental development
in order to reach their abode of brahma and to be able to live long, as:
One slould eainestly endeavoui to iactise foi tle auainment of jhna
by which sensual desire can be dispelled similar to a person who
would lave uied in emeigency to ull out tle seai wlicl is ieiced
through and stuck in the vital part of his body at the mouth of the
abdomen, oi to extinguisl tle buining ie on lis lead.
However, a question may arise if pleasurable sensations will occur
in tle Suddlvsa abode wlicl is inlabited only by noble eisons
wlose minds aie uiied. Even in tlis abode, Non-ietuineis not yet
nee nom desiie foi existence nd leasuie in tleii own existences.
Moieovei, oidinaiy eole, Sueam-winneis, Once-ietuineis, and
Non-returners, take delight in the formless brahma realms. In the
formless realms where there is only consciousness without the
material body, being fairly comfortable, some people have thought
of it as nibbna, and ciave foi it.
ra Klma and Udaka Rmaputta
Immediately ahei lis ienunciation of woildly leasuies, tle
Bodlisaua iactised meditation undei tle guidance of tle gieat
leimits ia and Udala leaining tle metlod of iactising jhna,
that these hermits were then practising to reach the heavens of the
sphere of nothingness and the sphere of neither perception nor
non-eicetion, tlinling tlat tlese iealms weie nee nom sueiing.
They were also teaching others with this misconception. The
Bodlisaua, lowevei, was awaie tlat tle aclievement of jhna is not
tle iiglt way to auain nibbna. Tlat is wly le abandoned tlem,
and souglt foi tle uue Dlamma, eventually gaining Enligltenment.
Ahei becoming an Omniscient Buddla, wlen le tlouglt to delivei
lis ist discouise, le came to lnow tliougl lis divine eye tlat tle
two leimits, ia and Udala lad unfoitunately assed away and
had reached the abodes of the aforesaid formless realms, which they
tlouglt of as being nibbna.
Since these heavenly abodes are formless, the inhabitants residing
there cannot listen to discourses. Such abodes have a very long
life-san. Tle life-san in tle iealm of notlingness is six[-tlousand
world cycles, and in the realm of neither perception nor non-perception
it is eigl[-tlousand woild cycles. Ahei tle exiiy of tle iesective
life-span, they will die, and revert to the human world. However, by
then the Buddhas dispensation will have long since faded out. So the
Likely to Dri Up to Maturi Knowledge 71
auainment of tle Patl, its Fiuition, and nibbna is iemote nom tlem.
Tle Blessed One tleiefoie said tlat it was a uemendous loss foi tlem.
In view of these facts, if spoken of in terms of abodes, craving with
leasuiable desiies is lilely to diih nom tle lowest abode of Avci u
to tle liglest existence. Tleiefoie, to ievent diihing in tle cuiient
of existence, insight meditation must be practiced.
Likely to Drift Up to Maturity Knowledge
Tlis ciaving, accoiding to tle natuie of Dlamma, tends to diih
iiglt u until tle stage of matuii[ lnowledge. Looling at it nom
the aspect of phenomena, it clings with delight to all phenomena
within the domain of sensual pleasures. It grasps at realms of form
and foimless iealms witl tle lo and viituous qualities of jhna.
Tlat is to say tlat ciaving continues witl deliglt and auaclment
iiglt u to matuii[ lnowledge, wlicl occuis close to tle auainment
of the Noble Path. It also tends towards and holds onto all pleasurable
sensations that arise at every moment of seeing, hearing, contacting,
and knowing. One who is practising to gain form and formless jhnas,
las a desiie foi tleii aclievement. Moieovei, one continues to nd
leasuie witl clinging auaclment in jhna when it is achieved.
One who is practising insight meditation eagerly expects to gain
good concenuation befoie concenuation becomes suong. Tlen, wlen
mental uanquili[ becomes stable, leasuiable sensations associated
witl concenuation occui. Again, wlile tle owei of contemlation
and noting is still weal, one wisles to suengtlen it. Wlen it becomes
suengtlened, one is lay witl joy and auaclment to wlat is good.
One wlo is not yet able to distinguisl between mind and mauei is
eager to know their distinctive features. When it is known, one takes
delight and pleasure in the knowing-mind. One then inclines to know
the characteristics of impermanence, etc., and when appreciated as
sucl, one is gieatly satised witl tlis insiglt lnowledge duiing tle
continual process of contemplating and noting. At the stage of arising
and passing away (udayabbaya-a), when brilliant light or radiance
aie found oi visualized, one is lilely to become exuemely satised
witl iatuie, uanquili[, bliss, and condence in iesect of tlis
insight knowledge, which occurs with great speed.
Biiey stated, wlen ieacling tle stage of equanimi[ about
formations, all sensations that need be contemplated and noted will
aeai one ahei anotlei automatically witlout maling any secial
eoit. Sensations tlat may occui will be automatically iealised witl
ease and comfoit witlout exeition. Tlis ne iealisation witl
awaieness will continue foi one oi two louis oi moie at a suetcl
without losing momentum. This progressive insight gained by
contemlation will also be looled uon witl leasuiable auaclment.
Wlen tlis lnowledge of equanimi[ about foimations becomes fully
suengtlened, all noting and awaieness will tale lace in an
accelerated motion, and will be found pleasant in its own peculiar
way. This is known as insight leading to emergence (vuhnagmini
a), which also may be found pleasurable. Noting will then
becomes fast, and while insight knowledge is continuously occurring,
consciousness will aeai inclined towaids nibbna wleie all mental
and physical formations cease. This realisation and mental inclination
will bring about the knowledge of the Path and its Fruition, which
will move towaids tle exeiience of nibbna. In tlis way, atl and
nuition consciousness glimses nibbna. Tleieahei, lnowledge of
reviewing (paccavekkhaa-a) occurs.
Among what has so happened, the nature of the mind that inclines
towaids nibbna is matuii[ lnowledge. Ahei ieecting on it witl
tle lnowledge of ieviewing, leasuiable auaclment to matuii[
lnowledge can also tale lace. Ahei tlat, nibbna wleie all
foimations cease and tle consciousness of tle atl and nuition
that realise cessation, are not obvious as being pleasurable. Only the
natuie of cessation is cleaily lnown. Hence, no leasuiable auacl-
ment to tle atl, its nuition, and nibbna can aiise. Pleasuiable
auaclment can only laen u to tle eailiei stage of matuii[
knowledge. That is the why it has been stated that craving desires
diih u to matuii[ lnowledge.
Resembles a Wealth-conscious Person
Without being well-accomplished in Dhamma by personally
iactising meditation, some may tall witl ego oi conceit. Tley oei
advice not to get involved in any kind of sense-pleasures and not to
crave for anything pleasurable. This kind of talk may be considered
valuable if made by a credible person at the right time. However, if
one who talks in that way is a person without any dependable
knowledge of the Dhamma by which he can aspire to be reborn in a
Any Kind of Merit Should Be Cultivated 73
happy condition such as the world of human beings or devas, it
would be highly improper. Furthermore, if he himself is still clinging
to uivial leasuies of life, it will be inaioiiate foi lim to tall lile
tlat. Some may slandei otleis, ciiticising, nding fault, and disai-
aging contemplation and noting of all phenomena arising at the six
sense-doois aie meie uanquili[. Sucl deiogatoiy seecl miglt be
due to ignoiance iegaiding tle distinguisling featuies of uanquili[
and insight. It may also be due to impudence, not knowing that
uanquili[ meditation is a fundamental exeicise iactised by tle
Buddlas and Noble Ones. Sucl eole tall witl vani[, tlinling
highly of themselves without any basic knowledge of the Dhamma.
They may be likened to a person who assumes himself as a man of
substance witlout ossessing any wealtl oi ioei[ and also
witlout tle abili[ to conduct any business enteiiise consideiing
tle ventuie as one below lis digni[ and nancial standing.
Any Kind of Merit Should Be Cultivated
Any lind of meiitoiious deed tlat will lead to nibbna is
something worth doing, and needs to be cultivated. None of the texts
indicate that the method of contemplating and noting every phenom-
enon aiising nom tle six sense-doois is uanquili[ meditation. It is
only mentioned as amounting to insight meditation.
Not to enjoy pleasure and yearn for it is easier said then done.
Fiom tle iactical oint of view, it is exuemely dicult to iesuain
oneself nom enjoyment. It is because tle delement of ciaving, wlicl
is susceptible to enjoyment and inclined to generate passionate
desiies, and is lilely to diih along witl deligltful sensations u to
the highest realm of existence if described in terms of abodes, and
u to matuii[ lnowledge, witl iefeience to tle Dlamma. As sucl,
in regard to one who has practised meditation to achieve jhna,
ciaving and auaclment to sucl an aclievement, wlicl aiose befoie
tlat auainment, can occui. Ahei tle auainment of jhna, the meditator
again takes pleasure in what has been achieved. As regards a
meditator indulging in the practice of insight, the mind is not at rest
oi uanquil at tle initial stage. It is mixed u witl tle ve lindiances
to tle iogiess of concenuation. Tle mind is tlen still olluted. So
tle meditatoi is eagei gain uii[ of mind and concenuation. He oi
sle also wisles to male good iogiess in noting witl seieni[,
witlout tle mind going asuay. Tlen again, wlen noting can be done
vigoiously and eectively witl a calm mind, le oi sle nds is
delighted with being able to note thoroughly and satisfactorily. While
contemlating, tle mind iemains calm and xed, continually
dwelling on the objects that ought to be noted, without wandering
and iuing. Tle object tlat is noted clange constantly, but tle mind
that is noting remains stable. The mind is calm and steady without
deviating nom tle oint to wlicl it is diiected. Tlis is called
momentaiy concenuation foi insiglt (vipassan-khaika-samdhi). It
is similai to access concenuation (upacra samdhi) obtained through
uanquili[ meditation. Hence, it is to be called uii[ of mind (cia
visuddhi). Wlen tle mind becomes uiied and suengtlened duiing
the process of noting, the body and mind, are distinguished. It
becomes clear that the sense-object that is noted is one thing, and the
knowing mind is another. This means that analytical knowledge of
body and mind (nma-rpa-pariccheda-a) occurs, and the two
distinctive features are clearly known in the act of noting. Then
satisfaction arises regarding the insight that is gained.
As one proceeds with contemplating and noting, awareness
becomes clear that phenomena are merely arising and passing away
in an instant being goveined by tle law of cause and eect, and tlat
everything is impermanent, unsatisfactory, and unreliable. In the
process of contemplating and noting, realisation comes with satisfac-
tion that all these are mere natural phenomena without any self or
living enti[. Biilliant liglts will also be visualized, and botl body
and mind will be pervaded with intense joy, happiness, and rapture.
These experiences are also regarded as delightful. All such feelings
must also be contemlated, noted, and tlen iejected. Ahei iejecting
them, if contemplation and noting is carried on, insight will deepen,
leading to the knowledge of dissolution (bhaga-a) regarding
every object of awareness, and the awareness itself at every moment
of noting. In brief, if further contemplation is made, insight will
giadually develo iiglt u to lnowledge of equanimi[ about
formations (sakhrupekkha-a). How this knowledge arises will
be explained at length later. On reaching this stage, noting becomes
veiy easy, smootl, and gentle witlout maling any secial eoit,
with awareness occurring spontaneously and incessantly. This
constant awareness is also appreciated by the meditator with delight.
Maturi Knowledge Can Be Pleasurable 75
Maturity Knowledge Can Be Pleasurable
If the pleasurable sensations that have arisen have been rejected,
and if contemplating and noting is continuous, insight will progress
to a stage where the Noble Path can be achieved. On reaching this
stage, noting accompanied by awareness will automatically become
accelerated. While becoming aware in this way, the insight knowl-
edge inclines towards the sensation of formations. This is the stage
of insiglt called matuii[ lnowledge. Tle mind inclines in tle way
stated and ows into tle cessation of foimations. Tlis iealisation is
the Path and its Fruition. At that moment, there is no chance for
leasuiable auaclment oi ciaving to aiise. Tle aiising of atl and
nuition lnowledge (magga-phala a), wlicl lave eneuated into
tle natuie of cessation does not also aoid any ooituni[ to tlinl
of any pleasurable condition. As such, there cannot be any pleasur-
able auaclment to tlose Dlammas conditioning tle Patl, its Fiuition,
and nibbna. Howevei, tle mind tlat las become veiy active and
has arisen earlier with insight towards the cessation known as
matuii[ lnowledge, may be iegaided as leasuiable if and wlen
ieection is made ieuosectively. Tleie can also be exectations
before realisation of these insight knowledges. For this reason, it has
been stated tlat, accoiding to Dlamma, tlis leasuiable auaclment
of ciaving, can ow iiglt u to matuii[ lnowledge.
Wlat las now been tauglt desciibes tle way in wlicl tle ood
of ciaving diihs into tle cuiient of leasuiable sensations, witl
deliglt. Tlese delements oi laimful ciavings aie indeed uuly awful.
Tleiefoie do not eimit tlis ciaving to diih along and to aiise. To
ievent it nom diihing and aiising, all sensations tlat occui slould
be continuously contemplated and noted without any break. If
contemplation is done continuously, since any object will vanish
immediately ahei it is seen, tle iealisation will dawn tlat it is
impermanent (anicca), unsatisfactory (dukkha) and not-self (anaa).
Similaily, it will be uuly iealised as sucl at tle moment of leaiing,
smelling, tasting, touching, and knowing. Hence, nothing will be
found to be leasuiable. It is only because of ones own inabili[ to
contemlate and note, and to lnow tle uutl, tlat sensations aiising
nom tle six sense-bases aie eiioneously tlouglt of as being
leasuiable. If so consideied as leasuiable, sueiing will follow in
uain witl woiiy and anxie[ ovei all of tlese sensations.
Gestation for Seven Years and Seven Days
During the life-time of the Buddha, a lady by the name of
Suavs, belonging to a ioyal family was iegnant foi seven yeais
instead of the usual period of nine or ten months, as the result of an
unwholesome deed done in a previous life. During labour, she had
to enduie gieat ain and sueiing foi seven days continuously befoie
giving birth to a son. The child was a prodigy who was later to
become an eminent eldei Veneiable Svali. In one of tleii ievious
existences, these two were the queen and son of the king of Benares.
At that time the king of Kosala invaded the kingdom of Benares, and
ahei lis annexation of tlat counuy, le ut tle ling of Benaies to
deatl. Tle Queen, lowevei, was made one of lis wives. Hei son ed,
and ahei iallying a migl[ aimed foice, advanced towaids Benaies
in an auemt to ieoccuy it. Taling advice nom lis motlei, le laid
siege to tle ci[ and sent a message to tle ling of Kosala asling
wletlei le would suiiendei oi glt a baule. Tle ling of Kosala,
lowevei, would neitlei suiiendei noi glt. Tle citizens, being able
to biing food and otlei sulies into tle ci[ tliougl a small gate
in tle ci[ wall, weie quite at ease. On ieceit of fuitlei advice nom
lis motlei, tle iince blocled all of tle ci[ gates, laige and small.
Ahei seven days siege, tle citizens ievolted and lilled tle ling.
Tleieahei, tley ioclaimed tle young iince as tleii monaicl. Foi
tlis evil deed in laying siege to tle ci[, tle iince lad to suei in
lell foi innumeiable yeais. In lis nal existence, le lad to iemain
in his mothers womb for seven years. Moreover, for having closed
all tle gas in tle ci[ wall foi seven days witlout leaving any
loo-lole, le lad to enduie immense sueiing foi seven days at tle
time of lis biitl as a iesult of lis ast bad lamma. Tle eect of
unwlolesome lamma is uuly teiiible!
As a mark of honour for having given birth to a healthy son, a
ceiemony was leld by oeiing alms food to tle Buddla and lis
disciles. On tlat occasion, Veneiable Siiuua becloned tle infant
prince to come nearer to him and spoke to him. Although this child
was newly born, he was seven years old. Therefore, he was able to
understand what was said. Not only that, he could already speak
and wall. Veneiable Siiuua asled tle young clild, How aie you
son' Did you suei ain and miseiy staying so long in youi motleis
womb' Was it not teiiible' Svali ielied, Yes, Veneiable sii. It was
Deceiving by Pretending to Be Pleasant 77
indeed teiiible. Having leaid lei sons iely, Suavs was
overjoyed and thought, My son is outstanding. Just imagine, he can
ably answer on the Dhamma even to an eminent elder like Venerable
Siiuua. At tlis oint, tle Blessed One asled, My deai daugltei
Suavs, aie you willing to lave anotlei son lile Svali, if it weie
ossible' Suavs ielied, Yes, Veneiable sii! I wisl I could lave
seven lile lim. Heaiing lei iely, tle Buddla uueied tlis veise:
Asta starpena, piyarpena appiya. Dukkha
sukhassa rpena, pamaa mativaati.
Anything that is neither good (asta) nor delightful
(appiya), seeming to be good (starpena) and delight-
ful (piyarpena), makes a heedless person (pamaa)
suei immensely (ativaati).
Deceiving by Pretending to Be Pleasant
In this regard, the word heedless does not mean not being
conscious of something. It means becoming careless without the
mindfulness usually acquired by meditators who are contemplating
and noting with awareness. Such a heedless person is said to be
ieoccuied witl uivial maueis tlat seem leasuiable. It is lile an
imposter practising deception on a simple person. Do you understand
tlis oint' Suavs lad undeigone a gieat deal of sueiing foi
seven yeais to get a son, and lad to suei ain foi seven days duiing
laboui, yet sle still wanted sucl a son foi wlom sle lad to suei so
much. This is evidence of the fact that she had found pleasure in
wlat was actually sueiing, because of lei ignoiance of tle noble
Dhamma. This shows that what is unpleasant has been deceiving
undei tle guise of being leasant. Wlom does it ill-ueat' Tle answei
is tlat it ill-ueats a leedless eison. Tle question tlen aiises low
one slould ioeily ieect oi beai in mind. Reection slould be
made with mindfulness bearing in mind that all these unsatisfactory
tlings aie, in fact, suessful, ainful and sueiing. Tle cause leading
to sucl sueiing slould also be ieected uon and fully iealised.
From the worldly point of view, one who is lazy and negligent in
connection witl business maueis and livelilood, and loes to
succeed, witlout eoit oi taling caie, is leedless. It may be said tlat
he or she has no wisdom regarding the results to be expected. Such
a simple person can easily become a victim to unscrupulous swindlers.
From the Dhamma point of view, one is heedless and lacking
insiglt, oveiwlelmed by tle desiie to gain ioseii[ in tlis iesent
existence without thinking about merits and demerits for future
existences in sasia. Sensual leasuies, wlicl last only foi tle
duration of this life-time, under the guise of having great value, will
swindle a heedless person. A heedless person will be unaware of the
deception until on the threshold of death. To others, realisation comes
only in tle next existence ahei deatl.
Kammic Effects Known after Death
In tle counuy of Suiaula duiing tle time of King Dlamma Asola,
there lived a general by the name of Nandaka. He believed in the
false docuine tlat tleie was no iesult of lamma, and no futuie
existences. Hence, his personal endeavours were limited to the extent
of deiiving woildly benets duiing lis life-time. Wlen le assed
away, he became a hungry ghost (peta) witlin tle connes of a foiest
named Vindly. Tlen only le came to iealise eisonally tlat tleie
ieally exists tle law of lamma witl its causes and eects, and futuie
existences ahei deatl, and tlat le lad been swindled by woitlless
things which, in fact, should not have been regarded as pleasurable.
Wlile le was ieminiscing about tle ast and ieecting on lis iesent
existence, lis daugltei Uuai was maling a libation ahei lei
donation in oeiing food and diinling-watei to tle Sagla. Sle
iayed foi lim to slaie in tle meiits. Ahei saying Sdhu to appreciate
the merits shared by his daughter, he immediately received food and
other comestibles, such as might be available to devas, to his hearts
content. Tle benets so deiived made lim all tle moie convinced
that he had wrongly accepted a false belief in his previous existence.
He iealised tlat le lad been a victim of naud in lis ievious existence.
Essential Not to Forget
Wlat is essential is not to foiget about maueis conceining sasia.
It means to say that all vices and unwholesome mental states should
be avoided to gain real happiness and to minimise misery throughout
future existences. Meritorious deeds and wholesome mental states
should be cultivated as far as possible. This is the main point. If this
is done, a person may be said to be always alert and heedful relating
to tle cycle of existence. In aiticulai, wlat is most signicant is not
Suering om the Viewpoint of Insight 79
to foiget to escae nom tle wliilool in tle dee ocean of sasia.
The way to escape is to be always mindful of the continuous arising
and dissolution of mind and mauei occuiiing witlin, by contemlat-
ing and noting. This is all that need to be done. If one is unable to
contemlate and note as stated above, tle continuous ux of mind
and mauei will be iegaided as good and leasuiable. Pleasuiable
sensations will occui nom tle seeing, leaiing, smelling, tasting,
touching, and knowing.
All natural phenomena will be regarded as pleasurable, then
sueiing will aiise nom tlese leasuiable sensations in tle iesent
existence. If, under unfavourable circumstances, one goes down to
tle lowei iealms, miseiy will ensue. Tlis is tle ciuel ueatment given
by things which are, in fact, not pleasurable. If mindfulness is
maintained by incessantly contemplating and noting, mind and
mauei will be lnown by tleii uue claiacteiistics as imeimanent,
unsatisfactory, and not-self. If realised as such, there will be no
sueiing duiing tle iesent life-time because of sucl sensations.
Neitlei will one be ielegate to lell in tle iounds of sasia. If
circumstances permit, the special dhamma of the Noble Path can be
achieved in the course of contemplating and noting. If the Path is
gained, one will be fully libeiated nom tle lowei iealms. Tleiefoie,
emphasis is laid on the importance of heedfulness, and on the need
to exeicise vigilance so tlat uivial maueis, wlicl do not deseive to
be regarded as pleasurable, cannot possibly deceive you.
The verse says further: Any sense-object that is not delightful
(appiya), seeming to be delightful (piyarpena), makes a heedless
person (pamaa) suei immensely (ativaati).
Suffering from the Viewpoint of Insight
Though a sense-object is not delightful, it pretends to be, arousing
love, wlicl ciuelly causes one to suei. Tlese aie tle tlings oi objects
that people see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and know. Seen with the
naked eye, it would seem as if the visual object is a male or female
being, he or she, which is perceived with a misleading notion as
deligltful and fascinating. Tlat is wly eole lanlei ahei tlese
ostensibly deligltful tlings. Looled at nom tle oint of view of
insight knowledge, they are found to be mere natural phenomena
of mind and mauei, wlicl aie continually aiising and disaeaiing,
and are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not-self. With insight, they
will be eiceived as detestable and teiiible. If tle uutl is iealised as
it uuly is, tlese sensations will lave no owei to deceive.
It was also stated as dukkha sukhassa rpena. The meaning of
this is that all painful and unsatisfactory phenomena appear to be
pleasant and a source of happiness. They cruelly deceive a heedless
and unwary person. In fact, all animate or inanimate things that
eole encountei, give iise to ain and sueiing, wlicl is tle Tiutl
of Sueiing (dukkha sacc), nom tle viewoint of a Noble One, wlo
eiceives tlem in tleii uue liglt witl tle eye of wisdom. At eveiy
moment of seeing with the eye-base, all these are found to be
ceaselessly arising and vanishing, and are therefore miserable.
Similar perceptions occurs at every moment of hearing, smelling,
tasting, touching, and knowing. However, to those who are unable
to contemplate and note, due to being heedless and lacking insight,
these miseries seem to be pleasurable and delightful. Due to this
decetion, woildlings always ciave foi tlings, uivial oi not so uivial,
witl leasuie and deliglt, loing tlat tley would one day nd ieal
lainess. Tlis cleaily slows tlat wlat is ieally sueiing, is ciuelly
deceiving by pretending to be objects of pleasure and joy. It is,
therefore, vital to diligently contemplate and note these unsatisfac-
toiy lenomena eveiy time tley aiise and disaeai. On auaining
Arahantship, one will become always mindful without any heedless-
ness, so no unsatisfactory phenomenon can deceive him or her.
An ordinary worldling who practises insight meditation will be
beuei o to tle extent of being able to contemlate and note witl
mindfulness. The statement that a thing is not really pleasurable as
mentioned in the verse, conveys the same sense as pleasurable things
(stiyesu), as stated in tlis Puibleda Suua. Hence, caie slould be
talen not to allow ones mind to ow into leasuiable sensations. If
leasuiable auaclment occuis to tlose wlo cannot iactise insiglt
meditation, tley slould tale caie not to go to exuemes. An insiglt
meditator must continuously contemplate and note all occurrences
aiising out of tle six sense-doois to ievent limself diihing towaids
leasuiable conditions. If leasuiable auaclment occuis, it slould
be rejected by contemplating and noting. The process of rejection
should continued relentlessly by contemplating and noting until
auaining tle Noble Patl, since it las been stated tlat leasuiable
Not Pued Up with Conceit 81
conditions diih u to tle stage of matuii[ lnowledge (goabh a).
If rejection is done in the way stated, knowledge of the path will
ultimately be ieacled. Tle mouo las, tleiefoie, been coucled as:
Not diihing into tle cuiient of leasuiable sensations,
with pride dispelled and gentleness maintained, gaining
wisdom, incredulous, cravings detached by clearing
away, tlese six auibutes aie lis gloiious aiiay.
Accoiding to tlis mouo, a sage in wlom delements lave become
extinct, is endowed witl tle six noble auibutes. Tle ist auibute:
Not diihing not into tle cuiient of leasuiable sensations las
already been explained.
Not Puffed Up with Conceit
Tle next auibute is: One slould not be aiiogant and laugl[
with excessive conceit (atimne ca no yuto), beliuling otleis and
iegaiding tlem as unwoitly of auention. It is imoitant not to
undeiestimate otleis in eitlei woildly aaiis oi siiitual maueis.
Low estimation of a eison in iesect of woildly aaiis may iefei
to aientage, nancial standing, oi education. Do not disaiage a
person in any way, since you may be mistaken. By holding a low
opinion of a person who really deserves respect, one may get into
uouble. I will ielate a stoiy in connection witl tlis.
During the Buddhas life-time, King Pasenadi of Kosala daily
invited ve-lundied monls foi alms. Tle Sagla led by Veneiable
nanda acceted tle oeiing of alms. Tle ling limself tool tle lead
in serving meals for a period of seven days in succession. For the
remaining days, however, the king was unable to do so personally,
but le failed to delegate otleis to eifoim lis du[. Witlout secic
orders, no one dared to carry out what should be done, the serving
of meals being in the kings palace. So, not even seating arrangements
were made to receive the monks. A number of the invited monks
tleiefoie leh, due to not being iovided witl seats. On tle following
day, a similai situation ievailed and moie of tle monls leh. On tle
tliid day, only Veneiable nanda was leh alone at tle lace of
oeiing, tle iest of tle monls laving deaited. Veneiable nanda
iemained out of iegaid foi tle faitl and geneiosi[ of tle benefactoi.
Tlis unsatisfactoiy state of aaiis was witnessed by tle ling limself
when he came over to the place personally. Finding Venerable
nanda alone, and all disles of iice and cuiiy being wasted, tle ling
felt very sorry and upset. He therefore, proceeded to the Buddha to
whom he respectfully asked, Venerable sir! I extended my invitation
to ve-lundied monls to lonoui me witl tleii iesence at my alace
foi alms. Howevei, only Veneiable nanda came. He asled wly
the other monks had failed to visit his place in response to his request.
Nine Qualities of a Good Benefactor
The Blessed One replied: Oh, king! My disciples have probably
failed to visit your palace due to not being familiar with you. Then
the Buddha said: The monks should not associate with a benefactor
who does not possess nine qualities. The Buddha then taught that
monks should only visit a benefactors house and sit down there if
the benefactor is endowed with nine qualities:
1. He stands up and welcomes him courteously,

2. He is pleased to pay homage,
3. He allocates a suitable seat with reverence,
4. He does not hide things that he owns,
5. He donates generously, according to his means,
6. He donates the best of what he has,
7. He gives the donation respectfully,
8. He sits close to listen to the Dhamma, and
9. He listens auentively to wlat is said.
The Buddha then recounted the story of a hermit named Kesava,
who though fully provided with delicious meals and good medicines
by the king of Benares who was not familiar with him, had become
sick to the point of death, but regained his normal health within a
few days ahei ahei ietuining to stay witl lis intimate disciles, botl
lay suoiteis and ascetics, laving been iovided witl wild nuits.
The Pride of the Sakyans
It tlus occuiied to tle ling tlat le slould uy to get well-acquainted
witl tle Sagla. He souglt to male limself ielated by maiiiage to
the Sakyans. He therefore sent his emissaries to ask for a daughter of
Kula Suua, A.iv.386. Manpena paccuhenti, manpena abhivdenti, manpena sana

denti, santamassa na pariguhanti, bahukampi bahuka denti, patampi pata denti,
sakkacca denti no asakkacca, upanisdanti dhammassavanya, bhsitamassa susssanti.
Kesava Jtala, J.346 and Dhammapada Commentary to verse 47.

The Pride of the Sakyans 83
the Sakyan royal family. The Sakyans lived and ruled one of the
semi-indeendent states in tle counuy of Kosala. It was alin to tle
Shan state within Burma, under the guardianship of the ancient
Burmese kings. On receiving the message, the Sakyan rulers realised
that refusal to comply with the express demand made by King Pasenadi
would lead to uouble. Tle Salyans weie exuemely ioud and
conceited. They considered themselves as belonging to the noblest race.
Due to their egoism they held the view that Sakyan women should not,
under any circumstances, marry anyone not of their own clan. They
weie veiy close-lnit and lad a suong sense of iacial sueiioii[. Tley
convened an emeigency meeting to discuss tle mauei. King Malnma
said that he had a daughter born of one of his maids-of-honour, a
misuess, and suggested tlat tlis giil slould be oeied to King
Pasenadi. She was not a real maid-servant though. Ancient absolute
rulers regarded the people as servants. She might have belonged to a
rich family, but not to the royal family. This advice given, was
unanimously accepted by all those present at the meeting, and hence,
the kings daughter, a commoner, was proposed to be given in marriage.
This, of course, amounted to deceiving King Pasenadi who had asked
for a Royal Princess, a pure descendant of the Sakyan family.
A person not knowing that deception has practised on him is
usually leased, but wlen tle uutl is lnown, can become veiy angiy.
Latei, wlen King Malnmas lalf-caste daugltei was landed ovei
to King Pasenadis envoys, they took her away and presented her to
their king. The king, believing that the girl was of pure royal blood
of the Sakyan family, was delighted and made her his Chief Queen.
Hei name was Vsaballauiy. Latei, sle gave biitl to a son. Tle
name given to tle young iince was Viabla. Tle ling, being veiy
fond of his young son since his infancy, appointed the prince though
still young, as Commandei-in-Clief of tle Aimy. Wlen Viabla
was about seven years old, he asked his mother whether she had no
ielatives on lei side, since le lad nevei ieceived gihs nom lis
maternal grandma and aunts while others among his play-mates
lad ieceived gihs of toy-elelants, toy-loises etc. He inquired if the
Queen Mother was still living. The princes mother, realising that
uouble would biew if tle uutl weie ievealed, wilfully told a lie tlat
her parents and relatives were of the royal blood of the famous
Salyan clan iesiding in Kailavaulu. Sle mentioned tlat King
Malnma of Kailavaulu was lei ioyal fatlei and tlat tle said
king was, therefore, the princes grand-father. She further comforted
lei son tlat no gihs could be sent to lim as all of tlem weie iesiding
in a far distant land.
When the young prince reached the age of sixteen, he sought his
mothers permission to allow him to visit his grandfather, King
Malnma, and lis mateinal linsmen. His motlei at ist iefused,
but le eisisted in asling to go to Kailavaulu. He asled so ohen
tlat sle was unable to dissuade lei son nom visiting lei ielatives,
so eventually sle lad to give in. Sle sent a message to Kailavaulu
so that there might not be any unpleasantness on her sons arrival.
Sle feaied tlat membeis of tle Salyan family miglt not give a uing
welcome to lei son and miglt ueat lim witl disiesect.
Viabha Was Slighted
The royal family of the Sakyan clan sent away all princes younger
tlan Viabla to a iemote lace befoie tle iinces visit. Wlen
Viabla aiiived tley accoided a veiy waim iecetion. He was
inuoduced to tle eldei membeis of tle ioyal family, including tle
king himself who was his grandfather, and his uncles, and so on.
Viabla aid lis iesects to all tle eldeis wlo weie inuoduced to
lim. He tlen iemailed tlat it was suiiising to nd no youngei
princes (who would have to pay respects to him). They replied that
at all of tle youngei iinces lad gone to a fai o lace. Latei, tley
leld a ceiemonious feast in lis lonoui. Wlen le leh ahei lis two oi
three days, a servant of the royal family washed and cleaned up the
lace witl cows mill uueiing, Tlis is tle lace wleie tle son of
tle maid-seivant, Vsaballauiy, sat. Wlile tlis iitual cleansing
witl mill was going on, one of Viablas body guaids ietuined to
to iecovei a small weaon tlat was inadveitently leh belind. He
saw the ritual cleansing being performed and overheard the dispar-
aging remarks. This body guard gossiped among his colleagues that
Viablas motlei was not a genuine iincess of tle ioyal family,
but the daughter of a maid-servant. This news spread and ultimately
ieacled tle eais of tle young iince, Viabla. Tlis slocling news
enraged him, and he made a vow swearing vengeance that when he
became ling, tle same laces would be cleansed witl tle blood nom
the throats of the Sakyan royal family.
The Sakyans Meet Disaster 85
The Sakyans Meet Disaster
Wlen Viabla succeeded lis fatlei and ascended tle tlione in
tle lingdom of Kosala, le maicled against tle state of Kailavaulu
with his armed forces with the intention of killing all the members
of tle Salyan ioyal family. Seeing tlis unfoitunate state of aaiis,
tle Buddla made lis way to wleie tle uoos weie advancing
towaids Kailavaulu, and inteivened to ievent bloodsled. Tliee
times tle Blessed One ievented Viabla nom waging wai against
lis own linsmen, and tliee times Viabla witldiew lis aimed
forces. However, on the fourth occasion the Buddha remained
equanimous, foreseeing that the Sakyan rulers past unwholesome
lamma would inevitably beai nuit. Ahei enteiing tle ci[ walls witl
lis uoos, Viabla oideied all membeis of tle Salyan ioyal family
to be executed excet foi King Malnma and tlose iesent witl
lis giandfatlei, tle ling. Tle soldieis of Viabla lilled all tlose
wlo admiued to being descended nom tle Salyan ioyal family. Tley
did not even spare the lives of babies in their mothers arms. Only a
few found in close ioximi[ to King Malnma, and tlose wlo
weie not descended nom tle ioyal family, weie leh unlaimed.
The reason for this disaster and misery for the entire Sakyan royal
family was simly because of tleii own iide and iacial sueiioii[-
comlex. Tley ueated eole otlei tlan tleii own iace as low-boin,
ignoble, and inferior to themselves. When one becomes egoistic, it
is natural to look down upon others. They would also speak
disparagingly of others. In the present day too, there are some who
aie egoistic and conceited. Tley can face uouble lile tlat sueied
by the Sakyans. They are liable to be deprived of help and assistance
when the need arises. There were also instances where people got
into uouble and disuess foi sliglting an enemy.
Wlat las been stated above conceins mundane aaiis, Howevei,
tle oint suessed in tle Puibleda Suua is to disel feelings of
sueiioii[ nom tle asect of Dlamma. To claii( tlis oint, it may
be that a person regards others as inferior thinking: This person
does not come u to tle iequiied standaid of moiali[ and is fai
belind me in tle uii[ of moial conduct. He cannot maintain tle
Dhamma as I do. He is unable to practise meditation. Neither is he
pious. He is uncivilised, worthless, and ignorant. If one considers
another as inferior to oneself, one is inevitably conceited. One may
tale ioud as: My moial conduct, is moie uiied tlan otleis. Im
fully accomlisled witl tle noble Dlamma. My eoits in iactising
meditation beai nuit and aie fai-ieacling. Ive become a Sueam-
winnei, a Noble One!If it is uue as imagined, tleie is no fault.
However, one should not underestimate others though one might
think very highly of oneself. The reason being that it might ultimately
iove to be unuue not as one las imagined. Latei, tle otlei miglt
auain a liglei stage of insiglt tlan oneself. Tlinling liglly of
oneself is conceit (mna). This conceit is not only present in the mind
of an oidinaiy woildling, but also in Noble Ones sucl as Sueam-
winners, Once-returners, and Non-returners. Nevertheless, the
peculiar feature is that the feeling of pride or conceit that occurs in
the minds of the Noble Ones, only arises depending on their own
ieal auainment of tlose noble auibutes. It is not tlat tley tlinl
highly of themselves without reason. Hence, this kind of conceit is
called yath-mna. It means taking pride where it is deserved.
Ordinary worldlings may think themselves superior, taking pride in
uivial tlings. Sucl false-iide is called yathvamna.
On becoming a Sueam-winnei by iactising insiglt meditation,
this false-pride is removed. However, the kind of conceit that occurs
in connection witl ieal auibutes still iemains. It will be eiadicated
completely on reaching Arahantship by practising insight meditation
in seiial oidei. Tlis teacling, tleiefoie, says tlat eoits slould be
made to meditate to eradicate conceit and become an Arahant.
Tle mouo was tleiefoie stated as: Not diihing into tle cuiient
of pleasurable sensations, with pride dispelled and gentleness
maintained.
Becoming Gentle in Behaviour and Speech
To become gentle in bodily behaviour, one should avoid all acts
deuimental to otleis and do wlolesome deeds as mucl as ossible
for their welfare. Therefore, killing, stealing, and adultery, which are
immoral physical vices, should be avoided.
To be gentle veibally may be exlained as abstaining nom lies,
slandei, obscene abuse, and idle clauei, tle foui vices of seecl. Of
the two stated above, to be gentle and polite in speech is more
important than to be gentle in behaviours. This is because, among
those who have a religious inclination, only a few will be found to
Gentle Mental Character 87
be coarse in their physical behaviour. Concerning speech, anything
tlat las siung u in tle mind will oidinaiily nd an outlet oi
exiession tliougl tle moutl, wlicl males uueiances, olite oi
vulgar, either intentionally or inadvertently. Any perverse or indis-
cieet uueiances slould tleiefoie be avoided.
Gentle Mental Character
Tle meaning of gentleness of tle mind is tlat one slould be nee
nom covetousness (abhijjh) unlawfully or unfairly wishing to
ossess otleis ioei[ and ill-will (vypda), or vicious thoughts
wisling otleis to meet witl deatl oi desuuction of ioei[, slould
be dispelled. Wrong views (micch dihi) such as believing that there
is no laimful oi benecial iesults of lamma, oi no futuie existences,
should be expelled and banished. In short, it means that one should
have a virtuous mind devoid of malevolent feelings towards others.
Virtuous thoughts comprise the requisites of enlightenment (bodhi-
pakkhiya dhamma), such as the four foundations of mindfulness. So
mindfulness slould always be iactised. Tle foui iiglt eoits
(sammappadhna), should be aroused. If contemplation and noting
is done continuously based on the four foundations of mindfulness,
cruel thoughts or activities will have no chance to occur. The mind
will become very gentle. If the four foundations of mindfulness are
iactised, it would embiace tle foui iiglt eoits, tle foui bases of
success (iddhipda), tle ve faculties (indriya), tle ve oweis (bala),
the seven factors of enlightenment (bojjhaga), and the eight factors
of the path (maggaga), otherwise known as the Noble Eightfold Path
(ariya ahagiko maggo). Tle tlii[-seven iequisites of enligltenment
comiise tle constituents of uue lnowledge.
Therefore, if the practice of mindfulness is developed, not only
the mind, but also both physical and mental behaviours become
gentle. This is to say that if one is developing mindfulness for insight
one will invariably consider carefully before doing anything, and
will only do things considered to be proper. One will not perform
any act casually or carelessly. When about to speak, one will ponder
whether it is sensible and reasonable. While speaking too, one
continues to contemplate and note. By so doing, one will undoubt-
edly iesuain oneself nom uueiing laisl oi iude woids. Eveiy time
any thought or imagination arises, it must be contemplated and noted.
So coarse mental behaviour will barely occur, and even if it does, it
will not last long. Therefore, if mindfulness is well developed, all
physical, verbal, and mental behaviour will become pure and gentle.
Moieovei, since tle tlii[-seven iequisites of enligltenment aie
embraced, as they may be relevant, at every moment of contemplat-
ing and noting while practising and developing mindfulness
meditation, it las been stated in tle Malniddesa
as: Sahehi
satipahne hi samanngato, which means accomplishment is
aclieved witl gentle mindfulness. Tle mouo says: Not owing
into tle sueam of leasuiable sensations, witl iide diselled and
gentleness maintained, gaining wisdom ...
Ready Wit
Ahei gentleness comes ieective lnowledge witl wlicl a eison
should be equipped. In connection with learning, one should have
quick comprehension or ready wit (paibhna). One should also
possess intelligence and be able to quickly comprehend the Dhamma
connected with practical meditation exercises. Regards any problem
that is posed, one must be able to reply intelligently with presence
of mind. Relating to learning, it would manifest in a person who is
lnowledgeable in tle Pi texts, Commentaiies, and Subcommentai-
ies as knowing readily what should be said next when delivering a
lecture. To a person who systematically practises insight with
diligence, this ready wit is likely to occur, even without scriptural
learning. One who has practiced meditation will readily grasp the
iofound meaning of tle Dlamma ielating to mind and mauei oi
stages of insight. One may easily and deeply appreciate though the
teacher has made a mere mention of the gist of the Dhamma.
Truly Learned Only after Meditating
Those who have already practised insight meditation will easily
understand the meaning of the scriptural texts just by reading them.
Whatever was not properly understood before, practising insight
meditation, will perhaps be understood clearly. A great teacher once
stated that he had passed his examinations on scriptures with credit
and that he had also taught others. He then considered himself as
being uuly leained. Howevei, it was found to be wiong, simly
Nd.1.234.
Analytical Knowledge of Body and Mind 89
because the philosophical aspect of the Dhamma which had not been
fully giased befoie was vividly comielended only ahei le lad
iactised meditation. It is uue and coiiect. Tlis comielension of
the deeper meaning of the Dhamma is the knowledge of ready wit
(paibhna a), which is achieved through insight meditation. This
lnowledge becomes moie obvious to tlose wlo lave meditated ahei
having studied the Dhamma. This knowledge is distinctive because
it is not book knowledge. What has been stated above is how this
knowledge occurs in relation to learning.
Theoretically Easy but Practically Difficult
In connection with the practise of insight meditation, the way of
gaining ready wit is that it would easily arise in the minds of those
meditatois wlat is feasible if tley just ieect about tle iactice. Tle
abili[ to undeistand tle texts ielating to iactice is tle quali[ of
ready wit connected with practice. As regards practical realisation
(paiveda), it will be clearly realised by one who has practised
meditation. This means that the natural phenomena of mind and
mauei can easily be exlained in a tleoietical way. Howevei, it is
not so easy to aieciate nom tle iactical oint of view. In fact, it
is exuemely dicult. One wlo las iactised meditation seiiously
will lnow tle uue natuie of mind and mauei witl diiect insiglt,
which is hard to perceive and understand. At every moment of noting
it will be lnown tlat mauei wlicl is tle sense-object noted and
iealised is quite dieient nom tle lnowing mind.
Analytical Knowledge of Body and Mind
Accoiding to tle texts, mauei (rpa) consists of the elements of
earth (pathav), water (po), ie (tejo), air (vyo), and so on, a total of
twen[-eiglt foims of iimaiy and deiived mauei. Common mind
consisting of eigl[-one linds of consciousness (cia), together with
-two mental factois (cetasik), is mentali[ (nma). All of these
constitute the body and mind of an individual an aggregate of
material elements and properties (rpa) and mental aggregates (nma).
It has to be mentioned arithmetically to emphasise the fact that there
aie only two categoiies, namely mind and mauei, found in tle
Buddhist texts. However, not all of these are present in a person.
Merely knowing as such is not analytical knowledge of body and
mind. This knowledge is only perception (sa). Consider this: of
tle abovementioned twen[-eiglt linds of mauei, a man las no
element of feminini[. A woman las no element of masculini[. Tlen,
of tle eigl[-one [es of consciousness, one wlo las not auained
jhna will have no consciousness of the formless realms or the realms
of form. Only the Arahants have functional consciousness (kiriya)
oidinaiy eole lave no sucl mental facul[. Tleiefoie, could tlis
be the real personal knowledge that knows the Dhamma or condi-
tions wlicl do not abide in ones own eisonali[' No, it cannot
possibly be. It is merely the knowledge of perception.
Even the Illiterate Can Realise the Dhamma
People who are now meditating, although they may not be learned,
or unable even to read and write, can know the distinctive features
of mind and mauei tliougl diiect eisonal insiglt. Eveiy time it is
contemplated and noted, it will be realised that there are only two
linds of lenomena: mauei, wlicl is tle object to be lnown, and
the mind that knows. A similar realisation will occur whenever seeing,
hearing, smelling, or tasting occurs. Touching has a very wide scope.
All acts of bending, suetcling, walling, standing, siuing, lying down,
moving, and changing the postures are included. When bending and
suetcling, tle mind tlat intends to bend oi suetcl is one tling, tle
acts of bending and suetcling aie anotlei, and tle noting mind is
sometling else. It can be dieientiated and cleaily lnown. Tle same
realisation takes place when walking and so on. Imagining and
knowing, as well as noting and awareness are mind, which has the
facul[ of lnowing. Moving and stiness aie mauei, wlicl las no
consciousness. Tle aiising lenomena of mind and mauei in aiis
combined together are vividly known by personal realisation.
How to Know Arising and Dissolution
Some teachers say to contemplate on arising and dissolution
without having had any personal experience of the realisation of the
uansient natuie of mauei and mind. Tley aie simly contemlating
by uueiing veibally oi mentally witlout tle facul[ of eicetion.
This is quite unnatural. A meditator who is continually contemplating
and noting will eiceive mind and mauei at eveiy moment of tleii
arising, and will become aware of them both at the beginning of their
How to Know Arising and Dissolution 91
aiising, and wlen concenuation becomes matuie, will be awaie tlat
their dissolution follows immediately. For instance, when painful
sensation occuis, wlile noting ainful, ainful witl xed concenua-
tion, the painful sensations will clearly be found to arise and
disappear, falling away at each moment. Such occurrences will be
revealed to the minds eye as if they are known and felt by ones hands
witlout needing to uuei a woid. Similaily, joy (pti) and uanquilli[
(passaddhi) are rarely appreciated by mere book-knowledge. However,
on reaching the knowledge of arising and passing away (udayabbaya-
a), a meditatoi will denitely iealise joy and uanquilli[ since
they occur conspicuously. Moreover, the mental state of evenmind-
edness (taamajjhaat) can hardly be known by mere book-knowl-
edge. This will, however, be known automatically when the stages
of aiising and assing away and lnowledge of equanimi[ about
formations (sakhrupekkh-a) are reached.
On reaching those stages, these will be clearly found equally
balanced, and on auaining tle lnowledge of equanimi[ all sensa-
tions will be lnown and iealised witlout secial eoit as tley occui
spontaneously, and that awareness of noting becomes obvious on its
own as it occurs automatically. At that moment, the sensation that
is known and the knowing mind, while in the process of knowing
and disappearing, will be found to be incessantly arising and
vanishing. Hence, their inherent nature of impermanence (anicca),
is exuemely obvious. Similaily, it will be cleaily manifested tlat tley
are inherently unsatisfactory (dukkha), and not-self (anaa). Having
eisonally iealised witl claii[ and witlout ambigui[ in tle couise
of contemplating and noting, the three characteristics of phenomena
will be cleaily eiceived tliougl lnowledge wlen ieected uon
even wlile taling a biief iesite nom meditation. Also, if contem-
plated and noted, the usual insight knowledge will be gained. One
who has reached the stage of the cessation of formations, would
recall such cessation while contemplating and noting. If later
ieecting on wlat las alieady been aclieved, iealisation will tale
place as before. This quick and easy revival of his comprehension of
tle natuie of Dlamma eveiy time le ieects is tle auibute of tle
ready wit relating to realisation (paivedha).
The knowledge of ready wit regarding questions on scriptures
will readily come into the mind of a person who has taken a course
of lessons to be able to tackle the questions relating to learning. In
the same way, one who is accomplished with the knowledge of insight
meditation will have a ready wit to deal with the questions relating
to practice. These are the qualities of ready wit in so far as questions
are concerned. One should be accomplished with the three kinds of
ieady wit as stated just now. Tleiefoie, tle mouo says as follows:
Not owing into tle sueam of leasuiable sensations, witl iide
dispelled and gentleness maintained, gaining wisdom ...
Not Being Credulous
In the sixth verse it states: Na saddho na virajjati. This means:
no faith has arisen because others have stated with a mistaken view
is ready wit. If that is so, it would have amounted to saying that there
is no faith. In fact, it means to say that one should be accomplished
witl wisdom ahei eisonal iealisation of tle Dlamma and not just
by blindly believing what others say. The expression na saddho if
liteially uanslated, conveys tle meaning of not laving faitl. It las
been tauglt tlus, to dieientiate between believing in wlat otleis
have said and personal realisation or knowledge. If one has no
knowledge of ones own, one will believe what others say. To put it
in another way, if it is known and realised personally, it will not be
necessary to believe what others have said. The termna saddho has
been used in the verse to make this clear.
Knowing Is More Noble than Believing
To give an example: even among people in Burma, those who
have not been to the Shwedagon pagoda will have to believe by
remembering what others have said in connection with the said
shrine. If they have personally visited the Shwedagon pagoda and
observed it closely, it will be unnecessary to take it for granted what
otleis lave told tlem is uue. In tle same way, a eison wlo las no
eisonal iealisation of insiglt conceining tle atl, its nuition, and
nibbna slould believe wlat otleis would teacl accoiding to tle
scriptures. It is similar to the case of people who believe in the
existence of satellites launched into space by rockets though they
have not personally seen them with their own eyes.
One wlo las eisonally discoveied and iealised tle uutls
ielating to insiglt, tle atl, its nuition, and nibbna does not accet
Knowing Is More Noble Than Believing 93
mere hearsay. It is belief through personal achievement and realisa-
tion. Tlis is not believing otleis, but lnowing tle uutl. Tle Blessed
One asled Veneiable Siiuua, Siiuua! Do you believe tlat by
develoing tle facul[ of faitl (saddhindriya), one will reach the the
ultimate goal of deatlless nibbna' Veneiable Siiuua answeied,
Venerable sir, in this regard, I dont believe the word of the Buddha.
Oidinaiy monls wlo leaid tlis answei misjudged Siiuua. Tley
imagined tlat Veneiable Siiuua being a Bialmin, belonging to
tle Bialma caste, lad not yet gained faitl in tle Blessed One. It
would aeai justiable to tlinl so. Tlose wlo lave a bias towaids
tle docuine of tle Bialmins, do not believe oi lave faitl in tle
Dhamma as taught by the Buddha. It was therefore reasonable to
tlinl so, foi tle simle ieason tlat Veneiable Siiuua belonged to
tle Bialmin caste. Wlat it ieally meant was tlat Veneiable Siiuua
lad eisonally iealised tle fact tlat nibbna could be auained by
developing faith. Therefore, in this regard, he did not believe just
because the Buddha had said so, but because he had personally
realised it himself.
Imagine the previous example of a man who had visited and
reverently observed the Shwedagon Pagoda. If he were asked
wletlei le believed tlat tle main masoniy suuctuie of tle agoda
was covered with gold plates, he would have replied that he believed
so not because others had told him, but because he himself had
witnessed it. Yes, indeed. Lilewise, wlat Veneiable Siiuua said
was stated was because he himself had personally found and realised
tle uutl tlat develoing tle facul[ of faitl would lead tle way to
nibbna. In connection witl tlis iely, Veneiable Siiuua lad been
extolled in the Dhammapada as stated below:
Assaddho akata ca, sandhicchedo ca yo naro.
Hatvakso vantso, sa ve uamaporiso. (Dhp v 97)
The man who is not credulous, who knows the uncreated,
wlo las cut o iebiitl, wlo las desuoyed all iesults,
and exelled all desiies, le is uuly an excellent man.
This verse, which has been recorded in the Dhammapada in
iefeience to Veneiable Siiuu, is not contained in tlis Puibleda
Suua. Howevei, as it contains teims similai in meaning to tle veise
in tlis Suua, I mention it foi you to note and iemembei. Yo: a certain
person, assaddo: has no faith, sa:, this person ve: actually uama-
poriso: is a noble and eminent eison. Tlis is a liteial uanslation
that might be given without knowing the real intention. As it stands,
it will be entiiely wiong and misleading. In tle text of Alil tlis
kind of secret word is called Paheli, a conundrum. The real
meaning of this verse is: Yo: a certain person, assaddho: who is not
credulous, i.e. one who has personal realisation, sa: this person, ve:
actually, uamaporiso: is a noble and eminent person. This is clear
enough. Then the literal meaning of what follows is:
Akata: a person who does not appreciate the debt owed to
another. Or in other words, one who is ungrateful to another who
las done good to lim. Tlis is tle usual uanslation. Accoiding to
this, it conveys the meaning of a person who does not appreciate
indebtedness to others, and may, therefore, be called a wicked person,
not a noble and eminent person. This is the opposite to the expected
meaning. In fact, wlat it ieally means is a noble eison wlo uuly
knows the uncreated (nibbna). Sandhicchedo: is literally a burglar
who commits house-breaking. This is not the intended meaning. The
essential meaning is a person who has brought renewed existences
to an end. In otlei woids, one wlo las cut o all linls witl tle
sueiing of sasia. Tlis would mean, accoiding to tle Docuine
of Dependent Origination:
1. One link is relinking consciousness (paisandhi via),
which arises in the present existence due to good or evil deeds
(kamma) of the past existence (sakhra).
2. A second link is craving that arises because of feeling (vedan)
in the present existence.
3. A third link is future rebirth that occurs because of the kamma
of the present existence (bhava).
Among these three links, since the past and present links have
already arisen, joining together or connected with one another, it
cannot possibly be severed, nor does it need to be severed. What
needs to be done is to sever the two links, namely, to break the link
between feeling to ciaving, and to ievent iebiitl in a nesl existence
caused by the arising of new kamma. Of these two links, breaking
the link between feeling and craving is the essential point. The
meditators here are contemplating and noting at every moment of
seeing, leaiing, toucling, and lnowing to ievent feeling nom
Knowing Is More Noble Than Believing 95
giving rise to craving. If contemplation is practised continuously,
progressive stages of insight and knowledge of the path will occur
in sequence, and on auaining Aialantsli, tle linls of continued
existences will be severed. Hence, a person who has already cut the
connecting link of existence is called an eminent or noble person.
The next word is hatvakso. Hata means desuoyed, vaksa
means ooituni[ in an oidinaiy sense. If it is said tlat ooituni-
ties foi success and ioseii[ aie desuoyed, tle meaning is wiong.
Tle meaning in tlis context is a eison wlo las desuoyed tle
ooituni[ to be ieboin is a noble and eminent eison.
The next word is vantso. If this compound is interpreted as the
food that is vomited (vanta) is eaten (asa), it would be highly improper
nom tle woildly oint of view. Tle meaning iequiied in tlis context
is that desire is called s. Hence, some used to say that desire cannot
be quencled, wlicl indicates insatiable aetite oi unfullled desiies.
An Aialant is totally nee nom all assionate oi lustful desiies, and
las ienounced all desiies ielating to mundane aaiis and even to
tle fullment of Dlamma. Witl tlis intent, it las been tauglt as one
who has rejected all desires (vantso), like one who has rejected the
food that has been vomited. Therefore, the Dhammapada verse has
been uanslated to aiiive at tle aioiiate meaning to say wlat is
really intended.
Yo naro: a man or a certain person, assaddho ca: who is not
credulous, having realised it himself, akata ca: who has seen the
uncreated (nibbna), sandhicchedo ca: has severed all the links and
cut of rebirth, hatvakso: las desuoyed tle ooituni[ to be ieboin
in a nesl existence, vantso ca: has expelled all desires, sa: such a
person, ve, is uuly, uamaporiso: a noble and eminent person.
Tle oint suessed in tlis veise is not to be ciedulous, ielying
entiiely on wlat otleis say, but investigating and lnowing nom
ones own personal realisation. It is vital to practise the Dhamma to
achieve personal realisation. The arising and dissolution of mind
and mauei wlicl aie imeimanent, unsatisfactoiy, and not-self
is the Dhamma that must be realised. Phenomena must be
investigated to become fully aware of their nature. Insight knowledge,
tle atl, and its nuition aie Dlammas tlat must be iactised to be
clearly known and acquired. A person who has realised these
Dhammas, need not rely on or believe others. Neither should one
depend on and believe in the scriptural texts of Dhamma. One need
not even depend on the Buddha, because one has gained personal
realisation with ones own awareness.
The statement regarding practising meditation to know for oneself
witlout deending uon otleis, iefeis only to maueis wlicl could
be known and realised personally. In respect of other things that one
cannot know on ones own, one should believe others who are learned.
Even Veneiable Siiuua lad to deend on tle Buddla in maueis
beyond his comprehension, and believed what the Buddha had
taught. Some with meagre knowledge might refuse to believe even
uivial tlings on tle giounds tlat tley lave lad no eisonal
exeiience in tle mauei conceined. Tlis is uniealistic. If an exeii-
enced uavellei gives an account of a lace tlat le las eisonally
visited, others who have not been there should believe him.
Leaving aside people who have visited and seen certain places
eisonally. Even wlat is leaint nom newsaeis oi biocluies,
though these may be secondhand information, will have to be
iegaided as iobably uue by tlose wlo lave iead it. It will be
ridiculous if one says that he cannot possibly believe the information
just because he has not personally seen what is says in the printed
material. Regarding the Dhamma, it is the same. If a person who has
personally experienced and realised the Dhamma tells another about
it which the other has not yet known, it is reasonable to believe that
eison wlo does lave exeiience and eisonal iealisation. Tleieahei,
believing what is stated, it would be wise to personally practise to
achieve realisation. When realisation is gained through diligent
practice, it would accord with the teaching not to be credulous.
Citta the Householder and Nigaha Naputta
During the lifetime of the Buddha there was a rich man by the
name of Ciua wlo was a Non-ietuinei. One day, Ciua, aid a visit
to Nigala Nauua, the leader of a sect of naked ascetics, called
Nigala. Tlis gieat teaclei Nauua, was iegaided as a Jina, a
Buddla, witl gieat ieveience by tle Jains. He lad gained oulaii[
well before our Buddha became an Enlightened One. On his arrival,
Nauua asled Ciua: Do you believe tlat youi teaclei Veneiable
Gotama las auained concenuation wleieby le is nee of initial
application (vitakka) and sustained application (vicra), and is able
Personal Knowledge versus Believing Others 97
to nee lis mind nom ieasoning and investigation wlicl lave tlus
ceased' To tlis question, Ciua ielied, In iegaid to tle oint
relating to the cessation of initial and sustained application, it is not
that I have to recognize it for my having believed the Buddha. This
answei gave Nauua tle wiong imiession tlat Ciua did not
believe the Buddha. He therefore went on to say. Hey, my disciples!
Lool! Tlis Ciua is veiy simle and lonest. He says uuly and candidly
what he has in his mind that he does not believe. It is, indeed, not
worth believing. It is impossible to make initial and sustained
application cease. It is really absurd just as air cannot be caught hold
of by a net, or, as the running waters of the Ganges river cannot be
ievented nom owing by tle alm oi a clencled land.
Personal Knowledge versus Believing Others
Sucl being tle case, Ciua inquiied, Veneiable Nauua, wlicl
of tle two lnowing and believing is moie noble' Nauua
ielied Knowing is moie noble tlan believing. Tlen, Ciua
ioceeded to say, Ol, teaclei! I can at any time entei into tle ist
jhna by virtue of which initial and sustained application are present,
i.e., the mind will reason upon and investigate the subject chosen for
contemplation. I can also enter into the second jhna, at which stage
tle mind is nee nom ieasoning and investigation wlile joy and
uanquili[ iemain. Tlen, I can also entei into tle tliid jhna where
joy is abandoned, and also I can pass on to the fourth jhna and abide
in it, by wlicl tle mind, blessed and uiied, is indieient to all
emotions, pleasure and pain alike. He then retorted, Would you
therefore think it necessary for me to rely on and believe any other
monk or a noble person in connection with the questioned raised
tlat tleie is concenuated contemlation uon a single tlouglt and
geuing into a iofound uance, desite tle fact tlat I myself lave
eisonally found, iealised, and auained tle jhna which is entirely
nee nom tlis initial and sustained alication'' Tlen Nauua
sole in deiision disciediting Ciua: Lool, my disciles! Tlis iicl
man Ciua is a naud and a liai. Just a wlile ago, le stated tlat le did
not disbelieve the Buddha. Now he expresses his belief. He is an
exuemely dislonest man.
Ciua did not submit to tlis jibe. He ietaliated, Veneiable teaclei!
You ieviously told youi disciles tlat Ciua is a veiy candid and
honest man. Now you say that he is dishonest. Your statements are
inconsistent. If wlat you stated ist is coiiect, tlen tle statement
made by you later must be wrong, and vice versa.
In tle stoiy about Ciua just naiiated, Nauua lad oenly
expressed his opinion that he had not experienced or discovered the
jhna nee nom initial and sustained alication, and tlat le consid-
eied tlat tleie could be no concenuation caused by mystic meditation
by wlicl one can nee oneself nom initial and sustained alication,
i.e., nom ieection and investigation, by comaiing witl lis own
limitations. As iegaids Ciua, since le lad aclieved and iealised tle
auibutes of jhna, he had spoken courageously, guaranteeing the
iened qualities of jhna. Tlis lonest guaiantee of lis auainment of
jhna and of lis eisonal iealisation was given witl im conviction.
It is not because he just believed it. It was his own personal acquisition
of knowledge through practice. It is therefore essential that the
Dhamma that ought to be known, should be earnestly practised for
ones own eisonal iealisation and aclievement as done by Ciua.
Referring to a person who has had his personal realisation, it has
also been tauglt in tlis Puibleda Suua as: na saddho, which means,
not ciedulous, but laving acquiied eisonal iealisation of tle uutl
of tle Dlamma, by ones own eoit.
Should Be Free from Attachment
The last expression is: na virajjati. It means: Not yet nee nom
auaclment. Accoiding to tlis meaning, it would be ieasonable to
lold tle view tlat tleie is still an auaclment. It is not so. In fact, not
yet nee nom auaclment, does convey tle sense as entiiely nee
nom auaclment, as it iefeis to sekha individuals and asekha
individuals. The termsekha (sometimes spelled sekkha), applies to
wise and virtuous ordinary persons (kalya puthujjana) who are
suiving ahei tleii siiitual welfaie, and to tlose Noble Ones (ariya)
wlo aie still undei uaining in tle iactice of tle Dlamma. Aseka
individuals aie Aialants wlo lave fully comleted tle uaining and
have eradicated all human passions.
Ordinary unwise worldlings (bla puthujjana), who are those not
yet iactising tle noble Dlamma, lave auaclment to all sensations
owing out nom tle six sense-doois, imagining tlem to be good
and pleasurable. Then, if they think that some sensations are bad,
Not in the Process of Geing Free om Aachment 99
tley ciave foi wlat is good, and become auacled to sucl sensations.
Therefore, those who fail to meditate will always be overwhelmed
witl auaclments. Tley aie iaiely nee nom sensual auaclment.
In the Process of Getting Free from Attachment
A wise and virtuous ordinary person, who realises by contemplat-
ing and noting that all phenomena arising at the six sense-doors are
meiely mind and mauei. Due to tleii uansient natuie, tlese
phenomena arise and pass away very rapidly, so he or she will be
nee nom leasuiable auaclment to tle sensation tlat is noted eveiy
time contemplation is made with full awareness of their being mere
impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not-self. Wise and virtuous ordi-
nary persons who are practising insight meditation by contemplating
and noting, are thus deemed to be individuals on the path to eradicate
auaclment. Wlile tlus contemlating, concenuation will giadually
be developed gaining insight in serial order up to the path and
nuition of Sueam-winning. On ieacling Sueam-winning, one is nee
nom leasuiable auaclment tlat can diag one down to tle lowei
realms. Then passionate desires that are eager to arise for more than
seven existences will be eradicated. However, for the duration of
seven existences in fortunate destinations (sugati), this pleasurable
auaclment will not yet be extiiated. Hence, it cannot be said tlat
sucl a eison is comletely nee nom auaclment yet. It may be stated
tlat le oi sle is destined to be libeiated nom auaclment. Similaily,
even when one reaches Once-returning and Non-returning, one will
still be in tle iocess of geuing iid of auaclment. Only wlen one
auains Aialantsli, all tlese auaclments will be exelled. Yet, at
tlis oint, it does not mean tlat auaclment is totally exteiminated.
In otlei woids, feeling of auaclment is still clinging on and is still
in the process of eradication.
Not in the Process of Getting Free from Attachment
Eventually however, only when Arahantship (Fruition of Arahant-
sli) is auained and on becoming an Aialant, all sucl clinging
auaclments lave been totally extiiated. As an Aialant, le is no
longei in tle iocess of eiadicating tle auaclment. Witl tlis objective,
it has been taught as: na virajjati i.e., it is not tlat auaclment is
being eliminated, but that it has been completely eradicated or rooted
out. Tlis las been stated in tle mouo as: ciaving detacled by
clearing away.
The meaning of the sixth verse has now been adequately explained.
Verse Seven
The above verse may be explained literally as: Yo: a certain
monk, lbhakamy: expecting to receive remuneration, na sikkhati:
does not follow tle uaining. Tlat is, le does not iactise wisling to
ieceive gihs in tle foim of a biibe. Some monls study tle sciituies,
acquire knowledge, or practise austerities (dhutaga), seeking praise
and fame, oi to ieceive oeiings. A sage is not lile tlat. He iactises
only execting to gain libeiation nom tle cycle of existences and to
auain nibbna. Tlis is one of tle auibutes of a sage.
Albhe ca: for not achieving his objective, na kuppati: he does
not feel angry. Some monks, on not having devotees and benefactors,
may get disappointed and resentful. They may also feel dejected and
nusuated foi not laving adleients belonging to tle same sect, oi
foi not ieceiving aioval oi admiiation, oi foi not ieceiving gihs
of robes and so forth. A sage, as mentioned earlier, is neither
disaointed noi iesentful. Tlis is also one of tle auibutes of a sage.
Aviruddho ca: some individuals may be angry or irritated for having
seen, or heard, or met with what is undesirable. Those living together
may be at loggerheads. Some are inclined to bear a grudge against
oi quaiiel witl a suangei. An Aialant does not conuadict anyone
oi come into conict witl anybody. He is toleiant and gentle witlout
angei oi laued. Tlis is a veiy noble auibute.
Tahya rasesu na anugijjhati: not greedy or craving for any
tas[ food. Some lave a gieat fondness foi delicious food and so lan
and imagine how to get what is delicious. They will reminisce about
and long for delicious food which they have once relished. A sage
is not like this. Wholesome or nourishing food that is taken is not
for enjoyment or avarice. Neither is it taken to have a fair complexion,
nor to become plump, nor to have good appearance and looks. In
fact, nourishment is for the preservation of ones own body, to appease
hunger, and to be able to practise the holy life. While eating, he
ieects wisely, contemlating and noting witl mindfulness. He does
not yeain foi tle taste wlicl le las not yet tasted, and does not nd
delight or become infatuated with what has been tasted. Such a holy
Being Mindful at All Times 101
monl is said to be a sage, wlo ossesses tle auibutes as stated in
the foregoing.
Verse Eight
Upekkhako sad sato, na loke maate sama.
Na vises na nceyyo, tassa no santi ussad.
Tle above Pi liase means tlat a eison wlo is constantly
mindful views tling witl equanimi[. It imlies tlat one slould
always be mindful and capable of viewing things with a state of
mind that is evenly balanced. One does not think of oneself as being
equal to otleis, noi does one considei oneself as being exuaoidinaiy.
Neither does one regard oneself as inferior or lower in status to others.
There should be no conceit by comparing oneself with others. One
will be nee nom all delements tlat would iolong tle cycle of
existences. One should have no passion, anger, delusion, or conceit,
which are cravings of wholesome and unwholesome states. This
kind of a noble person is said by the Buddha, to be a sage who has
extinguisled tle ies of delements. Tle mouo I comosed in my
discouise on tle tle Malsamaya Suua about ten yeais ago, caiiies
the sense contained in the present verse.
Contemlating and noting systematically, ieecting witl
equanimi[, and iejecting tle tliee linds of conceit,
makes a person worthy to be called a sage.
Being Mindful at All Times
Contemlating and noting systematically as in tle above mouo
means always being mindful, day and night, without any break at
all. If one goes into meditation for seven days, a fortnight, or a month,
one should carry out the meditation exercises, continuously devel-
oping mindfulness without a break, day in and day out, night and
day, with the exception of the time set apart for sleeping.
In the Malniddesa it states that when contemplation of the body
is done, one may be said to have gained mindfulness. Similarly,
mindfulness will be achieved while practising the contemplation of
feelings (vedan), of mind (cia), or mind-objects (dhamma). Hence,
one of the four foundations of mindfulness should be chosen to be
developed as a fundamental basis. In general, it would be the most
feasible to start with the contemplation of the body. So what is
obvious in iegaid to bodily belaviouis must ist be contemlated
and noted. In practising insight, everything that occurs at the six
sense-doors, should be contemplated. At the initial stage however,
not all such occurrences can be noted, so contemplation should be
commenced with bodily behaviour, which is the most conspicuous.
Contemlation and noting can be done continuously wlile siuing,
witl concenuated auention on tle siuing ostuie, noting as siuing,
siuing. Wlile inlaling and exlaling, tle toucl tlat is felt at tle ti
of tle nosuil can be contemlated and noted witl constant auentive-
ness, as touching, touching. Contemplation and noting can be done
continuously as toucling, toucling witl xed concenuation on
tle oint of toucl at any lace in tle body nom tle lead to toe.
Tle best is to contemlate beginning nom tle movement of tle
air element (vyodhtu), namely, the rising and falling movements
of tle abdomen, as is done by tle meditatois at tlis cenue. Moieovei,
when contemplation and noting the rising and falling movements
of the abdomen, other imaginations or thoughts that arise should
also be noted. Tleieahei, tle mind slould ieveit to tle iising and
falling. All feeling oi sensations sucl as stiness, leat, ain, and
itching must be noted. All changes in the bodily postures should be
noted, and then one should revert to noting the rising and falling.
When walking, every step taken must be noted continually, beginning
nom tle moment of lihing tle foot to tle moment of dioing it.
Wlen siuing ahei walling, tle movements involved in adoting tle
siuing ostuie must be noted. In tle same way, wlen lying down
the movements that occur must be noted. In brief, whether shaking,
moving, or remaining still, all physical behaviours involved must
be noted. Mental behaviours and thoughts that arise must also be
noted. All sensations must be noted. Seeing, hearing, etc., must be
noted as far as possible. In the absence of anything special that
deserves to be noted, the rising and falling of the abdomen must be
continuously noted. This is the salient point that serves as a basis in
body contemplation in the process of developing the four foundations
of mindfulness (satipahna).
By being always mindful, a stage will be reached whereby contem-
lation is made witl indieience to ain and leasuie tle mind being
evenly balanced. However, I cannot guarantee that one will reach that
Analytical Knowledge of Body and Mind 103
stage ahei only one oi two louis at a suetcl, noi even witlin a few
days. A meditatoi wlose wisdom is exceedingly leen and suong miglt
ieacl tle stage of equanimi[ witlin about seven days. It is iaie to nd
sucl a eison tlougl, not even one in a lundied. We seldom nd sucl
a eison even among tlose wlo lave meditated foi heen days. Of
course, there are quite a number of people who have reached that stage
ahei meditating seiiously foi a eiiod ianging nom twen[ to tlii[
days. It takes time because of various stages that one has to pass through
in tle couise of insiglt befoie tle auainment of equanimi[. Among
tlese insiglt lnowledges, tle ist is analytical lnowledge of body and
mind(nma-rpa-pariccheda-a). Even before reaching that stage, one
needs to iactise witl gieat diligence to aclieve uii[ of mind.
How Purity of Mind Is Achieved
A novice wlo staits meditating las to uy laid witl eainestness
to note the rising and falling movements of the abdomen correctly.
It is lilely tlat tle iising and falling will be missed as tle mind its
away and wanders here and there. However, if one carries on
contemlating and noting witl suong faitl, will, and eiseveiance,
one will be able to note properly within one or two days, or at least
witlin ve days. At tlat stage, tle mind does not go asuay. Noting
will be continuous, concenuating on iising and falling, and on otlei
sensations that ought to be noted. Sometimes, when imagination or
tlouglts aiise, tley can be noted at once. Tleieahei, noting can
proceed as usual without any interruption. When noting like this,
the hindrances, such as sensual desire are expelled. The noting mind
becomes uiied, wlicl is Puii[ of Mind (cia visuddhi).
Analytical Knowledge of Body and Mind
Wlen tle mind is tlus uiied, mind and mauei aie distinguisled
even while noting, and at every moment of noting, the sense-object
is found to be quite distinct nom tle lnowing mind. In otlei woids,
mind and mauei aie found to be cleaily distinct nom one anotlei
even while noting. This is analytical knowledge of body and mind
(nma-rpa-pariccheda-a), both of which are merely conditioned
states. Fiom tlat stage, if noting is continued, cause and eect aie
found to be occurring in conjunction. This is the knowledge by
disceining conditionali[ (paccaya-pariggaha-a).
Tleieahei, if continuous contemlation is made, it will be
perceived that sense-objects are occurring and vanishing. The manner
of perception is that when noting as rising (of the abdomen), the
movements caused by distension will be found to recur repeatedly
and then vanish. The same phenomena will also be noticed in noting
the falling movement of the abdomen. It is more obvious when noting
the mind that is planning and imagining. Sensations such as pain,
heat, etc., wlen noted witl concenuation as ainful, ainful, and
so on, will be found to dissolve and vanish during the process of
noting. Tle meditatoi will be satised to nd tlese lenomena as
impermanent, since they are incessantly arising and passing away.
Then, realisation will come with satisfaction that these are undoubt-
edly sueiing and aie ungoveinable in as mucl as mind and mauei
are appearing and disappearing according to their real characteristic
of uansience. Tlis is knowledge by comprehension (sammasana-a).
From then onwards, while contemplation is carried on further, the
arising and dissolution of phenomena that are contemplated and noted
will not only become accelerated, but also vivid. At this stage, brilliant
liglts may be visualized. Exuemely iatuious feelings may occui, and
calmness of the mind may become obvious. Both body and mind may
become buoyant (lahut), and supple (mudut). Mindfulness with
awaieness and lnowledge will be veiy leen and eneuatingly suong.
Ecstasy and bliss (sukha) will become exueme witl mental claii[ and
feivent faitl. One may tlen be lled witl deliglt and leasuie
regarding these unusual events. All of these delightful and pleasurable
sensations should be rejected by contemplating and noting.
When rejection can be made successfully by so contemplating and
noting, the sense-object that is noted and the knowing mind will, in
the course of noting, be clearly seen to be vanishing in pairs and
dissolving in rapid succession just as one would see the pictures in
movies without any shape or form. At this moment, all arising
sensations and the mental processes of noticing them having been
found to vanish incessantly, it becomes very obvious that these are
all impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not-self. This is knowledge of
dissolution (bhaga-a).
Then, let us summarize the remaining stages. When contemplation
and noting is continued further, awareness of fearfulness (bhaya-a),
knowledge of misery (dnava-a), knowledge of disgust (nibbida-
Knowledge of Equanimi About Formations 105
a), knowledge of desire for deliverance (mucitu-kamyat-a),
or more precisely, the knowledge that arouses a great sense of
uigency to escae nom entanglement in tle cycle of existence. On
proceeding further with contemplation, knowledge of re-observation
(paisakh-a) with further vigorous contemplation and detailed
analysis of the three characteristics, will arise.
Knowledge of Equanimity About Formations
If persistent and vigorous contemplation and noting is made, one
will ieacl tle lnowledge of equanimi[ about foimations
(sakhrupekkh-a). At this stage, the knowledge that can view
syclo-lysical lenomena witl equanimi[ is accomlisled. No
sensations aiising nom tle six sense-doois aie consideied as
pleasurable, but neither are they thought of as detestable. They can
be viewed witl equanimi[, witl a neuual feeling of neitlei love
noi laued. Foi laving viewed as sucl witl indieience, one wlo
is accomplished with this knowledge is said to be fully endowed
witl six-factoied equanimi[ (chaagupekkh). It is described in the
Malniddesa Pi text
as follows:
Cakkhun rpa disv neva sumano hoti na dummano,
upekkhako viharati sato sampajno.
Having seen a form with the eyes, there is neither
happiness nor sorrow. Mindful and clearly comprehend-
ing, he remains equanimous.
The meaning of the above is that there is an absence of happiness
and leasuie no mauei low leasuiable tle siglt may be. Oidinaiy
worldlings will feel happy to see their loved ones parents, wives,
lusbands, clildien, niends, and so on. A eison wlo las ieacled
tle stage of equanimi[, lowevei, nds no enjoyment oi leasuie.
Even if the worst happens and he or she meets unfavourable
conditions, he or she will not be miserable. It is because he or she
views tlings witl equanimi[ and contemlates wlat las been seen
as uansient, aiising and tlen assing away at once. It las become
ossible to contemlate tlus by ieason of laving iealised tle uutl.
A meditatoi wlo las auained tlat stage feels tle same as stated, and
iealises tle uue natuie of tle objects of contemlation witlout
Nd.1.240. (ed).
exertion and without any inclination towards either good or bad
sensations as mentioned above. Those who have reached that stage
will certainly know that it really is so, and therefore, those who feel
dissatised witl tlis statement slould iactise insiglt. Tley will
tlen iealise tle uutl of tle Dlamma.
Tle abili[ to view tlings witl equanimi[ at eveiy moment of
seeing, leaiing, toucling, and lnowing is tle inleient auibute of
an Aialant. It is called six-factoied equanimi[. An oidinaiy uainees
is accomlisled witl tlat auibute only at tle moment of acquiiing
tlis lnowledge of equanimi[ duiing tle couise of contemlation.
He oi sle may be said to be endowed witl tle auibutes of an
Arahant only momentarily when reaching that stage. This is really
most encouraging and worthy of respect for oneself as well as for
otleis. Ahei auaining tle stage of equanimi[, tle lnowledge of tle
atl and its nuition is not veiy fai o. It is witlin easy ieacl, even
within one day. A person who has perfections (pram) will advance
towards Arahantship, passing through the four progressive stages
of the path serially. It has therefore been taught to practise assidu-
ously to accomplished this. On becoming an Arahant, since every-
tling is viewed witl equanimi[, conceit will be totally eiadicated.
Free From the Three Kinds of Conceit
An Arahant will never regard himself or herself as equal to others
and will never mentally or verbally compare himself or herself with
anyone. An Arahant has no pride, ego, or conceit. Neither will an
Aialant considei limself oi leiself as belonging to a liglei suata
of socie[ tlan otleis, noi as being ie-eminent. Noi will an Aialant
regard himself or herself as being inferior to others, or lower in status.
Conceit has the characteristic of haughtiness (unnati). Conceit sets
too ligl a value on oneself and gives one tle idea to become laugl[.
This is what it really means. The kind of conceit that is stated just
now may give an imiession tlat tleie is no feeling of sueiioii[
since one has become humble. However, this conceit does not include
tle natuie of infeiioii[ oi lumili[ (nivti). Humili[ is one way of
taking pride in low or vulgar behaviour. It may be put in this way:
someone ossessing no self-iesect oi digni[ miglt boast, I am
more reckless than others, a real dare-devil! I dare to kill others, I
dont care what anyone thinks, I dare to commit crimes and do as I
Free From the Three Kinds of Conceit 107
please. This sort of conceit is ignoble. Even among servants some
might babble, Im a low-born servant or a personal servant to my
master, etc. Taking pride in this way is really ignoble and base. That
is why it is stated that one who is competing with others by
considering himself or herself as inferior to others is a way of being
aiiogant, insolent, oi iesumtuous, witl a bad auitude.
An Aialant is devoid of sucl lind of conceit. Befoie auaining
Arahantship, these three forms of conceit abide in the mind of a
person as may be appropriate. As such, a person who is practising
meditation should reject, by contemplating and noting, any one of
the three kinds of conceit, which are likely to occur. For instance, one
may become conceited as being on the same level in status with
another person for having achieved insight knowledge up to a certain
stage as acquired by the other, or that he has far surpassed the other
in lis auainment of insiglt lnowledge. A novice in meditation
practice at the inception, may, however, have in mind, that being just
a beginner himself, it will not be necessary for him to exercise with
caie and auention in contemlating and noting just lile otleis wlo
have made progress in meditation exercises. He might even think, I
can be caie-nee, and it wont detei tle iogiess. Tlis disiiited
feeling witl aaient lumili[ is also one lind of conceit tlat can
occur. Whatever it may be, conceit that arises should be rejected by
contemplating and noting. This feeling of pride or conceit is very
potent just like craving. Even a Non-returner has some conceit.
Conceit is totally iooted out only on auainment of Aialantsli. It
is therefore up to you to get to that highest stage.
On reaching that stage of Arahantship when becoming an
Aialant, all delements, ciaving, and lamma tlat iolifeiates
(ussada) will be absolutely extinct. Such a person who is capable of
viewing all tliee [es of conceit witl indieience, will lave no
assionate desiie, angei, delusion, conceit, wiong views, oi dele-
ments that will perpetuate repeated existences. As long as these
conditions remain, the cycle of existences will continue without end.
These conditions are therefore called things that proliferate (ussad).
It has been stated that they are no longer in extant. This expression
las been omiued in tle mouo stated eailiei because of its natuie of
causative eect. Tle meaning of tle said mouo and tle ielevant
verse is clear enough.
Verse Nine
Yassa nissayan nahi, atv dhamma anissito.
Bhavya vibhavya v, tah yassa na vijjati.
The gist of this verse is that craving and wrong view, which may
be ielied uon by a eison, no longei exist. Realising tle uutl of
conditioned mental and physical phenomena, one does not rely on
anything. Craving is dependent on any phenomenon that occurs
within or outside the physical body. Wrong view is another thing on
which one may rely assuming something to be I, he, she, or a
living being, wlo is eteinal oi wlo will totally be annililated ahei
death. A person who has no craving and wrong view on which
reliance can be made in this way is an Arahant. An Arahant is,
tleiefoie, a veneiable eison wlo, laving uuly iealised tle uutl of
conditioned mental and physical phenomena as impermanent,
unsatisfactory, and not-self, will, it is stated, never think of any kind
of mind and mauei as being eimanent, deligltful, oi, as a living
being, a living substance, oi self, and will lave no auaclment.
Yassa: an Aialant will lave no auaclment to eteinalism(sassata
dihi) tle leiesy tlat mind and mauei aie eteinal foi continued
existences or to annihilationism(uccheda-dihi) the heresy that
existence terminates with death. On the other hand, ordinary
worldlings are likely to believe that what is called I or he, a
living being or a self, is everlasting, and that although the crude
foim of mateiial body may be desuoyed, tle living soul oi self is not
subject to desuuction. Tley believe tlat it is uansmiued to anotlei
place or existence to reside therein and that it can never be annihilated.
A heretical view of this kind is called a view of existence (bhava-dihi),
or eternalism(sassata-dihi). A heresy accepting that one passes into
notlingness ahei deatl, tlat believes in non-existence ahei deatl,
is a view of non-existence (vibhva-dihi), otherwise known as
annihilationism (uccheda-dihi). Ordinary worldlings have a liking
for one of these two view. An Arahant, who entertains no such beliefs,
will not long for any kind of repeated existence. An Arahant is called
a sage relating to which it has been stated in the next verse.
Verse Eleven 109
Verse Ten
Ta brmi upasantoti, kmesu anapekkhina.
Ganth tassa na vijjanti, atar so visaika
It has been taught by the Buddha as: An Arahant who has reached
tle nal stage of uii[ and wlo is fully accomlisled witl tle noble
auibutes as stated befoie, witlout any auaclment to sensual desiies
is as sage. Such an individual is said to have extinguished all the
buining ies of delements. Tassa: this Arahant who is called a
sage is not entangled in things that can tie him down. It is something
lile a suing wlicl, if tied at its ends witl otlei ieces of suing,
lnoued at tle joints, will be linled to become a continuous clain of
suing witlout ends. In tle same way, ciaving and wiong view, wlicl
serve as ties that link one existence to another at the end of every life,
are known as bonds (gantha). As these bonds serve as a connecting
linl, oidinaiy woildlings aie diihing along in tle endless cuiient of
existence. A Sueam-winnei will lave seven existences to undeigo
at the most. A Once-returner has two more existences. A Non-
returner will be reborn in any one of the two existences, the realms
of foim oi foimless iealms of Bialm. As foi an Aialant, le oi sle
has completely severed the link by eradicating these bonds, which
biing about a continui[ of existences. An Aialant las tleiefoie
ievailed ovei tle entanglements of ciaving, and las uueily
desuoyed its linling meclanism.
This should be clear enough.
Verse Eleven
Na tassa pu pasavo, khea vahuca vijjati.
A vpi nira v, na tasmi upalabbhati.
The gist of the above verse is that a person who has become a
sage will lave no auaclment at all, and will not cling to clildien
oi any tangible ioei[, sucl as livestocl, cultivated elds, land,
oi ioei[, beginning nom tle time of auaining Aialantsli,
although he or she may have children and so on, before becoming
an Arahant. An Arahant has also completely dispelled all heretical
beliefs. This has been explained in the previous verses. It has been
repeated to make people understand if spoken in ones own plain
language.
Verse Twelve
Yena na vajju puthujjan, atho samaabrhma.
Ta tassa apurakkhata, tasm vdesu nejati.
Tle above Pi veise conveys tle meaning tlat tle majoii[ of tle
uneducated or unwise devas and human being as well as wise
hermits, monks and brahmins are alleged to be persons who are
aicted witl tle soies oi sueiings of assionate desiies, etc., and
wlo aie infuiiated witl sucl aictions. An Aialant, lowevei,
iemains witlout mental disuess not being dominated by sucl
laimful and faul[ assionate desiies. As iegaids common woild-
lings and uainees on tle atl, tley aie slaves to tle dictates of sensual
desires and so forth. It amounts to selecting sensual desire and other
delements to be tleii guide wlo will lead tle way foi tlem.
Fuitleimoie, because of tle iesence of tlese delements, tle guide
wlo leads tlem, oidinaiy woildlings and uainees may at time be
diiven by assion. Tlat is wly tle oidinaiy woildlings and uainees
lave auaclment. Sometimes, tlougl tley may not be inuenced by
passion and anger, but when circumstances so permit, they are ready
by their own inclination to be overpowered by passion and anger.
They are liable to be accused by others as being wrathful and so on.
An Arahant entirely refuses to regard passion as a leader. He or she
is imeccable and tleiefoie nee nom any sucl allegations. An
Aialants is totally devoid of auaclment and angei, and so is immune
nom any lind of accusations. He is uneituibed and uanquil. Tlis
is obvious.
Verse Thirteen
Vtagedho amacchar, na ussesu vadate muni.
Na samesu na omesu, kappa neti akappiyo.
Muni: a monk who is a noble Arahant, vtagedho: is nee nom
greed or avarice, amacchar: is not envious, na vadate: will not speak,
na ussesu: of excelling otleis (neitlei because of senioii[ since
ordination, nor regarding knowledge in scriptures, nor in the number
of disciples or devotees), na samesu: being equal in status, na omesu:
nor inferior, akappiyo: having no intention to speak thus with
craving or wrong view, and will get rid of such evil thoughts.
Verse Fourteen 111
Verse Fourteen
Yassa loke saka nahi, asat ca na socati.
Dhammesu ca na gacchati, sa ve santoti vuccatti.
Tle above Pi veise denotes tlat an Aialant does not enteitain
any sligltest feeling of auaclment to ioei[ oi any otlei substan-
tial things whether it is the body, limbs, or organs such as the eyes.
What it means is that an Arahant has extirpated both craving and
wiong view. Having been fully ieleased oi libeiated nom sucl
feelings, le oi sle is nee nom woiiy and giief, and will not be
dejected due to tle loss of any limb oi oigan, oi any eisonal ioei[.
Neither will an Arahant be destined for any unfortunate existence
because of any incident that may occur in relation to conditioned
mental and physical phenomena. This term has several shades of
meaning and applies to all things, animate or inanimate, such as
sentient beings, clothing, food, paddy, gold, silver, houses, monas-
teries, etc., foi luman consumtion oi use, if viewed nom tle
perspective of insight. Even then, these conditioned mental and
physical phenomena are regarded as I, he, she, self, mine,
and so on. These are all included in the term phenomena (dhammesu).
Having been tauglt foi tle benet of outstanding intellectuals
wlo lave iofound wisdom, tlis Suua contains a lot of teiminology
that is hard to understand properly. Ordinary worldlings do things
that should not be done regarding themselves or others, merely for
giatication and benet of lysical and mental aggiegates tlat aie
inleiently uansient. Tley may iesoit to commiuing evils due to
laued, malice, envy, angei, delusion, oi ignoiance. An Aialant is
nee nom tle foui wiong couises (agati) acting through desire,
laued, delusion, and feai. He oi sle will avoid all demeiitoiious
acts, including evil speech and thoughts. An Arahant who is
ie-eminent and accomlisled witl all noble auibutes as stated is
called a sage witl eace and uanquili[ of mind, fully emanciated
nom tle buining ies of delements.
Conclusion of the Discourse
Tle Puibleda Suua Dlamma ends witl tle fouiteentl veise. It
contains one verse in the form of a question and thirteen verses in
the form of an answer, fourteen in all, as catechism. The question put
was: What kind of insight and moral conduct should a person
possess to be worthy of being called a sage? The answer can be
comielensive witl tle ist of tle tliiteen veises only. Howevei,
considering the varying degrees of intellectual accomplishment of
the respective devas and brahmas who formed the huge congregation,
the Buddha answered in thirteen verses with appropriate language
in use at that time. By hearing the answers repeatedly, the devas and
bialmas gained tle awalening to tle atl and its nuition, in gious,
having heard the successive verses suited to each group according
to tleii degiee of intellectual auainment. On tlat ausicious occasion,
with this one Discourse, it is stated that billions of devas and brahmas
auained Aialantsli and tlat tlose wlo became Sueam-winneis,
Once-returners, or Non-returners were innumerable. Estimating the
diveise abilities of tle audience at tlis meditation cenue on eveiy
Uosatla day, I suose tlat if I weie to delivei ve veises out of
thirteen as taught by the Buddha, my disciples would probably grasp
tle essence of tle Dlamma. So I lave exounded tle ist ve veises
in detail and biiey summaiised tle iemaining eiglt veises.
It is my earnest wish that those who have listened to this discourse
on tle Puibleda Suua, and tlose wlo iead it, will be in a osition
to aclieve tle atl and its nuition even wlile listening to tle
discouise oi ahei sciutinizing it, if tley aie endowed witl matuie
perfections. If they failed so achieve the path at once, it could serve
as nesl seeds of eifections foi futuie successful geimination.
By virtue of your goodwill and keen interest for having listened
auentively and iesectfully to tlis discouise, may you all nd
lainess in body and mind, and suive foi aclievement of tle noble
auibutes of a uanquil sage, auaining tle bliss of nibbna as quiclly
as possible, by making progressive progress on the path of insight
u to tle coveted lnowledge of tle atl and its nuition.
Sdhu! Sdhu! Sdhu!
113
Index
A
Abusive speech (pharusavc), 50
Access concentration (upacra samdhi),
74
Active defilements (vitikkama-kiles), 6
Air (vyo), 89
Air element (vyodhtu), 102
Analytical knowledge of body and mind
(nma-rpa-pariccheda-a), 74, 103
Animal (tiracchna), 62
Annihilationism(uccheda-dihi), 108
Anxiety (asantsi), 37
Austerities (dhutaga), 100
Awareness of fearfulness (bhaya-a),
104
B
Bliss (sukha), 104
Bond (gantha), 109
Buoyant (lahut), 104
C
Celestial realms (devaloka), 63
Cessation with remainder (sa-
updisesanibbna), 11
Cessation without remainder
(anupdisesanibbna), 11
Charity (dna), 44
Conceit (mna), 5, 20, 86
Consciousness (citta), 89
Covetousness (abhijjh), 87
D
Disgusted with existence (nibbindati), 49
Doubt (vicikiccha), 9
E
Earth (pathav), 89
Eight Factors of the Path (maggaga), 87
Eternalism(sassata dihi), 108
Evenmindedness (tatramajjhattat), 91
F
Faculty of faith (saddhindriya), 93
Feeling (vedan), 94
Fire (tejo), 89
Five Faculties (indriya), 87
Five Powers (bala), 87
Fortunate destinations (sugati), 99
Four Bases of Success (iddhipda), 87
Four floods (sava), 62
Four lower realms (apya), 62
Four Right Efforts (sammappadhna), 87
Four wrong courses (agati), 111
Frivolous talk (samphappalpa), 50
Functional consciousness (kiriya), 90
H
Haughtiness (unnati), 106
Humility (nivti), 106
Hungry ghost (peta), 62, 78
I
Ill-will (vypda), 87
Impermanence (anicca), 75, 91
Initial application (vitakka), 96
Insight leading to emergence
(vuhnagmini a), 72
J
Jealous god (asr), 62
Joy (pti), 91
K
Knowledge by comprehension
(sammasana-a), 104
Knowledge by discerning
conditionality (paccaya-pariggaha-
a), 103
Knowledge of arising and passing
away (udayabbaya-a), 71, 91
Knowledge of desire for deliverance
(mucitu-kamyat-a), 105
Knowledge of disgust (nibbida-a),
104
Knowledge of dissolution (bhaga-
a), 74, 104
Knowledge of equanimity about
formations (sakhrupekkh-a), ix,
74, 91, 105
Knowledge of misery (dnava-a), 104
114 Index
Knowledge of re-observation
(paisakh-a), 105
Knowledge of ready wit (paibhna
a), 89
Knowledge of reviewing
(paccavekkhaa-a), 72
L
Latent defilements (anusaya kiles), 6
Lust (rga), viii
M
Matter (rpa), 89
Maturity knowledge (gotrabh a),
62, 81
Meanness (macchariya), 57
Meditation device (kasia), 8
Mental factors (cetasik), 89
Mentality (nma), 89
Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension
(satisampajna), 42
Momentary concentration for insight
(vipassan-khaika-samdhi), 74
Moral transgressions (vitikkama kiles),
8
Morality (sla), 44
N
Noble Eightfold Path (ariya ahagiko
maggo), 87
Noble Ones (ariya), 98
Not-self (anatta), 75, 91
O
Ordinary unwise worldlings (bla
puthujjana), 98
P
Path and Fruition knowledge (magga-
phala a), 75
Perception (sa), 90
Perfections (pram), 106
Personality-view(sakkyadihi), 9
Pride of views (dihimna), 20
Probation (parivattha), 46
Proliferate (ussada), 107
Pure Abodes (Suddhvsa), 64
Purity of Mind (citta visuddhi), 74, 103
R
Ready wit (paibhna), 88
Realisation (paiveda), 89
Realisation (paivedha), 91
Rehabilitation (mnatta), 46
Relinking consciousness (paisandhi
via), 94
Remorse (kukkucca), 33, 39, 45
Requisites of Enlightenment (bodhi-
pakkhiya dhamma), 87
Resentment (ghta), 35
Rules of discipline (vinaya), 43
S
Sage (upasanta), 1
Self-pride (asmimna), 20
Seven Factors of Enlightenment
(bojjhaga), 87
Six-factored equanimity
(chaagupekkh), 105
Slander (pisuavc), 50
Supple (mudut), 104
Sustained application (vicra), 96
T
Telling lies (musvda), 50
Trainees (sekkha), 41
Tranquility meditation (samatha), 8
Tranquillity (passaddhi), 91
Truth of Suffering (dukkha sacc), 80
U
Uncreated (nibbna), 94, 95
Unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), 48, 75, 91
V
View of existence (bhava-dihi), 108
View of non-existence (vibhva-dihi),
108
W
Water (po), 89
Wise and virtuous ordinary persons
(kalya puthujjana), 98
Wrong view(dihi), 5, 87

A Discourse On The Purabheda Sutta

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A Discourse On The Purabheda Sutta

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Contents A

Slasuua, Giadual Sayings, Bool of Eiglts. (A.iv.187)

S.i.78 and in many other places (ed.)

tle Bialmin Kevaa advised tle ling:

Kandaiala Suua, Suua 51, M.i.339.

Another monk was deputed to inform the Buddha about

The Buddha then asked him whether he had feelings of repentance

iegaiding moiali[. Tley

Palama Gilna Suua, S.iv.45.

one should follow the practice leading to the extinction

I understand this is the Buddhas teaching, so I

Palama Gilna Suua, S.iv.45.

If one becomes over-enthusiastic to achieve the

Stiyesu anassv, atimne ca no yuto.

1. He stands up and welcomes him courteously,

Kula Suua, A.iv.386. Manpena paccuhenti, manpena abhivdenti, manpena sana

Kesava Jtala, J.346 and Dhammapada Commentary to verse 47.

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