No.370 - The words of The Buddha October 18m 2022

 

THE WORDS OF THE BUDDHA - BUDDHA VACANA

 October 18

 

At one time, a certain monk went to his fellow monk and asked: 

“Friend, how is understanding fully purified?”  and the other replied: 

“When one sees as it really is the arising and ceasing of the six-fold sense base, then understanding is fully purified.”  

Dissatisfied with that answer, that monk went on to another monk and asked the same question, and he was told: 

“Friend, when one sees as it really is arising and ceasing of the clinging aggregates, then understanding is fully purified.”  

But again that monk was dissatisfied with that answer, so he went to another monk, asked the same question, and was told: 

“Friend, when one sees as it really is the arising and ceasing of the four great elements, then understanding is fully purified.”  

But still dissatisfied with that answer, he went to yet another monk, put his question again and that monk replied: 

“Friend, when one sees as it really is that everything that arises also passes away, then understanding is fully purified.”  

Dissatisfied with all these answers, that monk approached the Lord and told him of the question he had asked and the replies he had received.

 

Then he addressed the Lord and said:  “Lord, how is understanding fully purified?”  

The Lord said: 

“Suppose a man has never seen a kimsukatree so he goes to a man who has, and asks:  ‘What is a kimsukatree like?’  and that man replies: 

‘Well, my man, a kimsukatree is blackish, something like a charred stump.’  

So for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it. 

Not satisfied with this answer to his question he goes to another man who has seen one, and again puts his question. 

And the other man answers: 

‘Well, my man, a kimsukatree is reddish, something like a lump of meat.’  

So, for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it. 

Still not satisfied, he goes to another man who has seen a kimsukatree and puts his question to him. 

And the other man answers: 

‘A kimsukatree has no bark and its seed pods burst something like an acacia tree.’ So, for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it. 

Still dissatisfied, he goes to another man who has seen a kimsukatree and puts his question yet again. 

And that man answers: 

‘Well, a kimsukahas thick leaves and gives close shade something like a banyan tree.’  

So, for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it. 

All these good folks have given their explanations according to the clarity of their

understanding. 

In the same way, the understanding of the monks you have asked has been purified according to their individual inclinations and they have given their explanations accordingly.”