#1. A Reed

Spiritual practitioners have clear complexions, despite their simple life.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse: “Living in the wilderness, peaceful spiritual practitioners eat just one meal a day: so why is their complexion so clear?” “They don’t worry about the past, nor do they long for the future; they feed on whatever comes that day, that’s why their complexion’s so clear. Because they long for the future, and worry about the past, fools wither away, like a green reed mowed down. [Read More]

Unless you give up conceit you’ll be trapped in the domain of Death.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “Someone who’s fond of conceit can’t be tamed, and someone lacking serenity can’t be a sage. Living negligent alone in the wilderness, they can’t pass beyond Death’s domain.” “Having given up conceit, serene within oneself, with a healthy heart, everywhere released; living diligent alone in the wilderness, they pass beyond Death’s domain. [Read More]

Those who are unconfused live smooth amid the rough.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “Those who are very confused about the teachings, who may be led astray by the doctrines of others; asleep, they have not woken up: it is time for them to wake!” “Those who are unconfused about the teachings, who won’t be led astray by the doctrines of others; they’ve woken up, they rightly know, they live smoothly in the rough. [Read More]

Those who comprehend the teachings live smooth amid the rough.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “Those who don’t comprehend the teachings, who may be led astray by the doctrines of others; asleep, they have not woken up: it is time for them to wake!” “Those who clearly comprehend the teachings, who won’t be led astray by the doctrines of others; they’ve woken up, they rightly know, they live smoothly in the rough. [Read More]

How many are awake while others are asleep?At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “How many sleep while others wake? How many wake among the sleeping? By how many do you gather dust? By how many are you cleansed?” “Five sleep while others wake. Five wake among the sleeping. By five you gather dust. By five you’re cleansed. [Read More]

A cryptic set of questions, which the Buddha answers equally cryptically.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “Cut how many? Drop how many? How many more should be developed? How many kinds of clinging must a mendicant get over before you call them a flood-crosser?” “Five to cut, five to drop, and five more to develop. A mendicant must get over five kinds of clinging before you call them a flood-crosser. [Read More]

Time flies, so we should drop the world’s bait.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “Time flies, nights pass by, the stages of life abandon us one by one. Seeing this peril in death, do good deeds that bring you to joy.” “Time flies, nights pass by, the stages of life abandon us one by one. Seeing this peril in death, a seeker of peace would drop the world’s bait. [Read More]

Life is short, so we should drop the world’s bait.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “This life, so very short, is led onward; one led on to old age has no shelter. Seeing this peril in death, do good deeds that bring you to joy.” “This life, so very short, is led onward; one led on to old age has no shelter. [Read More]

Freedom comes when we end attachment to rebirth.At Sāvatthī. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “Good sir, do you understand liberation, emancipation, and seclusion for sentient beings?” “I do, sir.” “But how is it that you understand liberation, emancipation, and seclusion for sentient beings?” “With the ending of relish for rebirth, the finishing of perception and consciousness, and the cessation and stilling of feelings: that, sir, is how I understand liberation, emancipation, and seclusion for sentient beings. [Read More]

The Buddha crossed the flood of suffering by neither standing nor swimming.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “Good sir, how did you cross the flood?” “Neither standing nor swimming, sir, I crossed the flood. [Read More]