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Majjhima Nikaaya I.
1.3.8. Mahaahatthipadopamasutta.m
(28) The Major Disourse on the Simile of the Elephants Footprint.
I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anaathapindika in
Jetas grove in Saavatthi. Then, venerable Saariputta addressed the bhikkhus
"Friends, bhikkhus, just as the foot prints of all moving things get included in the
footprint of the elephant and it becomes the biggest. Just so all things of merit get
included in the four noble truths. What four? The noble truth of unpleasantness, the noble
truth of its arising, the noble truth of its cessation, and the noble truth of the path,
to the cessation of unpleasantness.
Friends, what is the noble truth of unpleasantness. Birth is unpleasant, decay, death,
grief, lament, displeasure and distress are also unpleasant. Not to get ones desires
is unpleasant, in short the five holding masses are unpleasant. Friends, bhikkhus, what
are the five holding masses? They are the holding mass of matter, the holding mass of
feelings, the holding mass of perceptions, the holding mass of determinations and the
holding mass of consciousness? Friends, what is the holding mass of matter: The four
primary elements and the held on body from the four primary elements is the holding mass
of matter. What are the four primary elements: Earth, water, fire and air are the four
primary elements.
Friends, what is the earth element: There is internal earth element and external earth
element. What is internal earth element. Whatever hard rough matter internally held as
mine, such as hair of head and body, nails, teeth skin, flesh, nerves, bones, bone marrow,
kidneys, heart, liver pleura, lungs lower intestines, bowels, belly, excreta, and any
other hard, rough internally held matter, all that is internal matter. All this internal
earth element, and external earth element, go as earth element..That is not mine, am not
that, it is not my self. This should be known as it really is, with right wisdom. Seeing
this, as it really is, with right wisdom, the mind should be detached from the earth
element, There comes a time when the external water element is agitated, at that time the
external earth element is closed up, in it .That shows the agedness and impermanence of
the earth element. So why hold on to this body of three hundred bones as this is mine, am
that, it is my self.. Again others .may revile, blame, arouse and distress the bhikkhu.
Then he knows, these unpleasant feelings arise with a cause. What is the cause? Contact is
the cause He reflects that contact is impermanent, feelings are impermanent, that
perception is impermanent, determinations are impermanent, and that consciousness is
impermanent. His mind springs forward with the sign and elements, is pleased, settled, and
released..(1) Others may treat that same bhikkhu in disagreeable, unwelcome, unkind ways,
with the contact of hands, clods, sticks, and weapons. Then he knows, this body should be
such, that it endures the contact of hands, clods, sticks and weapons.
In the Simile of the saw the Blessed One said, even if robbers and bandits cut limb
after limb with a two handled saw, if the mind is defiled on account of that, he has not
done the duty in my dispensation. It will be, my effort will be aroused repeatedly,
unconfused mindfulness established, the body appeased without anger, the mind
concentrated, in one point. Let the body now endure, the contact of hands, clods, sticks
and weapons. Thus the dispensation of the Enlightened Ones is done.If the mind of the
bhikkhu who reflects the Enlightened One, the Teaching, and the Community of bhikkhus
thus, does not settle in merit with equanimity, he should be remorseful . It is a loss for
me, I have missed a rare chance, that my mind did not settle in merit with equanimity.
Like the daughter in-law who has seen the mother-in-law would be remorseful.In the
same manner the bhikkhu reflecting the Enlightened One, the Teaching and the Community of
bhikkhus, if the mind does not settle in merit with equanimity, he should be remorseful.
It is loss for me, I have missed a rare chance, that my mind did not settle in merit with
equanimity.
Friends, if the mind of the bhikkhu reflecting the Enlightened One, the Teaching, and
the Community of bhikkhus settles in merit with equanimity, he should be delighted. The
bhikkhu who has done this much, has done a lot.
Friends, what is the water element. There is internal water element and external water
element. What is the internal water element. Whatever internal personal water, held as
bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat and oil of the skin, tears and oil of the eye, spit and
snot, synovial fluid and urine, whatever any other held cohesiveness is the internal water
element. This internal water element and the external water element, all go as water
element. That is not mine, am not that, its not my self. This should be seen with right
wisdom, as it really is. Thus seeing it with right wisdom, as it really is, the mind
should be detached from the water element.Theres a time when the external water
element agitates, it overflows villages and hamlets, towns and states, and the whole
state. There is a time when the water in the ocean recedes as far as seven hundred miles,
one thousand four hundred miles, two thousand one hundred miles, two thousand eight
hundred miles, three thousand five hundred miles, four thousand two hundred miles, and
recedes four thousand nine hundred miles. Friends, there is a time when the water in the
ocean stands up to seven palms, six palms, five palms, four palms, three palms, two palms,
a single palm. Theres a time when the water in the ocean stands up to the height of
seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man. It stands up to the
height of half a man, stands only waist deep, only knee deep, only up to the ankle. There
is a time when the water in the ocean is not enough to wet the toes. This, is evidence of
the agedness and impermanence of the external water element. So why hold on to this body
of three hundred bones? As this is mine, am that, its my self. Again, others .may
revile, blame, arouse and distress the bhikkhu. Then he knows, these unpleasant feelings
arise with a cause.What is the cause? Contact is the cause. He reflects that contact,
those feelings, those perceptions those determinations and that consciousness is
impermanent. His mind springs forward with the sign and elements, is pleased, settled, and
released.(1) Others may treat that same bhikkhu in disagreeable, unwelcome, unkind ways,
with the contact of hands, clods, sticks, and weapons. Then he knows, this body should be
such, that it endures the contact of hands, clods, sticks, and weapons. In the Simile of
the saw it has been said by the Blessed One. Even if robbers and bandits cut limb after
limb with a two handled saw, if the mind is defiled on account of that, he has not done
the duty in my dispensation. It will be, my effort will be aroused repeatedly, unconfused
mindfulness established. The body appeased and without anger. The mind concentrated will
be in one point. Let the body now endure, the contact of hands, clods, sticks and weapons.
The dispensation of the Enlightened Ones is done. If the mind of the bhikkhu who reflects
the Enlightened One, the Teaching, and the Community of bhikkhus thus, does not settle in
merit with equanimity, he should be remorseful. It is a loss for me, I have missed a rare
chance, that my mind did not settle in merit with equanimity. Like the daughter
in-law who has seen the mother-in-law would be remorseful. In the same manner if the
mind of the bhikkhu reflecting the Enlightened One, the Teaching and the Community of
bhikkhus does not settle in merit with equanimity, he should be remorseful. It is loss for
me, I have missed a rare chance. That my mind did not settle in merit with equanimity
Friends, if the mind of the bhikkhu reflecting the Enlightened One, the Teaching, and the
Community of bhikkhus, settles in merit with equanimity, he should be delighted. The
bhikkhu who has done this much has done a lot. .
Friends, what is the fire element. There is internal and external fire element What is
internal fire element? Whatever internal personal heat, the burning that causes decay, the
digestion of whatever is enjoyed eaten and tasted. The internal fire held as mine, and any
other firey thing that is internal is internal fire element. The internal fire element and
the external fire element go as fire element. That is not mine, Im not that,
its not my self. This should be known as it really is, with right wisdom. Thus the
mind should be detached from the fire element. There is a time when the fire element
agitates villages and hamlets, towns and states, and complete states. It comes to the end
of the green, end of the forest, to the coast, to the waters end, or to some
pleasant stretch of land and extinguishes, owing to lack of fuel. There is a time when
fire originates in the stem of a cocks feather or in a lump of veins.
Thats evidence of the agedness and impermanence of the external fire element So
why hold this body of three hundred bones as this is mine, Im that, its my
self? Again, others .may revile, blame, arouse and distress the bhikkhu. Then he knows,
these unpleasant feelings have arisen to me with a cause. Whats the cause? Contact
is the cause He reflects, contact is impermanent, feelings, perceptions and determinations
are impermanent, and consciousness is impermanent. His mind springs forward with the sign
and elements, is pleased, settled, and released.(1) Others may treat that same bhikkhu in
disagreeable, unwelcome, unkind ways, with the contact of hands, clods, sticks, and
weapons. Then he knows, this body should be such, that it endures the contact of hands,
clods, sticks and weapons. In the Simile of the saw it has been said by the Blessed. Even
when robbers and bandits cut limb after limb with a two handled saw, if the mind of the
bhikkhu is defiled he has not done the duties in my dispensation. It will be my effort
will be aroused repeatedly, unconfused mindfulness established, the body appeased without
anger, the mind concentrated in one point. Let the body now endure, the contact of hands,
clods, sticks and weapons. thus the dispensation of the Enlightened Ones is done. If the
mind of the bhikkhu who reflects the Enlightened One, the Teaching, and the Community
thus, does not settle in merit with equanimity, he should be remorseful. It is a loss for
me, I have missed a rare chance. That my mind did not settle in merit with equanimity.
Like the daughter in-law who has seen the mother-in-law would be remorseful, in the
same manner if the mind of the bhikkhu reflecting the Enlightened One, the Teaching and
the Community of bhikkhus does not settle in merit with equanimity, he should be
remorseful. It is loss for me, I have missed a rare chance. That my mind did not settle in
merit with equanimity. Friends, if the mind of the bhikkhu reflecting the Enlightened One,
the Teaching, and the Community of bhikkhus settles in merit with equanimity, he should be
delighted. The bhikkhu who has done this much has done a lot.
Friends, what is the air element. There is internal air element and external air
element. What is internal air element The internal personal airiness that is held, as up
going winds, down going winds, winds in the stomach and bowels. Winds going up and down
limbs, in-breaths and out-breaths and any other airiness held as mine, is internal air
element.This internal and external air element goes as air element. That is not mine, am
not that, its not my self. This should be seen with right wisdom, as it really is
and the mind should be detached from the air element.
Friends, there is a time when the external air element is agitated and it wields power
over village and hamlet, town and state and over the complete state. In the last months of
the Summer there is a time when the wind has to be sought by fanning. Then water does not
flow and blades of grass do not move. That is evidence of agedness and, impermanence of
the external air element. So why hold to this body of three hundred bones as this is mine,
Im that, its my self?. Again, others .may revile, blame, arouse and distress
the bhikkhu, then he knows. These unpleasant feelings arise with a cause.What is the
cause? Contact is the cause. He reflects contact is impermanent, feelings, perceptions and
determinations are impermanent, and consciousness is impermanent. His mind springs forward
with the sign and elements, is pleased, settled, and released..(*1) Others may treat that
same bhikkhu in disagreeable, unwelcome, unkind ways, with the contact of hands, clods,
sticks and weapons. Then he knows, this body should be such, that it endures the contact
of hands, clods, sticks and weapons.. In the Simile of the saw, the Blessed One has said,
when robbers and bandits cut limb after limb with a two handled saw, if the mind is
defiled on account of it, he has not done the duty in my dispensation. It should be, my
effort will be aroused repeatedly, unconfused mindfulness established, the body appeased
without anger and the mind concentrated in one point. Let the body now endure, the contact
of hands, clods, sticks and weapons. Thus the dispensation of the Enlightened Ones is
done.When the bhikkhu reflects the Enlightened One, the Teaching, and the Community of
bhikkhus thus, if the mind does not settle in merit with equanimity, he should be
remorseful on account of it. It is a loss for me, I have missed a rare chance. That my
mind did not settle in merit with equanimity. Like the daughter in-law who has seen
the mother-in-law would be remorseful. In the same manner if the mind of the bhikkhu
reflecting the Enlightened One, the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus, does not
settle in merit with equanimity, he should be remorseful.. It is loss for me, I have
missed a rare chance. That my mind did not settle in merit with equanimity. Friends, when
the bhikkhu reflected the Enlightened One, the Teaching, and the Community of bhikkhus if
the mind settled in merit with equanimity, he should be delighted. The bhikkhu who has
done this much has done a lot.
Friends, an enclosure made in space with sticks, creepers, grass, and mud is a house
likewise an enclosure made out of bones, nerves and flesh is matter. When the internal eye
is unimpaired, external forms do not come to the purview, with the complementary coming
together, the respective consciousness does not arise When the internal eye is unimpaired,
external forms come to the purview, without the complementary coming together, the
respective consciousness does not arise. .When the internal eye is unimpaired, external
forms come to the purview, with the complementary coming together, the respective
consciousness arises. Whatever matter arises there from, goes to the holding mass of
matter. Feelings to the holding mass of feelings. Perceptions to the holding mass of
perceptions. Determinations to the holding mass of determinations and whatever
consciousness goes to the holding mass of consciousness. It is in this manner, that the
five holding masses accumulate, come together and momentarily behave together). The
Blessed One has said, he who sees dependent arising, sees the Teaching, He who sees the
Teaching sees dependent arising (*2) Indeed these five holding masses arise dependently.
The interest, settlement, follow up and the appropriation in the five holding masses is
the arising of unpleasantness (*3) Dispelling the interest and greed for the five holding
masses, is the cessation of unpleasantness (*4).. When this is done, the bhikkhu has done
much. When the internal ear is unimpairedthe nose is unimpaired, --the tongue is
unimpaired,--the body is unimpaired, When the mind is unimpaired, external ideas do not
come to the purview, with the complementary coming together the respective consciousness
does not arise.When the mind is unimpaired, external ideas come to the purview, without
the complementary coming together, the respective consciousness does not arise. When the
mind is unimpaired, external ideas come to the purview, and with the complementary coming
together the respective consciousness arises. Whatever matter produced there, goes to the
holding mass of matter. Feelings, to the holding mass of feelings. Perceptions, to the
holding mass of perceptions. Determinations, to the holding mass of determinations.
Consciousness to the holding mass of consciousness. It is in this manner, that the five
holding masses accumulate, come together and momentarily behave together. The Blessed One
has said, he who sees dependent arising.sees the Teaching. He who sees the Teaching sees
dependent arising. Indeed these five holding masses arise dependently. The interest,
settlement, follow up and the appropriation in the five holding masses is the arising of
unpleasantness. Dispelling the interest and greed for the five holding masses, is the
cessation of unpleasantness, The bhikkhu who has done this much has done a lot.
Venerable Saariputta said thus and those bhikkhus delighted in the words of venerable
Saariputta,
Notes.
1. His mind springs forward with the sign and elements, is pleased settled and
released. tassa dhaataarammana.m eva citta.m pakkhandati pasiidati
santiti,t,thati This springing of the mind is -always for a change in the mind,
it causes a feeling to arise. Here the bhikkhu has overcome a disagreeable feeling becomes
pleased, gets settled and finds release of the mind, instead of being disagreeable and
averse to that situation and feeling. This is a development to the bhikkhu. Several such
developments and growths should come to the bhikkhu in his development up to arahanta.The
sign is the thought, or attention and the elements are the things that mattered at one or
the other sense door. ie a sight, a sound etcetra..
2. He who sees dependent arising sees the Teaching. He who sees the Teaching sees
dependent arising.yo paticcasamuppaada.m passati, so dhamma.m passati. Yo
dhamma.m passati so patticcasamuppaada.m passati This reciprocal statement tells
us that we have to understand dependent arising to understand the Teaching. Dependent
arising means anyone born, is subject to decay, ailments, death, grief, lament and
unpleasantness. There are some other ways of explaining Dependent Arising. Here it is
necessary that we remove the cause; birth. It is not an easy task to remove the intention
to be.
3. The interest, settlement, follow up and the appropriation in the five holding masses
is the arising of unpleasantness.yo emesu pancupaadaanaskandesu chando aalayo
anusayo ajjhosaana.m, so dukkhasamudayo Thus we see that the interested
following up of material things external and internal and thinking they are mine is the
holding mass of matter, and is the arising of unpleasantness. The interested following up
of feelings external and internal and thinking they are mine is the holding mass of
feelings, which is the arising of unpleasantness. External feelings are born on account of
contact at the six doors of mental contact, and internal feelings are born when the idea
gets ingrained that the feeling is mine.The interested following up of perceptions
thinking they are mine is the holding mass of perceptions, and this too is the arising of
unpleasaantness. Perceptions are born on account of contacts at one or other of the doors
of mental contact. Or they may be born in imagination.The interested following up of
determinations, thinking they are mine is the holding mass of determinations, this is the
arising of unpleasantness. The interested following up of consciousness through one or the
other of the doors orf mentality is the holding mass of consciousness, this is also
unpleasant.
4. Dispelling the interest and greed for the five holding masses is the cessation of
unpleasantness. This is a very slow and tedious process which has to be done with care and
attention..
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