{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an4.196/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an4.196","id":"suttacentral_an4.196","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an4.196/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near Ves\u0101l\u012b, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then S\u0101\u1e37ha and Abhaya the Licchavis went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cThere are, sir, some ascetics and brahmins who advocate crossing the flood by means of two things: purification of ethics, and mortification in disgust of sin. What does the Buddha say about this?\u201d \u201cS\u0101\u1e37ha, purification of ethics is one of the factors of the ascetic life, I say. But those ascetics and brahmins who teach fervent mortification in disgust of sin\u2014regarding it as essential and sticking to it\u2014are incapable of crossing the flood. And those ascetics and brahmins whose livelihood and behavior by way of body, speech, and mind, is not pure are also incapable of knowing and seeing, of supreme awakening. Suppose a man who wanted to cross a river took a sharp axe into a wood. There he\u2019d see a large green sal tree, straight and young and grown unskewed. He\u2019d cut it down at the base, cut off the top, and completely strip off the branches and foliage. Then he\u2019d trim it with axes and machetes, plane it, and sand it with a rock. Finally, he\u2019d launch out on the river. What do you think, S\u0101\u1e37ha? Is that man capable of crossing the river?\u201d \u201cNo, sir. Why not? Because that green sal tree is well worked on the outside, but inside it\u2019s still not cleared out. I\u2019d expect that green sal tree to sink, and the man to come to ruin.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, S\u0101\u1e37ha, those ascetics and brahmins who teach fervent mortification in disgust of sin\u2014regarding it as essential and sticking to it\u2014are incapable of crossing the flood. And those ascetics and brahmins whose livelihood and behavior by way of body, speech, and mind is not pure are also incapable of knowing and seeing, of supreme awakening. But those ascetics and brahmins who don\u2019t teach mortification in disgust of sin\u2014not regarding it as essential or sticking to it\u2014are capable of crossing the flood. And those ascetics and brahmins whose behavior by way of body, speech, and mind is pure are also capable of knowing and seeing, of supreme awakening. Suppose a man who wanted to cross a river took a sharp axe into a wood. There he\u2019d see a large green sal tree, straight and young and grown unskewed. He\u2019d cut it down at the base, cut off the top, and completely strip off the branches and foliage. Then he\u2019d trim it with axes and machetes. Then he\u2019d take a chisel and completely clear it out inside. Then he\u2019d plane it, sand it with a rock, and make it into a boat. Finally he\u2019d fix it with oars and rudder, and launch out on the river. What do you think, S\u0101\u1e37ha? Is that man capable of crossing the river?\u201d \u201cYes, sir. Why is that? Because that green sal tree is well worked on the outside, cleared out on the inside, made into a boat, and fixed with oars and rudder. I\u2019d expect that boat to not sink, and the man to safely make it to the far shore.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, S\u0101\u1e37ha, those ascetics and brahmins who don\u2019t teach fervent mortification in disgust of sin\u2014not regarding it as essential or sticking to it\u2014are capable of crossing the flood. And those ascetics and brahmins whose behavior by way of body, speech, and mind is pure are also capable of knowing and seeing, of supreme awakening. Suppose there was a warrior who knew lots of fancy archery tricks. It is only with these three factors that he becomes worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship. What three? He\u2019s a long-distance shooter, a marksman, and one who shatters large objects. Just as a warrior is a long-distance shooter, a noble disciple has right immersion. A noble disciple with right immersion truly sees any kind of form at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 They truly see any kind of feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> consciousness\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 Just as a warrior is a marksman, a noble disciple has right view. A noble disciple with right view truly understands: \u2018This is suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the origin of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the cessation of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering\u2019. Just as a warrior shatters large objects, a noble disciple has right freedom. A noble disciple with right freedom shatters the great mass of ignorance.\u201d","title":"With S\u0101\u1e37ha","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":825}