{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn23/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn23","id":"suttacentral_mn23","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn23/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Now at that time Venerable Kassapa the Prince was staying in the Dark Forest. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Dark Forest, went up to Kassapa the Prince, stood to one side, and said: \u201cMonk, monk! This termite mound fumes by night and flames by day. The brahmin said, \u2018Dig, clever one, having picked up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a sticking point: \u2018A sticking point, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Throw out the sticking point! Dig, clever one, having picked up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a bullfrog: \u2018A bullfrog, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Throw out the bullfrog! Dig, clever one, having picked up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a forked path: \u2018A forked path, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Throw out the forked path! Dig, clever one, having picked up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a filter of ash: \u2018A filter of ash, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Throw out the filter of ash! Dig, clever one, having picked up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a tortoise: \u2018A tortoise, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Throw out the tortoise! Dig, clever one, having taken up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a butcher\u2019s knife and chopping board: \u2018A butcher\u2019s knife and chopping board, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Throw out the butcher\u2019s knife and chopping board! Dig, clever one, having picked up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a scrap of meat: \u2018A scrap of meat, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Throw out the scrap of meat! Dig, clever one, having picked up the sword!\u2019 Picking up the sword and digging, the clever one saw a king cobra: \u2018A king cobra, sir!\u2019 The brahmin said, \u2018Leave the king cobra! Do not disturb the cobra! Worship the cobra!\u2019 Mendicant, go to the Buddha and ask him about this riddle. You should remember it in line with his answer. I don\u2019t see anyone in this world\u2014with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans\u2014who could provide a satisfying answer to this riddle except the Realized One or his disciple or someone who has heard it from them.\u201d That is what that deity said before vanishing right there. Then, when the night had passed, Kassapa the Prince went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then he asked: \u201cSir, what is the termite mound? What is the fuming by night and flaming by day? Who is the brahmin, and who the clever one? What are the sword, the digging, the sticking point, the bullfrog, the forked path, the filter of ash, the tortoise, the butcher\u2019s knife and chopping board, and the scrap of meat? And what is the king cobra?\u201d \u201cMendicant, \u2018termite mound\u2019 is a term for this body made up of the four principal states, produced by mother and father, built up from rice and porridge, liable to impermanence, to wearing away and erosion, to breaking up and destruction. Thinking and considering all night about what you did during the day\u2014 this is the fuming at night. The work you apply yourself to during the day by body, speech, and mind after thinking about it all night\u2014 this is the flaming by day. \u2018Brahmin\u2019 is a term for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. \u2018Clever one\u2019 is a term for the trainee mendicant. \u2018Sword\u2019 is a term for noble wisdom. \u2018Digging\u2019 is a term for rousing energy. \u2018Sticking point\u2019 is a term for ignorance. \u2018Throw out the sticking point\u2019 means \u2018give up ignorance, dig, clever one, having picked up the sword.\u2019 \u2018Bullfrog\u2019 is a term for anger and distress. \u2018Throw out the bullfrog\u2019 means \u2018give up anger and distress\u2019 \u2026 \u2018A forked path\u2019 is a term for doubt. \u2018Throw out the forked path\u2019 means \u2018give up doubt\u2019 \u2026 \u2018A filter of ash\u2019 is a term for the five hindrances, that is: the hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. \u2018Throw out the filter of ash\u2019 means \u2018give up the five hindrances\u2019 \u2026 \u2018Tortoise\u2019 is a term for the five grasping aggregates, that is: form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. \u2018Throw out the tortoise\u2019 means \u2018give up the five grasping aggregates\u2019 \u2026 \u2018Butcher\u2019s knife and chopping board\u2019 is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation. Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds known by the ear \u2026 Smells known by the nose \u2026 Tastes known by the tongue \u2026 Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. \u2018Throw out the butcher\u2019s knife and chopping board\u2019 means \u2018give up the five kinds of sensual stimulation\u2019 \u2026 \u2018Scrap of meat\u2019 is a term for greed and relishing. \u2018Throw out the scrap of meat\u2019 means \u2018give up greed and relishing\u2019 \u2026 \u2018King cobra\u2019 is a term for a mendicant who has ended the defilements. This is the meaning of: \u2018Leave the king cobra! Do not disturb the cobra! Worship the cobra!\u2019\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Kassapa the Prince approved what the Buddha said.","title":"The Termite Mound","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":919}