{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn35.241/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn35.241","id":"suttacentral_sn35.241","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn35.241/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosamb\u012b on the bank of the Ganges River. Seeing a large tree trunk being carried along by the current, he addressed the mendicants, \u201cMendicants, do you see that large tree trunk being carried along by the current of the Ganges River?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cMendicants, assume that that tree trunk doesn\u2019t drift toward the near shore or the far shore, or sink in the middle, or get stranded on high ground. And assume that it doesn\u2019t get taken by humans or non-humans or caught up in a whirlpool, and that it doesn\u2019t rot away. In that case, that tree trunk will slant, slope, and incline toward the ocean. Why is that? Because the current of the Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines toward the ocean. In the same way, assume that you don\u2019t drift toward the near shore or the far shore, or sink in the middle, or get stranded on high ground. And assume that you don\u2019t get taken by humans or non-humans or caught up in a whirlpool, and that you don\u2019t rot away. In that case, you will slant, slope, and incline toward extinguishment. Why is that? Because right view slants, slopes, and inclines toward extinguishment.\u201d When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha: \u201cBut sir, what\u2019s the near shore and what\u2019s the far shore? What\u2019s sinking in the middle? What\u2019s getting stranded on high ground? What\u2019s getting taken by humans or non-humans? What\u2019s getting caught up in a whirlpool? And what\u2019s rotting away?\u201d \u201c\u2018The near shore\u2019, mendicant, is a term for the six interior sense fields. \u2018The far shore\u2019 is a term for the six exterior sense fields. \u2018Sinking in the middle\u2019 is a term for greed and relishing. \u2018Stranded on high ground\u2019 is a term for the conceit \u2018I am\u2019. And what\u2019s getting taken by humans? It\u2019s when someone mixes closely with laypeople, sharing their joys and sorrows\u2014happy when they\u2019re happy and sad when they\u2019re sad\u2014and getting themselves involved in their business. That\u2019s called getting taken by humans. And what\u2019s getting taken by non-humans? It\u2019s when someone leads the spiritual life wishing to be reborn in one of the orders of gods: \u2018By this precept or observance or fervent austerity or spiritual practice, may I become one of the gods!\u2019 That\u2019s called getting taken by non-humans. \u2018Caught up in a whirlpool\u2019 is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation. And what\u2019s rotting away? It\u2019s when some person is unethical, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner\u2014though claiming to be one\u2014rotten inside, festering, and depraved. This is called \u2018rotting away\u2019.\u201d Now at that time Nanda the cowherd was sitting not far from the Buddha. Then he said to the Buddha: \u201cI won\u2019t drift toward the near shore or the far shore, or sink in the middle, or get stranded on high ground. And I won\u2019t get taken by humans or non-humans or caught up in a whirlpool, and I won\u2019t rot away. Sir, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence?\u201d \u201cWell then, Nanda, return the cows to their owners.\u201d \u201cSir, the cows will go back by themselves, since they love their calves.\u201d \u201cStill, Nanda, you should return them to their owners.\u201d Then Nanda, after returning the cows to their owners, went up to the Buddha and said to him, \u201cSir, I have delivered the cows to their owners. May I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence?\u201d And the cowherd Nanda received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence. Not long after his ordination, Venerable Nanda became one of the perfected.","title":"The Simile of the Tree Trunk (1st)","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":615}