{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn35.246/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn35.246","id":"suttacentral_sn35.246","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn35.246/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"\u201cMendicants, any monk or nun who has desire or greed or hate or delusion or aversion come up for sights known by the eye should shield their mind from them: \u2018This path is dangerous and perilous, thorny and tangled; it\u2019s a wrong turn, a bad path, in poor condition. This path is frequented by untrue persons, not by true persons. It\u2019s not worthy of you.\u2019 The mind should be shielded from this when it comes to sights known by the eye. Any monk or nun who has desire or greed or hate or delusion or repulsion come up for sounds \u2026 smells \u2026 tastes \u2026 touches \u2026 ideas known by the mind should shield their mind against them: \u2018This path is dangerous and perilous, thorny and tangled; it\u2019s a wrong turn, a bad path, a sorry state. This path is frequented by untrue persons, not by true persons. It\u2019s not worthy of you.\u2019 The mind should be shielded from this when it comes to ideas known by the mind. Suppose the crops have ripened, but the caretaker is negligent. If an ox fond of crops invades the crops they\u2019d indulge themselves as much as they like. In the same way, when an unlearned ordinary person doesn\u2019t exercise restraint when it comes to the six fields of contact, they indulge themselves in the five kinds of sensual stimulation as much as they like. Suppose the crops have ripened, and the caretaker is diligent. If an ox fond of crops invades the crops the caretaker would grab them firmly by the muzzle. Then they\u2019d grab them above the hump and hold them fast there. Then they\u2019d give them a good thrashing before driving them away. For a second time, and even a third time, the same thing might happen. As a result, no matter how often they might stand or sit in a village or wilderness, that ox fond of crops would never invade that crop again, remembering the beating they got earlier. In the same way, when a mendicant\u2019s mind is straightened up, well straightened up when it comes to the six fields of contact, becomes stilled internally; it settles, unifies, and becomes immersed in sam\u0101dhi. Suppose a king or their chief minister had never heard the sound of an arched harp. When he first hears the sound, he\u2019d say, \u2018Oh my, what is making this sound, so arousing, sensuous, intoxicating, infatuating, and captivating?\u2019 They\u2019d say to him, \u2018That, sir, is an arched harp.\u2019 He\u2019d say, \u2018Go, worthy sir, fetch me that arched harp.\u2019 So they\u2019d fetch it and say, \u2018This, sir, is that arched harp.\u2019 He\u2019d say, \u2018I\u2019ve had enough of that arched harp! Just fetch me the sound.\u2019 They\u2019d say, \u2018Sir, this arched harp is made of many components assembled together, which make a sound when they\u2019re played. That is, it depends on the soundbox, the leather resonator, the neck, the tuning cords, the strings, the plectrum, and a person to play it properly. That\u2019s how an arched harp is made of many components assembled together, which make a sound when they\u2019re played.\u2019 But he\u2019d split that harp into ten pieces or a hundred pieces, then splinter it up. He\u2019d burn the splinters with fire, and reduce them to ashes. Then he\u2019d whisk away the ashes in a strong wind, or glide them down a swift stream. Then he\u2019d say, \u2018It seems that there\u2019s nothing to this thing called an arched harp or whatever\u2019s called an arched harp! But people waste their time with it, negligent and heedless!\u2019 In the same way, a mendicant searches for form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness anywhere they might be reborn. As they search in this way, their ideas of \u2018I\u2019 or \u2018mine\u2019 or \u2018I am\u2019 are no more.\u201d","title":"The Simile of the Harp","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":626}