{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn52.8/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn52.8","id":"suttacentral_sn52.8","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn52.8/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time Venerable Anuruddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in the <i lang='pi' translate='no'>sala\u1e37a</i> tree hut. There Venerable Anuruddha addressed the mendicants: \u201cReverends, suppose that, although the Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines to the east, a large crowd were to come along with a spade and basket, saying: \u2018We\u2019ll make this Ganges River slant, slope, and incline to the west!\u2019 What do you think, reverends? Would they succeed?\u201d \u201cNo, reverend. Why is that? The Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines to the east. It\u2019s not easy to make it slant, slope, and incline to the west. That large crowd will eventually get weary and frustrated.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, while a mendicant develops and cultivates the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, if rulers or their chief ministers, friends or colleagues, relatives or family should invite them to accept wealth, saying: \u2018Please, my man, why let these ocher robes torment you? Why follow the practice of shaving your head and carrying an alms bowl? Come, return to a lesser life, enjoy wealth, and make merit!\u2019 It is quite impossible for a mendicant who is developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation to resign the training and return to a lesser life. Why is that? Because for a long time that mendicant\u2019s mind has slanted, sloped, and inclined to seclusion. So it\u2019s impossible for them to return to a lesser life. And how does a mendicant develop and cultivate the four kinds of mindfulness meditation? It\u2019s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body \u2026 feelings \u2026 mind \u2026 principles\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. That\u2019s how a mendicant develops and cultivates the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.\u201d","title":"The Sala\u1e37a Tree Hut","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":288}