In the Seen, ONLY the Seen... | SUTTA EXPLORATION | Malunkyaputta SN 35, #95 | Ajahn Dhammasiha

Ajahn Dhammasiha discusses a text from Saṃyutta Nikāya / Connected Discourses, 35 Saḷāyatanasaṃyutta, Sutta #95 "Mālunkyaputta".

An elderly monk asks the Buddha for personal meditation instruction. He receives the same advice like in the famous 'Instructions to Bāhiya'. He composes some spontaneous poetry, expressing his deep understanding of the very condensed and cryptic teaching of the Buddha.

The Buddha fully agrees with his interpretation, even repeating it literally himself, and thus turning it into 'Buddhavacana' = Word of the Buddha:

Unmindfully he sees a form

that he regards as beautiful.

And with infatuated mind

he relishes the feeling which

he gets from that beloved form.

He latches onto it so strong

that his poor heart is overwhelmed

by lust and loathing before long.

Therefore he builds up suffering -

Nibbāna remains far from him.

He doesn't get obsessed with forms

as he maintains firm mindfulness.

The feeling can't exite his heart

as he's not holding on to it.

When seeing fair and ugly forms,

when he is feeling joy and pain,

Right then his mindfulness kicks in

and he lets go and doesn't cling.

Thus he dismantles suffering -

Nibbāna is right next to him.

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