The Samaññaphala Sutta (The Fruit of Contemplative/
homeless Life), from Digha Nikāya (The long discourses of the Buddha), the
story goes as follows
Once King Ajātasattu of Magadha asks the Buddha, “Can you
lord, point out the benefit of a contemplative life here and now.”
The Buddha states
the benefits of a contemplative life here and now with the elaborate sutta (salient
features and benefits of leading a contemplative life are given below)
- A man having restrained in body, speech, and
thought in solitude earns respect than even a king or any other person of high
stature.
- This man is content with basic clothes (robes
for monk) to cover his body, food for nutrition (not to entertain our taste
buds), lodging, and medicines. A monk is content with what he has. Just as the
bird with wings flies hither and thither, burdened by nothing but its wings, so
he is satisfied.
- Preaches the dhamma (law of nature). Follows
the nature, do not abuse nature. Hence nature also takes care of him.
- A person who is perfected in morality in virtue,
sees no danger from any side, He experiences a blameless bliss that comes from
maintaining this Ariyan morality.
- The person is mindful and aware and hence is
better able to understand the way of life and can deal with chaos.
- A person who guards his sense doors (senses
here, eyes – vision, ears- sound, nose – smell, tongue – taste, and body –
touch), is not in control of the sense doors but controls the sense doors.
- The person takes no loan taken to satisfy his
wants. And hence can live a life in peace.
- Insight knowledge – That we live in ignorance
(avijjā) and that everything is subject to change. He
understands this not at just an intellectual level but also with experience.
This sutta plays an important role especially in today’s
turbulent times. If we now understand the difference between need and want, we can
reap immense benefits.
We live in a world of materialism, brands, luxury,
consumerism, spending habits, and status. Whatever is happening in the world
today, has given us a fair chance to revisit our spending habits and patterns, and
seriously think of our needs and wants. What may be a need for one maybe a want
for others and vice versa. To know if a particular thing is a need or a want,
one needs to be ‘brutally honest’.
No comments:
Post a Comment