Discourse sn.35.241 - buddha.co.za

The Simile of the Great Log (1)

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī on the bank of the river Ganges. The Blessed One saw a great log being carried along by the current of the river Ganges, and he addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Do you see, bhikkhus, that great log being carried along by the current of the river Ganges?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“If, bhikkhus, that log does not veer towards the near shore, does not veer towards the far shore, does not sink in mid-stream, does not get cast up on high ground, does not get caught by human beings, does not get caught by nonhuman beings, does not get caught in a whirlpool, and does not become inwardly rotten, it will slant, slope, and incline towards the ocean. For what reason? Because the current of the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the ocean.

“So too, bhikkhus, if you do not veer towards the near shore, do not veer towards the far shore, do not sink in mid-stream, do not get cast up on high ground, do not get caught by human beings, do not get caught by nonhuman beings, do not get caught in a whirlpool, and do not become inwardly rotten, you will slant, slope, and incline towards Nibbāna. For what reason? Because right view slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.”

When this was said, a certain bhikkhu asked the Blessed One: “What, venerable sir, is the near shore? What is the far shore? What is sinking in mid-stream? What is getting cast up on high ground? What is getting caught by human beings, what is getting caught by nonhuman beings, what is getting caught in a whirlpool? What is inward rottenness?”

“‘The near shore,’ bhikkhu: this is a designation for the six internal sense bases. ‘The far shore’: this is a designation for the six external sense bases. ‘Sinking in mid-stream’: this is a designation for delight and lust. ‘Getting cast up on high ground’: this is a designation for the conceit ‘I am.’

“And what, bhikkhu, is getting caught by human beings? Here, someone lives in association with laypeople; he rejoices with them and sorrows with them, he is happy when they are happy and sad when they are sad, and he involves himself in their affairs and duties. This is called getting caught by human beings.

“And what, bhikkhu, is getting caught by nonhuman beings? Here, someone lives the holy life with the aspiration to be reborn into a certain order of devas, thinking: ‘By this virtue or vow or austerity or holy life I will become a deva or one among the devas.’ This is called getting caught by nonhuman beings.

“‘Getting caught in a whirlpool’: this, bhikkhu, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure.

“And what, bhikkhu, is inward rottenness? Here someone is immoral, one of evil character, of impure and suspect behaviour, secretive in his acts, no ascetic though claiming to be one, not a celibate though claiming to be one, inwardly rotten, corrupt, depraved. This is called inward rottenness.”

Now on that occasion the cowherd Nanda was standing near the Blessed One. He then said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, I will not veer towards the near shore, I will not veer towards the far shore, I will not sink in mid-stream, I will not get cast up on high ground, I will not get caught by human beings, I will not get caught by nonhuman beings, I will not get caught in a whirlpool, I will not become inwardly rotten. May I receive the going forth under the Blessed One, may I receive the higher ordination?”

“In that case, Nanda, return the cows to their owners.”

“The cows will go back of their own accord, venerable sir, out of attachment to the calves.”

“Return the cows to their owners, Nanda.”

Then the cowherd Nanda returned the cows to their owners, came back to the Blessed One, and said: “The cows have been returned to their owners, venerable sir. May I receive the going forth under the Blessed One, may I receive the higher ordination?”

Then the cowherd Nanda received the going forth under the Blessed One, and he received the higher ordination. And soon, not long after his higher ordination, dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute … the Venerable Nanda became one of the arahants.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

The Simile of the Tree Trunk (1st)

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambi on the bank of the Ganges river.
Seeing a large tree trunk being carried along by the current,
he addressed the mendicants,
“Mendicants, do you see that large tree trunk being carried along by the current of the Ganges river?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Mendicants, assume that that tree trunk doesn’t collide with the near shore or the far shore, or sink in the middle, or get stranded on high ground. And assume that it doesn’t get taken by humans or non-humans or caught up in a whirlpool, and that it doesn’t rot away.
In that case, that tree trunk will slant, slope, and incline towards the ocean.
Why is that?
Because the current of the Ganges river slants, slopes, and inclines towards the ocean.
In the same way, assume that you don’t collide with the near shore or the far shore, or sink in the middle, or get stranded on high ground. And assume that you don’t get taken by humans or non-humans or caught up in a whirlpool, and that you don’t rot away.

In that case, you will slant, slope, and incline towards extinguishment.
Why is that?
Because right view slants, slopes, and inclines towards extinguishment.”
When he said this, one of the mendicants asked the Buddha:
“But sir, what’s the near shore and what’s the far shore? What’s sinking in the middle? What’s getting stranded on high ground? What’s getting taken by humans or non-humans? What’s getting caught up in a whirlpool? And what’s rotting away?”
“‘The near shore’, mendicant, is a term for the six interior sense fields.
‘The far shore’ is a term for the six exterior sense fields.
‘Sinking in the middle’ is a term for greed and relishing.
‘Stranded on high ground’ is a term for the conceit ‘I am’.
And what’s getting taken by humans?
It’s when someone mixes closely with laypeople, sharing their joys and sorrows—happy when they’re happy and sad when they’re sad—and getting involved in their business.
That’s called getting taken by humans.
And what’s getting taken by non-humans?
It’s when someone leads the spiritual life wishing to be reborn in one of the orders of gods: ‘By this precept or observance or mortification or spiritual life, may I become one of the gods!’
That’s called getting taken by non-humans.
‘Caught up in a whirlpool’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
And what’s rotting away?
It’s when some person is unethical, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner—though claiming to be one—rotten inside, corrupt, and depraved.
This is called ‘rotting away’.”
Now at that time Nanda the cowherd was sitting not far from the Buddha.
Then he said to the Buddha:
“I won’t collide with the near shore or the far shore, or sink in the middle, or get stranded on high ground. And I won’t get taken by humans or non-humans or caught up in a whirlpool, and I won’t rot away.
Sir, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence?”
“Well then, Nanda, return the cows to their owners.”
“Sir, the cows will go back by themselves, since they love their calves.”
“Still, Nanda, you should return them to their owners.”
Then Nanda, after returning the cows to their owners, went up to the Buddha and said to him,
“Sir, I have returned the cows to their owners.
May I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence?”
And the cowherd Nanda received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.
Not long after his ordination,
Venerable Nanda became one of the perfected.

sn.35.241 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Simile of the Great Log (1)

The Simile of the Tree Trunk (1st)