Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly, Ven. Thanissaro (trans.), WatMetta.org, Phena Sutta: Foam (SN 22.95) SUMMER SOLSTICE
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| If samsara is a "sea," a deluge, a flood, then what is the foam in the surf? (loltops.org) |
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| Saltwater Buddha (jaimalyogis.com) |
On one occasion the Blessed One was staying among the Ayojjhans on the banks of the Ganges river.
There he addressed the monastics:
"Meditators, suppose a large glob of foam were floating down this Ganges river, and a person with good eyesight were to see it, observe it, and examine it. To one seeing, observing, closely examining it, it would appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be in a glob of foam?
"In the same way, a meditator sees, observes, and closely examines any FORM of the past, future, or present, internal (inside oneself) or external, gross or subtle, mundane or sublime, far or near. To one seeing, observing, and closely examining it, it would appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be in form?
"Meditators, suppose a large glob of foam were floating down this Ganges river, and a person with good eyesight were to see it, observe it, and examine it. To one seeing, observing, closely examining it, it would appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be in a glob of foam?
"In the same way, a meditator sees, observes, and closely examines any FORM of the past, future, or present, internal (inside oneself) or external, gross or subtle, mundane or sublime, far or near. To one seeing, observing, and closely examining it, it would appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be in form?
"Now suppose that in the autumn -- when it is
raining in large, heavy drops -- a water bubble were to appear and
disappear on the water, and a person with good eyesight were to see,
observe, and closely examine it. To one seeing,
observing, and closely examining it, it would appear empty,
void, without substance. For what substance would there be in a water
bubble?
"In the same way, a meditator sees, observes, and closely
examines any FEELING of the past, future, or present, internal or or external, gross or subtle, mundane or sublime, far or near.
To one seeing, observing, and closely examining it, it
would appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be
in feeling?
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| Los Angeles Yoga (layoga.com) |
"Now suppose that in the last month of the hot
season (the summer) a mirage were shimmering, and a person with good eyesight were to
see, observe, and closely examine it. To one seeing,
observing, and closely examining it, it would appear empty,
void, without substance. For what substance would there be in a mirage?
"In the same way, a meditator sees, observes, and closely examines any
PERCEPTION of the past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, mundane or sublime, far or near.
To one seeing, observing, and closely examining it, it
would appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be in
perception?
"Now suppose that a person desiring heartwood, on a quest for heartwood, seeking heartwood, were to go into a forest carrying
a sharp ax. There one might see a large banana tree -- straight, young, of
enormous height. One would cut it at the root and chop off the top. Having done so one would peel
away the outer skin. And doing so one would not find even
sapwood, to say nothing of heartwood.
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| Summer sun (Michelle Novak/almanac.com) |
"Then a person with good eyesight
would see, observe, and closely examine it. To one
seeing, observing, and closely examining it, it would
appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be
in a banana tree?
"In the same way a meditator sees, observes, and closely examines any FORMATIONS of the past, future, or
present, internal or external, gross or subtle, mundane or sublime, far or near.
To one seeing, observing, and closely examining it, it
would appear empty, void, without substance. For
what substance would there be in formations?
"Now suppose a magician or magician's
apprentice were to display a magic trick at an intersection, and a person with good eyesight were to see, observe, and closely
examine it. To one seeing, observing, and closely
examining it, it would appear empty, void, without substance. For what
substance would there be in a magic trick?
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| (OCCUPY.COM) |
"In the same way a meditator sees,
observes, and closely examines any CONSCIOUSNESS of the past,
future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, mundane or sublime, far or near.
To one seeing, observing, and closely examining it, it
would appear empty, void, without substance. For what substance would there be in consciousness?
"Seeing things thus, the well-instructed disciple of the noble ones grows
disenchanted with form, disenchanted with feeling, disenchanted with
perception, disenchanted with formations, disenchanted with
consciousness.
"And disenchanted, one grows dispassionate. Through dispassion,
one is released. With release there arises the knowledge, 'Released.' One
discerns that 'Birth is ended, the supreme life fulfilled, the task done.
There is nothing further for this world.'"
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| Sun salutation on the sea (shareitfitness) |
This is what the Blessed One said, and having said it, the Wayfarer (Well-Gone One), the Teacher, further uttered these verses:
Form is like a glob of foam;
feeling, a bubble;
perception, a mirage;
formations are like a banana tree;
consciousness, a magic trick --
This was taught
by the Kinsman of the Sun.
However one observes them,
Closely examines them,
They are empty,
Void
to whoever sees them (penetrates them with insight).
"Beginning with the body
as taught by the Wise One:
When abandoned by three things --
Life, warmth, and consciousness --
Form is rejected, cast aside.
When bereft of these
it lies thrown away,
Senseless,
food for others.
That is how it goes:
It's a magic trick,
an idiot's babbling.
It's said to be
a murderer (See Yamaka Sutra, SN22).
No substance here
is found.
So a meditator, persistence aroused,
should view
The aggregates
by day and night,
mindful,
alert;
One discards all fetters, all bonds;
One makes oneself
one's own guide;
One lives as if
one's head (hat, headdress, turban) were on fire --
In hopes of that state
where there is no falling away.
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