Simile of the Mountains
Pabbatopama Sutra (SN 3.25) edited by Dhr. Seven based on Ven. Thanissaro (trans.) |
| Climbing the tallest mountain in L.A., Mt. Baldy, aka Mt. San Antonio (hikingguy.com) |
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| Hollow Earth: Mt. Kailash |
Thus have I heard. The Buddha was once residing in Savatthi when King Pasenadi of Kosala approached, bowed, and sat respectfully to one side. The Blessed One asked him, "Well now, great king, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?"
"Just now, venerable sir, I was engaged in the royal affairs of an anointed noble-warrior king intoxicated with sovereignty, obsessed with lust for sensual pleasures, with control of territory, as I rule having conquered a great sphere on earth."
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| Mountains in the four directions |
- Then a second person were to come from the west...
- Then a third person were to come from the north...
- Then a fourth person were to come from the south saying [the same thing].
"Great king, if such terrible peril were to arise with wanton destruction of human life — human rebirth being so hard to obtain — what should be done?"
"Venerable sir, if such terrible peril were to arise with wanton destruction of human life — human rebirth being so hard to obtain — what else could be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?"
Warning
"Venerable sir, as aging-and-death are rolling this way, what else should be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?
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| Jain symbolic depiction of samsara |
"Venerable sir, there are elephant battles [fought by] anointed noble-warrior kings intoxicated with sovereignty, obsessed with lust for sensual pleasures, with control of territory, as I rule having conquered a great sphere on earth. But there's no use for elephant battles, no scope for them, when aging-and-death are rolling this way.
- "There are cavalry battles...
- chariot battles...
- infantry battles...
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| The cavalry faces the infantry of "enemies." |
"In this royal court there are counselors who, when enemies arrive, are capable of dividing them just by their wits. But there is no use for such battles of wit, no scope for them, when aging-and-death are rolling this way.
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| Gold bullion, thesovereign wealth of humans |
"In this royal court there is abundant gold stored in vaults, and with such wealth we are capable of buying off enemies when they come. But there is no use for battles of wealth, no scope for them, when aging-and-death are rolling this way.
"Venerable sir, as aging-and-death are rolling this way, what else should be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?"
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| Age and death are approaching! |
"So it is, great king, so it is! As aging-and-death are rolling this way, what else should be done but conduct in line with Dharma, good karma, skillful deeds, meritorious actions?"
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said it, the Tathagatha [the Wayfarer, the Well Gone One, the Welcome One, the One Arrived at Suchness], the Teacher, further said:
Massive towers,
Mountains pressing against the sky,
Are moving in from all sides,
Crushing in from the four directions.
Aging-and-death
Are rolling this way, crushing everyone:
Noble-warriors, Brahmins, merchants,
Workers, outcastes, scavengers,
Sparing no one and nothing.
They demolish everything.
Here elephants can hold no ground,
Nor chariots nor infantry,
Nor a battle of wits
Nor can wealth win out.
So a wise person,
Seeing one's own good,
Steadfast secures confidence
In the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
One who practices Dharma
In thought, word, and deed
Is praised even here on earth
And gone beyond rejoices after death.
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