- Guadalupe River (Texas): The river, and the larger area around it known as Texas Hill Country, is prone to flash flooding. Its nickname is Flash Flood Alley.
Sutra: Not Being Swept Away
Kappa-manava-puccha: Kappa's Question, based on Ven. Thanissaro's translation
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| Birds eye view of a safe refuge from the flood of stormy ocean, a tropical island (craiyon.com) |
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[Kappa asked the Buddha this question:]
For one stranded in the middle of the water,
in the flood of great danger called rebirth,
overwhelmed by aging and death,
Tell me, dear sir,
and show me the safe island
so that this may not happen again.
[The Buddha replied:]
For one stranded in the middle of the water
in the flood of great danger called rebirth,
overwhelmed by aging [rebirth] and death,
I will tell you the island, Kappa.
Having nothing,
clinging to no thing:
That is the island,
there is no other.
That refuge is nirvana, I declare,
the complete elimination of [rebirth] aging and death.
Those knowing this, mindful,
fully awakened
present here and now,
no longer bound as Mara's* slaves,
no longer come under Mara's influence.
- *Mara is the personification of Death, a literal being, an Asura (Titan) and high-born deva (being of light like Lucifer) in a Sensual Sphere heaven, often used figuratively to refer to four types of Mara.
SUTRA: Everything is swept away
Ratthapala Sutta (MN 82, PTS: M ii 54)
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| Maitreya Buddha arises as a Central Asian king |
"What are the four? There is loss as a result of aging, loss as a result of sickness, loss of wealth, and loss of relatives...
"However, Ven. Ratthapala has suffered none of these. So what did he know, see, or hear that he was motivated to go forth from the home life into the left-home life?"
"Great king, there are four summaries of the Dhamma (the Teaching) stated by the Blessed One [the Buddha] who directly knows and sees, the Worthy One, who rightly awakened. Having known and seen and heard them, I set forth from the home life into the left-home life. What are these four?
- "'The world [8] is swept away and does not endure' -- this is the first summary of the Dhamma...
- "'The world is without shelter (permanent refuge) and without protector' -- this is the second...
- "'The world is [utterly impersonal] without owner. One has to pass on, leaving everything behind' -- this is the third...
- "'The world is insufficient, insatiable, a slave to craving' -- this is the fourth...
"These, great king, are the four summaries of the Dhamma stated by the Blessed One who directly knows and sees, the Worthy One, rightly awakened. Having known and seen and heard them, I set forth from the home life into the left-home life."
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| Sometimes the flash flood comes in the night. |
"Let me ask what you think, great king. When you were 20 or 25 years old — an expert elephant rider, expert horseman, expert charioteer, expert archer, expert swordsman — were you strong in arm and thigh, fit and seasoned for warfare?"
"Yes, Ven. Ratthapala... I was strong... It was as if I had supernormal power. I do not see anyone who was my equal in strength."
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| Guadalupe River (Texas) Wikipedia map |
"Not at all, Ven. Ratthapala. Now I am a feeble old man, aged, advanced in years, having come to the last stage of life, 80 years old. Thinking, 'I will place my foot here,' I place it somewhere else."
"Referring to this, great king, the Blessed One who knows and sees, the Worthy One rightly awakened, said, 'The world is swept away and does not endure.'
"Having known and seen and heard this, I set forth from the home life into the left-home life."
"It is amazing, Ven. Ratthapala, it is astounding how well that has been said by the Blessed One who knows and sees, the Worthy One rightly awakened! 'The world is swept away and does not endure.' For the world really is swept away, Ven. Ratthapala, and does not endure. More
Dvejana Sutta: Two People (1)
Ven. Thanissaro (trans) edited by Dhr. Seven for Wisdom Quarterly
On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near the City of Savatthi in Jeta's Grove inside the multimillionaire's monastery.
Two Brahmins — feeble old men, aged, far advanced in years, having come to the last stage of life, 120 years old — went to the Blessed One, exchanged courteous greetings, sat respectfully to one side, and said:
"Master Gotama, we are Brahmins — feeble old men, aged, far advanced in years, having come to the last stage of life, 120 years old. We have done no wholesome deeds [accrued no merit, no profitable karma], no skillful deeds, no deeds that allay our fears. Teach us, Master Gotama, instruct us, Master Gotama, for our benefit and lasting happiness."
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| We're old kings. Right, Dad? - Shu up, Boy. |
"With the world [flooded and] swept away by aging, illness, and death, any restraint of body, speech, and mind practiced here will be one's shelter, safety, island, and refuge after death in the world beyond."
It is swept along, this life, with its next-to-nothing span.
For one swept on by aging, no shelters exist.
Keeping in sight this danger in death, do meritorious deeds that ripen in bliss.
Whoever here is restrained in body, speech, and mind, who makes merit while alive, that will be for future bliss after passing from here.
- CBS 5 News San Antonio; Jonathan Petramala; Ven. Thanissaro (accesstoinsight.org); Pfc. Sandoval, Dhr. Seven (sutra translation), Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
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