British Bhantes (SuttaFriends.org), Dutiya Aghatapativinaya Sutra (AN 5.162); adapted comic humor by ZenKat, Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly
How can we remove the defiling impurity of hate from our hearts/minds?
In this discourse a fully enlightened chief male disciple of the Buddha teaches us how by using five similes:
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| Ven. Sāriputta (palikanon.com) |
“Venerable sir,” they replied.
Then Ven. Sāriputta taught: “Meditators can use five methods to completely rid themselves of hate when it arises toward anyone. What are the five?
“In the case of a person whose bodily behavior is annoying (or impure, imperfect, bad) but whose verbal behavior is good (pure), [by repeatedly reflecting on the latter,] rid yourself of hate for that kind of person.
“In the case of a person whose verbal behavior is annoying but whose bodily behavior is good...
“In the case of a person whose bodily and verbal behavior are annoying but whose mental behavior (who gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time) is good...
“'In the case of a person whose bodily, verbal, and mental behaviors are annoying, get rid of hate for that kind of person [by reflecting on his/her dismal future should that person carry on in this way].
“In the case of a person whose bodily, verbal, and mental behaviors are pure (who gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time), it is easy to rid oneself of hate for that kind of person [by choosing any one of these behaviors and repeatedly reflecting on it].
Discarded rag
“How would one rid oneself of hate for a person whose bodily behavior is annoying but whose verbal behavior is good? Suppose a wanderer wearing rag robes sees cloth by the side of the road. That person would hold it down with the left foot, spread it out with the right foot, tear out what was good, and carry it away.
“In the same way, at that time ignore that person’s annoying bodily behavior and focus on the good verbal behavior. That is how one rids oneself of hate for that person.
Lotus pond
“How would one rid oneself of hate for a person whose verbal behavior is annoying but whose bodily behavior is good? Suppose there were a lotus pond covered with algae and water plants. Then along comes a person suffering in the terrible heat, tired, thirsty, and parched. That person would enter the pond, sweep away the algae and water plants, drink with cupped hands, and slaked go on one’s way.
“In the same way, at that time ignore that person’s annoying verbal behavior and focus on the good bodily behavior. That is how one rids oneself of hate for such a person.
Cow’s hoofprint
“How would one rid oneself of hate for a person whose bodily and verbal behavior are annoying but whose mental behavior (insofar as that person gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time) is good?
“Suppose there were a little water in a cow’s hoofprint. Then along comes a person suffering in the terrible heat, tired, thirsty, and parched. That person might think, ‘This little bit of water is in a cow’s hoofprint. If I drink it with cupped hands or a bowl, I’ll stir it up and disturb it, making it so I can’t drink it. So why don’t I get down on hands and knees and drink it like a cow then be on my way?’ So that person does so.
“In the same way, at that time ignore that person’s annoying bodily and verbal behavior and focus on that person’s good mental behavior (experiencing clarity and confidence of mind from time to time). That is how one rids oneself of hate for such a person.
Sick traveler
“How would one rid oneself of hate for a person whose bodily, verbal, and mental behavior are annoying (who doesn’t get any clarity and confidence of mind from time to time)?
“Suppose a person were sick and traveling along a road, suffering, grievously ill with a long way to any village, ahead or behind. And that person didn’t have proper food or medicine, or a skilled person to offer care, or anyone to guide that person to a neighborhood or village. And suppose another person traveling along the road were to see that sick person and think of nothing but compassion, kindness, and sympathy:
“‘Oh, may this person get proper food and medicine, or find a skilled person to offer care, or some guide to a neighborhood or village! Why is that? So that such a person does not face misfortune here [on the perilous road].’
“In the same way, at that time ignore that a person’s annoying verbal and bodily and mental behavior (that does not experience clarity or confidence from time to time), and think of that person with nothing but compassion, kindness, and sympathy:
“‘Oh, may this person give up annoying [impure, bad, imperfect] behavior by way of body, speech, and mind and develop good bodily, verbal, and mental behavior! Why is that? So that, after passing away, one is not reborn in a place of misery, misfortune, even in a hell.’ That is how one rids oneself of hate for such a person.
Lotus pond
“How would one rid oneself of hate for a person whose behavior by way of body and speech and mind (who gets clarity and confidence from time to time) is good?
“Suppose there were a lotus pond with clean, clear, sweet, cool water with smooth banks, delightful, and shaded by many trees. Then along comes a person suffering in the terrible heat, tired, thirsty, and parched.
“That person would enter the lotus pond to bathe and drink. And after coming out that person would sit or lie down in the shade of the trees.
“In the same way, at that time focus on that person’s good [pure, pleasing] behavior by way of body and speech and mind (that one experiences clarity and confidence from time to time). That’s how one rids oneself of hate for such a person.
“Relying on a person who is impressive all around, the mind becomes confident.
“Venerables, a meditator may use these five methods to completely rid oneself of hate when it arises toward anyone.”
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