Academic Sutta Name Notes PSA Plae Vagga Nikaya PTS Keywords
DhA.

XXIII:2 One must train oneself

On one occasion, some bhikkhus saw an elephant trainer and his elephant on the bank of a river. As the trainer was finding it difficult to control the elephant, one of the bhikkhus, who had been an elephant trainer explained to the other bhikkhus how it could be easily handled. The elephant trainer hearing him, followed the instructions of the bhikkhu, and the elephant was quickly subdued. When the bhikkhus related the incident to the Buddha, he advised the bhikkhu, 'My son, you are still far away from Perfection, you should devote yourself to spiritual development. You cannot gain nibbanic bliss by taming elephants.* Only one who has tamed himself can experience the bliss supreme.'

55/170 Dhammapada & Commentary Khuddhaka J.i.106ff. despair


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Last modified on: Sunday, 13 August 2000.