| DhA. |
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XX:1 The path to perfection*
A group of bhikkhus after accompanying the Buddha to a village, returned to the
Jetavana monastery. In the evening they talked about the trip, especially the nature
of the land: whether it was level or hilly, clayey or stony, etc. The Buddha came
to them in the midst of their conversation and said to them, 'Bhikkhus the path you
are talking about is external to you; a bhikkhu should only be concerned with the
path of the Noble Ones (ariyas) and strive to do what should be done for the
attainment of perfection that leads to the realisation of Perfect Peace (Nibbana).
XX:2 Meditation on anicca
A group of bhikkhus, after receiving their subject of meditation from the Buddha,
went into the forest to practise meditation, but they made little progress. So, they
returned to the Buddha to ask for another subject of meditation which would suit
them better. On reflection, the Buddha found that these bhikkhus had developed meditation
on impermanence during the time of Kassapa Buddha. So he said, 'Bhikkhus, all component
things* are impermanent.'
XX:3 Meditation on dukkha
The story is the same as the story on anicca. Here the Buddha on reflection found
that another group of bhikkhus had meditated on dukkha. So, he said, 'Bhikkhus,
all component things are oppressive and unsatisfactory, thus all component things
are dukkha.'
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55/170 |
Dhammapada & Commentary |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.106ff. |
despair |