Superphysics
Udakarahaka Suttas: A Pool of Water
2 minutes • 377 words
Table of contents
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“Suppose there were a pool of water — sullied, turbid, and muddy. A man with good eyesight standing there on the bank would not see shells, gravel, and pebbles, or shoals of fish swimming about and resting. Why is that? Because of the sullied nature of the water. In the same way, that a monk with a sullied mind would know his own benefit, the benefit of others, the benefit of both; that he would realize a superior human state, a truly noble distinction of knowledge & vision: Such a thing is impossible. Why is that? Because of the sullied nature of his mind.”
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“Suppose there were a pool of water — clear, limpid, and unsullied. A man with good eyesight standing there on the bank would see shells, gravel, & pebbles, and also shoals of fish swimming about and resting. Why is that? Because of the unsullied nature of the water. In the same way, that a monk with an unsullied mind would know his own benefit, the benefit of others, the benefit of both; that he would realize a superior human state, a truly noble distinction of knowledge & vision: Such a thing is possible. Why is that? Because of the unsullied nature of his mind.”
Mudu Sutta: Soft
“Just as, of all trees, the balsam is foremost in terms of softness and pliancy, in the same way I don’t envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, is as soft & pliant as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, is soft & pliant.”
Lahu-parivatta Sutta: Quick to Reverse Itself
“I don’t envision a single thing that is as quick to reverse itself as the mind — so much so that there is no feasible simile for how quick to reverse itself it is.”
Pabhassara Sutta: Luminous
The mind is luminous.[1]
It is defiled by incoming defilements.
The uninstructed run-of-the-mill person does not discern that as it actually is present. This is why, for the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person, there is no development of the mind.
It is freed from incoming defilements
The well-instructed disciple of the noble ones discerns that as it actually is present. This is why, for the well-instructed disciple of the noble ones, there is development of the mind.
