MN29 — Mahāsāropamasutta - The Longer Simile of the Heartwood
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Blessed One was living at Rajagaha, on Vulture Peak Mountain, shortly after Devadatta had departed.
There, the Blessed One addressed the disciples concerning Devadatta: Here, disciples, a certain young man of family, out of faith, renounces the household life and becomes a disciple. He considers, I am overwhelmed by birth, aging, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair; I am overpowered by suffering, burdened by suffering. Perhaps the complete ending of this whole mass of suffering might be discerned.
Though gone forth in this way, he engenders gain, honor, and praise. Being gratified with this gain, honor, and praise, his intention becomes fulfilled. Because of this, he praises himself and disparages others, thinking, I am one who has gain, honor, and praise; these other disciples are obscure and insignificant.
Due to this gain, honor, and praise, he becomes lost, careless, and falls into negligence. Being negligent, he lives in suffering.
Disciples, just as a man seeking heartwood, searching for heartwood, wandering in search of heartwood, might pass over the heartwood of a standing timber tree that has heartwood, ignoring the heartwood, passing by the sapwood and the bark, he would cut off the branches and foliage and carry them away, thinking that it is heartwood. A discerning man, seeing him, might say, This man did not know heartwood, nor sapwood, nor bark, nor branches and foliage. Similarly, this man, seeking heartwood, searching for heartwood, wandering in search of heartwood, passed over the heartwood of a standing timber tree that has heartwood, ignored the heartwood, passed by the sapwood and the bark, cut off the branches and foliage, and carried them away, thinking that it is heartwood. The result he was meant to achieve through the heartwood, he will not attain.
In the same way, disciples, here a certain young man of family, out of faith, renounces the household life and becomes a disciple. He considers, I am overwhelmed by birth, aging, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair; I am overpowered by suffering, burdened by suffering. Perhaps the complete ending of this whole mass of suffering might be discerned.
Though gone forth in this way, he engenders gain, honor, and praise. Being gratified with this gain, honor, and praise, his intention becomes fulfilled.
He elevates himself through the gain, honor, and praise, and disparages others, thinking, I am one who receives gain, honor, and praise, but these other disciples are unknown and without influence.
He becomes engrossed, negligent, and careless due to the gain, honor, and praise, and thus, he dwells negligently in suffering. This is called, disciples, a disciple who has grasped the branches and leaves of the holy life and thereby comes to a halt.
Here, disciples, a certain son of a family, having gone forth from home into homelessness with faith, thinking, I am overcome by birth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair, I am overcome by suffering, beset with suffering. Perhaps there may be an end to this entire mass of suffering.
Though he has gone forth, he delights in gain, honor, and praise, yet he is not pleased nor complete in resolve due to this gain, honor, and praise. He does not elevate himself through it nor disparage others. He is not engrossed, negligent, nor does he fall into carelessness due to this gain, honor, and praise.
Being heedful, he attains accomplishment in virtue. He is pleased and complete in resolve because of this accomplishment in virtue. He elevates himself and disparages others with this accomplishment in virtue, thinking, I am virtuous and of good character, but these other disciples are unethical and of bad conduct. He becomes engrossed, negligent, and falls into carelessness due to this accomplishment in virtue, and thus dwells negligently in suffering.
Just as, disciples, a person seeking the essence, searching and seeking the essence, passes over the essence, the core, and cuts away the outer bark and takes it, thinking it essence, a sighted person seeing him would say, Surely, this person did not know the essence, not the core, not the bark, not the outer layer, not the branches and leaves. Thus, having passed the essence, the core, the bark, cutting away the outer layer and taking it, thinking it essence, he will not experience the benefit he should have with the essence.
In the same way, disciples, here a certain son of a family, having gone forth from home into homelessness with faith...
I am overwhelmed by birth, aging, and death, by sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair. I am overburdened by suffering and entirely encased in suffering. Perhaps the complete ending of this mass of suffering might be discerned.
Thus having gone forth, he generates gain, honor, and renown. But he is not pleased with that gain, honor, and renown, nor is his intent fulfilled. He does not exalt himself with that gain, honor, and renown, nor disparage others. He does not become intoxicated with that gain, honor, and renown, nor negligent, nor does he fall into negligence. Being heedful, he cultivates the accomplishment of virtue. He is satisfied with that accomplishment of virtue, and his intent is fulfilled. He exalts himself with that accomplishment of virtue and disparages others, saying, I am virtuous, possessing good qualities, but these other disciples are immoral, possessing bad qualities. He becomes intoxicated with that accomplishment of virtue, becomes negligent, and falls into negligence. Being negligent, he dwells in suffering. This, disciples, is called a disciple having grasped at the thorn of the spiritual life; through that, he reaches a standstill.
In this context, disciples, a certain son of a good family, having faith, goes forth from the household life into homelessness, thinking, I am overwhelmed by birth, aging, and death, by sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair. I am overburdened by suffering and entirely encased in suffering. Perhaps the complete ending of this mass of suffering might be discerned.
Thus having gone forth, he generates gain, honor, and renown. But he is not pleased with that gain, honor, and renown, nor is his intent fulfilled. He does not exalt himself with that gain, honor, and renown, nor disparage others. He does not become intoxicated with that gain, honor, and renown, nor negligent, nor does he fall into negligence. Being heedful, he cultivates the accomplishment of virtue. He is satisfied with that accomplishment of virtue, but not with his intent entirely fulfilled. He does not exalt himself with that accomplishment of virtue, nor disparage others. He does not become intoxicated with that accomplishment of virtue, nor negligent, nor does he fall into negligence. Being heedful, he cultivates the accomplishment of concentration. He is satisfied with that accomplishment of concentration, and his intent is fulfilled. He exalts himself with that accomplishment of concentration and disparages others, saying, I am concentrated, with unified mind, but these other disciples are unconcentrated, with scattered thoughts. He becomes intoxicated with that accomplishment of concentration, becomes negligent, and falls into negligence. Being negligent, he dwells in suffering.
Just as, disciples, a man in search of heartwood, desiring heartwood and searching for heartwood, comes upon a large tree with heartwood and, instead of obtaining the heartwood, cuts off the outer bark and departs, considering it to be heartwood. Seeing him, a wise man would say, This seeker does not know heartwood, nor does he know sapwood, bark, shoots, or leaves. Similarly, disciples, a man in search of heartwood, seeking heartwood, comes upon a large tree with heartwood and, bypassing the heartwood, cuts off bark, taking it as heartwood. Whatever is to be accomplished with heartwood, he will not achieve that purpose.
In the same way, disciples, a certain man from a good family, with faith, goes forth from the household life into homelessness, thinking, I am immersed in birth, aging, and death, in sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair; I am overwhelmed by suffering, beset by suffering. Perhaps an end to this entire mass of suffering might be revealed. Having gone forth, he generates gain, honor, and renown, but he is not pleased with them, nor is he fulfilled in purpose. He does not exalt himself, nor does he disparage others because of gain, honor, and renown. He does not become intoxicated, inebriated, or negligent, and being conscientious, he cultivates virtuous practices.
With this perfection of virtue, he is pleased but not fulfilled in purpose. He does not exalt himself nor does he disparage others. He does not become intoxicated, inebriated, or negligent. Being conscientious, he cultivates the excellence of concentration. With this perfection of concentration, he is pleased and fulfilled in purpose. He exalts himself, disparaging others, I am composed, focused; these other disciples are not composed, their minds scattered. In this perfection of concentration, he becomes intoxicated, inebriated, negligent, and, being careless, he dwells in suffering.
This is what is called, disciples, a disciple who has grasped only the bark of the holy life. There he meets his end. But here, disciples, a certain man from a good family, with faith, goes forth from the household life into homelessness...
I am overcome by birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair; I am afflicted by suffering, pressed upon by suffering, perhaps there may be discernment of the ending of this entire mass of suffering. He thus goes forth, renouncing the world, generating gain, honor, and praise. He is not pleased with that gain, honor, and praise, nor is he fulfilled in mind. He does not exalt himself due to that gain, honor, and praise, nor does he belittle others. He does not indulge or become heedless with that gain, honor, and praise, nor does he fall into negligence.
Being diligent, he cultivates virtue. He is pleased with that cultivation of virtue, yet is not fulfilled in mind. He does not exalt himself due to that virtue, nor does he belittle others. He does not indulge or become heedless with that virtue, nor does he fall into negligence. Being diligent, he cultivates concentration. He is pleased with that concentration but not fulfilled in mind. He does not exalt himself due to that concentration, nor does he belittle others. He does not indulge or become heedless with that concentration, nor does he fall into negligence. Being diligent, he cultivates knowing and vision.
He is pleased with that knowing and vision and becomes fulfilled in mind. He exalts himself due to that knowing and vision, belittling others: I dwell having knowing and vision, while these other disciples dwell without knowing, not seeing. Due to that knowing and vision, he indulges, becomes heedless, falls into negligence, and dwells in suffering.
Just as, disciples, a man seeking heartwood, wandering in search of heartwood, cuts through a great tree and takes the pith, thinking it to be heartwood. A man with vision sees him and says, This gentleman did not discern the heartwood, nor the pith, nor the bark, nor the sapwood, nor the branches and leaves. Yet he, seeking heartwood, wandering in search of heartwood, cut through a great tree and took the pith, thinking it to be heartwood. What he should do with heartwood, he will not attain.
In the same way, disciples, here a certain noble son, out of faith, goes forth from home to homelessness.
I am overcome by birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair, afflicted by suffering, beset by suffering. Perhaps the complete ending of this entire mass of suffering can be discerned.
Thus, having gone forth, he does not generate delight in gains, honor, and praise. He is not satisfied or fulfilled by such gains, honor, and praise. He does not exalt himself or disparage others with those gains, honor, and praise. He does not become intoxicated or heedless with them, nor does he fall into negligence. Being diligent, he attains the accomplishment in virtue. Satisfied with that accomplishment in virtue, yet not fulfilled in aspiration, he does not exalt himself or disparage others. He does not become intoxicated or heedless with it, nor does he fall into negligence. Being diligent, he attains the accomplishment in concentration. Satisfied with that accomplishment in concentration, yet not fulfilled in aspiration, he does not exalt himself or disparage others. He does not become intoxicated or heedless with it, nor does he fall into negligence. Being diligent, he attains the accomplishment in knowing and vision. With that knowing and vision, he is satisfied and fulfilled in aspiration. He then exalts himself and disparages others, thinking, I live having realized and seen, but these other disciples live without having realized and seen. With that knowing and vision, he becomes intoxicated, heedless, and falls into negligence, and thus, being negligent, he lives in suffering.
This, disciples, is called a disciple who has grasped the husk of the holy life; because of this, he meets with destruction. But here, disciples, a certain noble son, out of faith, goes forth from the household life into homelessness, thinking, I am overcome by birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair, afflicted by suffering, beset by suffering. Perhaps the complete ending of this entire mass of suffering can be discerned.
Thus, having gone forth, he does not generate delight in gains, honor, and praise, nor is he satisfied or fulfilled by them. He does not exalt himself or disparage others with them, nor does he become intoxicated or heedless, nor does he fall into negligence. Being diligent, he attains the accomplishment in virtue. Satisfied with that accomplishment in virtue, yet not fulfilled in aspiration...
He does not exalt himself for his accomplishment in virtue, nor does he disparage others. Through that accomplishment in virtue, he is neither floating nor careless, nor does he become negligent, but being diligent, he achieves the accomplishment in concentration. Through that accomplishment in concentration, he is satisfied but not completely resolved. With this accomplishment in concentration, he does not exalt himself nor disparage others. Through that concentration, he is neither floating nor careless, nor does he become negligent, but being diligent, he achieves insight and vision. Through that insight and vision, he is satisfied but not completely resolved. With this insight and vision, he does not exalt himself nor disparage others. Through that insight and vision, he is neither floating nor careless, nor does he become negligent, but being diligent, he achieves the immediate liberation.
Disciples, there is no chance or occasion that a disciple would regress from this immediate liberation. Just as a man seeking and exploring for essence, when felling a great standing essence-filled tree, would leave with the essence knowing it as such. Seeing that man, an observant person would say: This man has recognized the essence, the pith, the bark, the sapwood, and the branches and leaves of this great tree, and has chosen the essence knowing its the essence. Whatever purpose one serves by the essence, he will experience that achievement.
In the same way, disciples, when a certain son of a good family, having faith, leaves the household life for the homeless life, thinking: I am overcome by birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair; I am overcome by suffering, beset by suffering. Perhaps the end of this entire mass of suffering might be discerned.
While living thus, he gains worldly success and honor. But he is not pleased with that success and honor, nor does he find complete fulfillment. He does not exalt himself for this worldly success and honor, nor does he disparage others. Through this worldly success and honor, he is neither floating nor careless, nor does he become negligent, but being diligent, he achieves the accomplishment in virtue. Through this accomplishment in virtue, he is satisfied but not completely resolved. With this accomplishment in virtue, he does not exalt himself nor disparage others.
He does not become infatuated, negligent, or heedless due to that accomplishment of virtue; being heedful, he realizes the accomplishment of concentration. With this accomplishment of concentration, he is satisfied, yet not completely resolved in purpose. He does not exalt himself on account of this accomplishment of concentration, nor disparage others. He does not become infatuated, negligent, or heedless due to that accomplishment of concentration; being heedful, he realizes knowing and vision. With this knowing and vision, he is satisfied, yet not completely resolved in purpose. He does not exalt himself with this knowing and vision, nor disparage others. He does not become infatuated, negligent, or heedless due to this knowing and vision; being heedful, he realizes the non-temporal liberation. It is impossible, disciples, there is no chance, that a disciple would regress from that timeless liberation. Therefore, disciples, this path of the holy life is not for the sake of gains, honor, and fame, nor for the accomplishment of virtue, concentration, or insight. But, disciples, it is for the unshakable liberation of the mind, this is the aim of this holy life, this is its essence, this is its consummation. Thus spoke the Blessed One. Pleased, those disciples delighted in the words of the Blessed One. This is the conclusion of the Great Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood, the ninth lesson.