Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
There are these five debasements of gold, because of which gold is not pliable, workable or glistening, but is brittle and not capable of perfect work manship. What five? Iron, copper, tin, lead and silver. But when gold is free from these five debasements it is pliable, workable, glistering, not brittle and capable of perfect workmanship. Then whatever sort of ornament one wants, a signet ring, ear-ring, necklace or a gold chain, it can be used for that.
In the same way, there are five debasements of the mind because of which the mind is not pliable, workable, or glistering, but is brittle and not rightly composed for the destruction of the defilements. What five? Sense desire, ill-will, slot and laziness, restlessness and worry, and doubt. But when the mind is free from these five debasements it is pliable, workable, glistering, not brittle but rightly composed for the destruction of the defilements. Then one can direct the mind to the realization by psychic knowledge of whatever can be realized by psychic knowledge of whatever can be realized by psychic knowledge and can see it directly, whatever its range might be.
