Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
Suppose a bowl of water was mixed with lac, turmeric or blue or yellow dye, and suppose a man with his vision were to look at his reflection in that water. He would neither know nor see it as it really is. In the same way, when one lives with the mind possessed with and overwhelmed by sensual desire and knows no refuge from it, at such times one neither knows nor sees his own welfare or the welfare of others. Chants learned by heart long ago are forgotten, to say nothing of those learned recently.
Suppose a bowl of water is heated on a fire, boiling and bubbling over, and suppose a man with vision were to look at his reflection in that water. He would neither know nor see it as it really is. In the same way, when one lives with the mind possessed with and overwhelmed by ill will and knows no refuge from it, at such times one neither knows nor sees his own welfare or the welfare of others. Chants learned by heart long ago are forgotten, to say nothing of those learned recently.
Now, suppose a bowl of water was overgrown with mossy water plants, and suppose a man with vision were to look at his reflection in the water. He would neither know nor see it as it really is. In the same way, when one lives with the mind possessed with and overwhelmed by sloth and laziness and knows no refuge from it, at such times one either knows or sees his own welfare or the welfare of others. Chants learned by heart long ago are forgotten, to say nothing of those learned recently.
Again, suppose a bowl of water was whipped up by the wind, stirred up, whirled around and ripping with waves, and suppose a man with vision were to look at his reflection in the water. He would neither know nor see it as it really is. In the same way, when the mind is possessed with and overwhelmed by restlessness and worry and one knows no refuse from it, and such times one neither knows nor sees his own welfare or the welfare of others. Chants learned by heart long ago are forgotten, to say nothing of those learned recently.
Once again, suppose a bowl of water was stirred up, turbid, muddy and set in the dark, and suppose a man with vision were to look at his reflection in the water. He would neither know nor see it as it really is. In the same way, when the mind is possessed with and overwhelmed by doubt and one knows no refuge from it, at such times one neither knows nor sees his own welfare or the welfare of others. Chants learned by heart long ago are forgotten, to day nothing of those learned recently.
