Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
At that time, a certain monk went to his fellow monk and asked: “Friend, how is understanding fully purified?”
“When one sees as it really is the arising and ceasing of the sixfold sense base, then understanding if fully purified.”
But dissatisfied with that answer, that monk went on to another monk and asked the same question, and he was told: “Friend, when one sees as it really is the arising and ceasing of the clinging aggregates, then understanding is fully purified.”
But again that monk was dissatisfied with the answer, so he went to another monk, asked the same question, and was told: “Friend, when one see as it really is the arising and ceasing of the four great elements. Then understanding is fully purified.”
But still dissatisfied with that answer, he went to yet another monk, put his question again, and that monk replied: “Friend, when one sees as it really is that everything that arises also passes away, then understanding is fully purified.”
Still dissatisfied with all these answers, that monk approached the Lord and told him of the question he had asked and the replies he had received. Then he addressed the Lord and said: “Lord, how is understanding fully purified?”
“Suppose”, said the Lord, “a man has never seen a kimsuka tree so he goes to a man who has, and asks: “What is a kimsuka tree like?”
And that man replied: “Well, my man, a kimsuka tree is blackish, something like a charred stump.” So, for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it. Not satisfied with this answer to his question he goes to another man who has seen one, and again puts his question.
And the other man answers: “Well, my man, a kimsuka tree is reddish, something like a lump of meat.” So, for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it. Still not satisfied, he goes to another man who has seen a kimsuka tree and puts his question to him
And the other man answers: “Well, my man, a kimsuka tree has no bark and its seed pods burst something like an acacia tree.” So, for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it. Still dissatisfied, he goes to another man who has seen a kimsuka tree and puts his question yet again.
And that man answers: “Well, a kimsuka tree has thick leaves and gives close shade something like a banyan tree.” So, for the time being, the tree is to him as the other man sees it.
All these good folks have given their explanations according to the purify of their understanding. In the same way the understanding of the monks you have asked has been purified according to their individual inclinations and they have given their explanations accordingly.”
