Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
Although this wish may arise in the heart of one who is applying himself to meditation: “May my mind be free from the defilements and without attachments”, yet it will not happen. And why? Because he has not developed the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right efforts, the four psychic powers, the five faculties, the five spiritual powers, the seven factors of enlightenment and the Noble Eightfold Path. It is just as if a batch of hen’s eggs were not fully sat upon, not fully warmed, not fully developed.
Although that hen might wish: “Oh, that my chicks might break the shell with claw and beak and hatch out safely”, it will not happen. And why? Because the eggs are not fully sat upon, not fully warmed, not fully developed.
Although no such wish may arise in one who is developing the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right efforts, the four psychic powers, the five faculties, the five spiritual powers, the seven factors of enlightenment and the Noble Eightfold Path, yet his mind will be freed. And why? Because he has developed these things. It is just as if a batch of hen’s eggs were fully sat upon, fully developed. That hen may not wish: “Oh, that my chicks might hatch”, and yet her eggs will hatch anyway. And why? Bacause they are fully warmed, fully developed.
