8.
The Discourse on the Simile of the Kiṃsuka Tree
245.
Then a certain monk approached another monk;
having approached, he said this to that monk -
"In what way, friend, is a monk's vision well purified?"
"Since, friend, a monk understands as it really is the arising and passing away of the six sense bases of contact, to this extent, friend, a monk's vision is well purified."
Then that monk, not pleased with that monk's explanation of the question, approached another monk; having approached, he said this to that monk - "In what way, friend, is a monk's vision well purified?" "Since, friend, a monk understands as it really is the arising and passing away of the five aggregates of clinging, to this extent, friend, a monk's vision is well purified."
Then that monk, not pleased with that monk's explanation of the question, approached another monk; having approached, he said this to that monk - "In what way, friend, is a monk's vision well purified?" "Since, friend, a monk understands as it really is the arising and passing away of the four primary elements, to this extent, friend, a monk's vision is well purified."
Then that monk, not pleased with that monk's explanation of the question, approached another monk; having approached, he said this to that monk - "In what way, friend, is a monk's vision well purified?" "Since, friend, a monk understands as it really is that whatever has the nature of arising, all that has the nature of cessation, to this extent, friend, a monk's vision is well purified."
Then that monk, not pleased with that monk's explanation of the question, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said this to the Blessed One - "Here I, venerable sir, approached a certain monk; having approached, I said this to that monk - 'In what way, friend, is a monk's vision well purified?' When this was said, venerable sir, that monk said this to me - 'Since, friend, a monk understands as it really is the arising and passing away of the six sense bases of contact, to this extent, friend, a monk's vision is well purified.' Then I, venerable sir, not pleased with that monk's explanation of the question, approached another monk; having approached, I said this to that monk - 'In what way, friend, is a monk's vision well purified?' When this was said, venerable sir, that monk said this to me - 'Since, friend, a monk understands the five aggregates of clinging, etc. understands as it really is the arising and passing away of the four primary elements, etc. understands as it really is that whatever has the nature of arising, all that has the nature of cessation, to this extent, friend, a monk's vision is well purified.' Then I, venerable sir, not pleased with that monk's explanation of the question, approached the Blessed One. In what way, venerable sir, is a monk's vision well purified?"
"Just as, monk, a man had never seen a kiṃsuka tree before. He might approach a certain man who had seen a kiṃsuka tree. Having approached, he might speak to that man thus - 'What kind of thing, good man, is a kiṃsuka tree?' He might speak thus - 'The kiṃsuka tree is black, hey man - just as a burnt stump.' Now at that time, monk, the kiṃsuka tree would be such as that man's vision of it. Then, monk, that man, not pleased with that man's explanation of the question, might approach a certain man who had seen a kiṃsuka tree; having approached, he might speak to that man thus - 'What kind of thing, good man, is a kiṃsuka tree?' He might speak thus - 'The kiṃsuka tree is red, hey man - just as a slice of flesh.' Now at that time, monk, the kiṃsuka tree would be such as that man's vision of it. Then, monk, that man, not pleased with that man's explanation of the question, might approach a certain man who had seen a kiṃsuka tree; having approached, he might speak to that man thus - 'What kind of thing, good man, is a kiṃsuka tree?' He might speak thus - 'The kiṃsuka tree has produced hanging strips, hey man, with seed pods taken up - just as a sirīsa tree.' Now at that time, monk, the kiṃsuka tree would be such as that man's vision of it. Then, monk, that man, not pleased with that man's explanation of the question, might approach a certain man who had seen a kiṃsuka tree; having approached, he might speak to that man thus - 'What kind of thing, good man, is a kiṃsuka tree?' He might speak thus - 'The kiṃsuka tree has dense leaves and foliage, giving thick shade, hey man - just as a banyan tree.' Now at that time, monk, the kiṃsuka tree would be such as that man's vision of it. So too, monk, in whatever way those good persons were inclined, in that way their vision was well purified, and in that way it was explained by those good persons.
"Just as, monk, there might be a king's border city with strong foundations, strong walls and gateways, with six doors. There might be a doorkeeper who is wise, experienced, and intelligent, one who keeps out strangers and admits those who are known. A swift pair of messengers, having come from the eastern direction, might speak thus to that doorkeeper - 'Where, good man, is the lord of this city?' He might speak thus - 'He, venerable sir, is seated in the middle at the crossroads.' Then that swift pair of messengers, having delivered the message as it really is to the lord of the city, might proceed along the path by which they came. A swift pair of messengers, having come from the western direction, etc. in the northern direction... A swift pair of messengers, having come from the southern direction, might speak thus to that doorkeeper - 'Where, good man, is the lord of this city?' He might speak thus - 'He, venerable sir, is seated in the middle at the crossroads.' Then that swift pair of messengers, having delivered the message as it really is to the lord of the city, might proceed along the path by which they came.
"This simile, monk, has been made by me for the purpose of conveying the meaning. And here this is the meaning - 'City', monk, this is a designation for this body made of the four primary elements, originating from mother and father, built up from cooked rice and food made with flour, subject to impermanence, to rubbing, massaging, breaking up and destruction. 'Six doors', monk, this is a designation for the six internal sense bases. 'Doorkeeper', monk, this is a designation for mindfulness. 'Swift pair of messengers', monk, this is a designation for serenity and insight. 'Lord of the city', monk, this is a designation for consciousness. 'Crossroads in the middle', monk, this is a designation for the four primary elements - the solid element, the liquid element, the heat element, the air element. 'Message as it really is', monk, this is a designation for Nibbāna. 'The path by which one came', monk, this is a designation for the noble eightfold path, as follows - right view, etc. right concentration." The eighth.