10.
The Discourse on the River Stream
109.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"Just as, monks, a man might be swept along by the stream of a river, by what has a dear nature and a pleasant nature. a man with good eyesight, standing on the bank, having seen him, might say thus - 'Although you, hey man, are being swept along by the stream of the river, by what has a dear nature and a pleasant nature, yet there is below a lake with waves, with whirlpools, with monsters, with demons, which you, hey man, having reached that lake, will undergo death or suffering like death.' Then, monks, that man, having heard the voice of that man, might strive against the stream with his hands and feet.
"This simile, monks, has been made by me for the purpose of conveying the meaning. And here this is the meaning - 'The stream of the river', monks, this is a designation for craving.
'What has a dear nature and a pleasant nature', monks, this is a designation for the six internal sense bases.
'Danger of waves', monks, is a designation for wrath and anguish.
'Whirlpool', monks, is a designation for these five kinds of sensual pleasure.
'Monster demon', monks, is a designation for womankind.
'Against the stream', monks, is a designation for renunciation.
'Effort with hands and feet', monks, is a designation for the arousal of energy.
'The man with good eyesight standing on the bank', monks, is a designation for the Truth-finder, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
With right understanding, with well-liberated mind, he should touch liberation here and there;
He is one who has attained the highest knowledge, one who has fulfilled the holy life, one who has reached the end of the world, he is called one who has gone beyond."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The tenth.