SUTTA EXPLORATION Malunkyaputta SN 35, #95

Ajahn Dhammasiha discusses a text from Saṃyutta Nikāya / Connected Discourses, 35 Saḷāyatanasaṃyutta, Sutta #95 "Mālunkyaputta".An elderly monk asks the Buddha for personal meditation instruction. He receives the same advice like in the famous 'Instructions to Bāhiya'. He composes some spontaneous poetry, expressing his deep understanding of the very condensed and cryptic teaching of the Buddha. The Buddha fully agrees with his interpretation, even repeating it literally himself, and thus turning it into 'Buddhavacana' = Word of the Buddha:Unmindfully he sees a formthat he regards as beautiful.And with infatuated mindhe relishes the feeling whichhe gets from that beloved form.He latches onto it so strongthat his poor heart is overwhelmedby lust and loathing before long.Therefore he builds up suffering -Nibbāna remains far from him.He doesn't get obsessed with formsas he maintains firm mindfulness.The feeling can't exite his heartas he's not holding on to it.When seeing fair and ugly forms,when he is feeling joy and pain,Right then his mindfulness kicks inand he lets go and doesn't cling.Thus he dismantles suffering -Nibbāna is right next to him.https://www.dhammagiri.nethttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwhttps://tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive