Deep Commentary

The Buddha presents the image of a liberated practitioner. When the mind is purified, it is free from all afflictions and delusions. Purification means absolute cleanliness, free from the 'mud' of attachment and confusion. Just as water becomes clear when the sediment settles, the mind becomes clear when delusions settle. Understanding how to 'settle the sediment' is knowing how to practice. Everyone knows what clear water is, but actually clarifying it is a different matter entirely. Everyone knows a pure mind is a clean mind, but achieving it is difficult. In this verse, the Buddha provides the method for purifying the mind: 'going beyond both merit and demerit' (beyond ordinary good and evil karma). What does this mean? We often live trapped in dualistic thinking: right/wrong, good/evil, existing/non-existing. This duality breeds afflictions like love and hate, joy and anger, which are the root causes of creating karma and continuing the cycle of rebirth. In contrast, an Arahant has transcended both mundane good karma and evil karma. They no longer create new karma. Even while abiding in perfect enlightenment, they naturally perform altruistic deeds without attachment. Thus, one who is no longer trapped in duality is an awakened, liberated person. Having reached this state, what is there left to fear? Therefore, the Buddha says: 'There is no fear for an awakened one.'