Deep Commentary

This verse was taught by the Buddha at Truc Lam monastery and relates to His past actions. According to the story, long ago, the city of Vesali was a prosperous and strong city, ruled by successive kings. Eventually, the food supply failed, the people suffered from hunger, and three disasters struck the city: famine, malevolent spirits, and disease. The people petitioned the king to take urgent measures to relieve these calamities. The king, having committed no fault himself, sought advice. Many suggested offerings to deities, but only the proposal to invite the Buddha to conduct a ceremony was agreed to. Messengers went to Rajagaha to request the Buddha’s presence. The Buddha accepted, knowing that the disasters would lessen. Upon hearing of the Buddha’s arrival, King Bimbisara prepared a grand farewell, arranging flowers, incense, and banners along the route from Rajagaha to Vesali, a distance of about three miles. At each stop, offerings and flowers were presented in honor of the Buddha. The people of Vesali decided to welcome the Buddha with double the grandeur. Crossing the Ganges River, the Buddha arrived at Vesali, and immediately a great storm arose, cleansing the river of corpses and pollution. After three days, the Buddha reached Vesali, accompanied by Indra and the gods. He recited the Diamond Sutra, instructing Ananda to repeat, scattering holy water that frightened away malevolent spirits. The sick gradually recovered. The Diamond Sutra was recited again, eliminating all calamities. The Licchavi princes and the people fully honored the Buddha and the assembly, accompanying them to the riverbank. The dragon king welcomed the Buddha to the dragon palace, where the Buddha taught all night. After dedicating merit to the dragon king, the Buddha returned to Rajagaha with the assembly, escorted by King Bimbisara. Thus, the Buddha’s renown spread widely, and all celestial beings revered Him. Monks asked why kings, princes, and people offered such devotion and gifts. The Buddha explained that in a past life, He was a Brahmin named Samkha Cha of Susima. Having practiced diligently, He performed acts of merit: clearing grass around the stupa of a solitary Buddha, spreading sand, offering flowers, and watering around the stupa. The merit accumulated then resulted in the reverence and offerings in this life. The Buddha taught this verse, emphasizing that human beings have an inherent desire for pleasure. People pursue different forms and intensities of enjoyment according to age, gender, and inclination. Some pleasures are wholesome, others corrupt. The five sensory pleasures are particularly tempting, yet all worldly pleasures are transient, bringing subsequent suffering. Everyday examples include intoxication, gambling, sexual misconduct, and indulgence in vice. No worldly pleasure brings lasting satisfaction; they merely provide momentary relief before desire resumes. Sensory pleasures attract strongly, like a person with an itch lying on red-hot coals for temporary relief. The Buddha advises the wise to forsake lesser pleasures in pursuit of greater joy. The greater joy He refers to is true happiness—liberation, Nirvana. Only this joy is authentic. Even though the Buddha renounced worldly pleasures, including throne, palace, wife, children, fine food, and intimate delights, He attained the supreme joy, earning the admiration of all humanity. Practitioners are encouraged to pursue true joy through virtuous actions: generosity, fasting, ethical conduct, recitation of sutras, mindfulness, and helping the needy. By diligently practicing good and avoiding evil, one attains refreshing and liberating joy. This story illustrates that small acts of merit, like cleaning around stupas and offering flowers, result in great rewards. Disasters remain a formidable challenge for humanity, often exacerbated by human actions that pollute the environment, causing suffering and death. Without awareness and measures to protect the environment, human survival is threatened. The story teaches that even small acts of virtue contribute to greater benefit and joy in life.