Deep Commentary

This verse was taught by the Buddha at Bamboo Grove Monastery in connection with a monk who returned to lay life. According to the story, the monk had once been a disciple of Elder Mahākassapa. Through diligent practice, he attained the fourth jhāna. One day, he visited the house of his uncle, who was a goldsmith. Seeing many precious ornaments there, his mind was stirred by desire and attachment, so he abandoned the renunciant life. After returning home, he became idle and was driven away. He then associated with bad companions who lived by robbery. Eventually he was arrested, tortured, bound, and led away for execution. Suddenly, he met his former teacher. The elder used his spiritual power to loosen the bonds and told him to contemplate the meditation object he had once practiced. Following his teacher’s instruction, the former monk entered the fourth jhāna. Although the guards abused him harshly, he showed no fear and remained calm. Seeing this, the guards were amazed and reported the matter to the king. After hearing what had happened, the king ordered him to be released. People then went to report this extraordinary event to the Buddha. The Buddha radiated light and appeared at the place of execution, where he spoke this verse. Hearing the Buddha’s teaching, the former monk contemplated birth and death, understood the emptiness of self, and attained stream-entry. In the end, he attained arahantship. This verse was taught because of the case of a monk who had renounced the world but still had desire and attachment hidden in his mind. When he saw the precious ornaments in his uncle’s house, the fire of craving flared up. Unable to restrain his desire, he gave up the noble life of renunciation and returned to ordinary worldly life. Although he had attained the fourth jhāna, that attainment still belonged to the realm of ordinary meditation and did not guarantee liberation. After returning home, he was drawn into wrongdoing and became a thief, living at the expense of others’ suffering. As causes bear their proper fruits, he finally fell into the hands of the law. Yet because he had a teacher of deep spiritual power who understood his capacity, he was rescued from execution. Through the strength of his earlier meditation practice, and through the reminder of a true spiritual friend whom he had once trusted deeply, he settled again into the fourth jhāna and forgot all external conditions. Even when the guards tormented him, no anxiety or fear appeared in him. From this, we can see the strength of meditative concentration. Even worldly concentration has such power; how much greater, then, is the concentration of arahants, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. The story shows how deep and heavy the habit of craving is. For renunciants, it is necessary to guard the mind carefully against such latent tendencies. For all practitioners, whether monastic or lay, the Buddha teaches constant wakefulness. Only with awareness, mindfulness, and right contemplation can we gain some mastery over ourselves. Without them, we become slaves to desire and affliction, and then decline and suffering are difficult to avoid.