Deep Commentary

The Buddha uses the imagery of a long night for the sleepless and a long journey for the weary to illustrate the endless cycle of Samsara for the ignorant. The root cause of this continuous cycle of birth and death is our failure to realize the profound truth, continually creating Karma. Karma is formed by intentional actions of body, speech, and primarily the mind. It ripens over different times, through transformation, and sometimes across different realms of existence. As long as our restless mind (often likened to a monkey) continues to act out of ignorance, we remain bound to suffering. Nirvana is achieved by stilling this restless mind. This requires cultivating deep wisdom to eradicate defilements, ending the cycle of Samsara forever.