The gist of Buddha’s teaching---10

The gist of Buddha’s teaching---10

Bhikkhu Dhammavaro
Buddharatana Monastery of Australia

The nature of suffering

In AN. III, 35, it is said: "Did you, O man, never see in the world a man or a woman eighty, ninety or a hundred years old, frail, crooked as a gable-roof, bent down, resting on crutches, with tottering steps, infirm, youth long since fled, with broken teeth, grey and scanty hair, or bald headed, wrinkled, with blotched limbs? And did it never occur to you that you also are subject to old age, that you also cannot escape it?

Did you never see in the world a man or a woman, who being sick, afflicted and grievously ill, and wallowing in their own filth, was lifted up by some people, and put down by others? And did it never occur to you that you also are subject to disease, that you also cannot escape it?

Did you never see in the world the corpse of a man or a woman, one or two or three days after death, swollen up, blue-black in colour, and full of corruption? And did it never occur to you that you also are subject to death, that you also cannot escape it?"

The Suttas mentioned above all explain the nature of suffering amply, we need to understand the suffering in the context that whatever that is subject to change, then it is of the nature of suffering, because we will lament over its decay, change in appearance, destruction, disappearance, and loss. Why is it so? Because it is supported by very unstable conditions, conditions which are of short life span.

The sufferings of old age, sickness and death is approaching us like a great mountain crushing all beings in its path, the Blessed One advised the King Pasenadi of Kosala to practice the Dhamma, to live calmly, to do good and make merit.
‘What do you think, great king? Suppose a man, trustworthy and reliable, were to come to you from the east and on arrival would say: 'If it please your majesty, you should know that I come from the east. There I saw a great mountain, as high as the clouds, coming this way, crushing all living beings [in its path]. Do whatever you think should be done.' Then a second man were to come to you from the west... Then a third man were to come to you from the north... Then a fourth man were to come to you from the south and on arrival would say: 'If it please your majesty, you should know that I come from the south. There I saw a great mountain, as high as the clouds, coming this way, crushing all living beings. Do whatever you think should be done.' If, your majesty, such a great peril should arise, such a terrible destruction of human life -- the human state being so hard to obtain -- what should be done?’
‘If, Lord, such a great peril should arise, such a terrible destruction of human life -- the human state being so hard to obtain -- what else should be done but Dhamma conduct, right conduct, skillful deeds, meritorious deeds?’” (SN III, 25, Pabbatopama Sutta, Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.)

When the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then two feeble old brahmans who were said to be 120 years old came to visit the Buddha for a good advice:

“Master Gotama, we are brahmans -- feeble old men, aged, advanced in years, having come to the last stage of life, 120 years old. And we have done no admirable deeds, no skillful deeds, no deeds that allay our fears. Teach us, Master Gotama. Instruct us, Master Gotama, for our long-term benefit and happiness."
"Indeed, brahmans, you are feeble old men, aged, advanced in years, having come to the last stage of life, 120 years old. And you have done no admirable deeds, no skillful deeds, and no deeds that allay your fears. This world is swept away by aging, by illness, by death. With the world thus swept away by aging, illness, and death, any restraint of body, speech, and intellect practiced here will be one's shelter, cave, island, and refuge after death in the world beyond."
It's swept along:
life, its next-to-nothing span.
For one swept on by aging
no shelters exist.
Keeping sight of this danger in death,
do meritorious deeds
that bring bliss.
Whoever here is restrained
in body, speech, and awareness,
who makes merit while he's alive:
that will be for his bliss after death. (AN III, 51,Dvejana Sutta, Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)

When a house is on fire,
the vessel salvaged
is the one that will be of use,
not the one left there to burn.
So when the world is on fire
with aging and death,
one should salvage [one's wealth] by giving:
what's given is well salvaged.
Whoever here is restrained
in body, speech, and awareness;
who makes merit while he's alive:
that will be for his bliss after death. ”(AN III,52, Dvejana Sutta, Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)