SN35.248 — The Sheaf of Barley Discourse
Disciples, suppose a sheaf of barley were placed at a crossroads. Then six men would come along, each with a bludgeon, and strike that sheaf of barley with their bludgeons. That sheaf of barley, being struck by six bludgeons, would be well beaten. Then a seventh man would come along with a bludgeon and strike that sheaf of barley with a seventh bludgeon. That sheaf of barley, being struck by a seventh bludgeon, would be even more thoroughly beaten.
So too, disciples, an uninstructed worldling is beaten by pleasant and unpleasant forms in the eye … by pleasant and unpleasant tastes in the tongue … by pleasant and unpleasant mental phenomena in the mind. If that uninstructed worldling intends for future rebirth, then he becomes even more thoroughly beaten, like that sheaf of barley struck by a seventh bludgeon.
Disciples, once there was a battle between the gods and the asuras. Then Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, addressed the asuras: If, dear sirs, in this battle between gods and asuras, the asuras defeat the gods, then bind Sakka, lord of the gods, with five neck bonds and bring him to me as a prisoner of war.
And Sakka, lord of the gods, addressed the gods of the Thirty-Three: If, dear sirs, in this battle between gods and asuras, the gods defeat the asuras, then bind Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, with five neck bonds and bring him to me at the Sudhamma assembly hall.
In that battle, disciples, the gods defeated the asuras. Then the gods of the Thirty-Three bound Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, with five neck bonds and brought him to Sakka, lord of the gods, at the Sudhamma assembly hall.
There, disciples, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, was bound with five neck bonds. When it occurred to him: The gods are righteous, the asuras unrighteous. Now I shall go to the city of the gods, he saw himself as freed from the five neck bonds and enjoyed the five kinds of divine sensual pleasures.
But when it occurred to him: The asuras are righteous, the gods unrighteous. Now I shall go to the city of the asuras, he saw himself as bound by the five neck bonds and was deprived of the five kinds of divine sensual pleasures.
Such is the subtlety, disciples, of Vepacittis bondage. Even more subtle is Māras bondage. One who thinks he is bound by Māra is indeed bound; one who does not think so is free from the Evil One.
I am—this, disciples, is a conceiving. This I am—this is a conceiving. I shall be—this is a conceiving. I shall not be—this is a conceiving. I shall be with form—this is a conceiving. I shall be formless—this is a conceiving. I shall be percipient—this is a conceiving. I shall be non-percipient—this is a conceiving. I shall be neither percipient nor non-percipient—this is a conceiving.
Conceiving, disciples, is a disease; conceiving is a boil; conceiving is a dart. Therefore, disciples, you should train yourselves thus: We will dwell with a mind free from conceiving.
I am—this, disciples, is an agitation. This I am—this is an agitation. I shall be—this is an agitation. I shall not be—this is an agitation. I shall be with form—this is an agitation. I shall be formless—this is an agitation. I shall be percipient—this is an agitation. I shall be non-percipient—this is an agitation. I shall be neither percipient nor non-percipient—this is an agitation.
Agitation, disciples, is a disease; agitation is a boil; agitation is a dart. Therefore, disciples, you should train yourselves thus: We will dwell with a mind free from agitation.
I am—this, disciples, is a trembling. This I am—this is a trembling. I shall be … I shall not be … I shall be with form … I shall be formless … I shall be percipient … I shall be non-percipient … I shall be neither percipient nor non-percipient—this is a trembling.
Trembling, disciples, is a disease; trembling is a boil; trembling is a dart. Therefore, disciples, you should train yourselves thus: We will dwell with a mind free from trembling.
I am—this, disciples, is a proliferation. This I am—this is a proliferation. I shall be … I shall not be … I shall be with form … I shall be formless … I shall be percipient … I shall be non-percipient … I shall be neither percipient nor non-percipient—this is a proliferation.
Proliferation, disciples, is a disease; proliferation is a boil; proliferation is a dart. Therefore, disciples, you should train yourselves thus: We will dwell with a mind free from proliferation.
I am—this, disciples, is pride. This I am—this is pride. I shall be—this is pride. I shall not be—this is pride. I shall be with form—this is pride. I shall be formless—this is pride. I shall be percipient—this is pride. I shall be non-percipient—this is pride. I shall be neither percipient nor non-percipient—this is pride.
Pride, disciples, is a disease; pride is a boil; pride is a dart. Therefore, disciples, you should train yourselves thus: We will dwell with a mind free from pride.