Majjhima Nikaya - Vammika Sutta

23. Vammika Sutta - English Majjhima Nikàya I
3. 3. Vammikasuttaü
(23) The Simile of the Ant Hill

I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anathapindika
in Jeta's grove in Sàvatthi. At that time venerable Kumàrakassapa lived in the
Dark forest. When the night was waning a certain deity illuminated the whole of
the Dark forest and approached venerable Kumàrakassapa stood on a side, and
said, Bhikkhu, this ant hill smokes in the night and blazes in the day. The
brahmin said
Wise one, take a tool and dig. When digging with the tool he saw an obstacle;
Good one, an obstacle. The brahmin said remove the obstacle wise one, and dig
with the tool. Digging with the tool he saw a swollen dead body. Good one a
swollen dead body. The brahmin said, wise one remove the swollen dead body and
dig with the tool. Digging with the tool he saw a forked path. Good one a forked
path. The brahmin said, remove the forked path and dig with the tool. Good one a
casket. The brahmin said, wise one remove the casket and dig with the tool.
Digging with the tool he saw a tortoise. Good one, a tortoise. The brahmin said
remove the tortoise and dig with the tool. Digging with the tool he saw a
slaughter house. Good one a slaughter house. The brahmin said, wise one remove
the slaughter house and dig with the tool. Digging with the tool he saw a tendon
of flesh. Good one a tendon of flesh. The brahmin said, wise one remove the
tendon of flesh and dig with the tool. Digging with the tool, he saw a snake.
Good one a snake. The brahmin said, wise one, stop do not hurt the snake,
worship the snake. Bhikkhu, approach the Blessed One and ask this question and
as he explains it bear it in mind. In this world of gods and men, together with
its Màras, Brahmàs and the community of recluses and brahmins I do not see
anyone who could answer this question and convince the mind except the Thus Gone
One, a disciple of the Thus Gone One or one who has heard it. Saying that the
deity vanished from there.
Venerable Kumàrakassapa at the end of that night approached the Blessed One,
worshipped and sat on a side. Sitting venerable Kumàrakassapa said thus to the
Blessed One. Venerable sir, last night, a certain deity illuminated the whole of
Dark the forest and approached me and stood on a side, and said, Bhikkhu, this
ant hill smokes in the night and blazes in the day. The brahmin said Wise one,
take a tool and dig. When digging with the tool he saw an obstacle; Good one, an
obstacle. The brahmin said remove the obstacle wise one, and dig with the tool.
Digging with the tool he saw a swollen dead body. Good one a swollen dead body.
The brahmin said, wise one remove the swollen dead body and dig with the tool.
Digging with the tool he saw a forked path. Good one a forked path. The brahmin
said, remove the forked path and dig with the tool. Good one a casket. The
brahmin said, wise one remove the casket and dig with the tool. Digging with the
tool he saw a tortoise. Good one a tortoise. The brahmin said, wise one remove
the tortoise and dig with the tool Digging with the tool he saw a slaughter
house. Good one a slaughter house. The brahmin said, wise one remove the
slaughter house and dig with the tool. Digging with the tool he saw a tendon of
flesh. Good one a tendon of flesh. The brahmin said, wise one remove the tendon
of flesh and dig with the tool. Digging with the tool, he saw a snake. Good one
a snake. The brahmin said, wise one, stop do not hurt the snake, worship the
snake. Bhikkhu, approach the Blessed One and ask this question and as he
explains it bear it in mind. In this world of gods and men, together with its
Màras, Brahmàs and the community of recluses and brahmins I do not see anyone
who could answer this question and convince the mind except the Thus Gone One, a
disciple of the Thus Gone One or one who has heard it. Saying that the deity
vanished from there.
Venerable sir, what is an ant hill, what is to smoke in the night. What is to
blaze in the day. Who is the brahmin and who is the wise one, what is the tool,
what is to dig, what is an obstacle, what is a swollen dead body, what is the
forked path, what is a casket, what is a tortise, what is a slaughter house,
what is a tendon of flesh, and who is the snake.
Bhikkhu, ant hill is a synonym for this four elemental body brought forth by
mother and father, supported on rice and bread and subject to impermanence,
brushing, breaking and destruction. Whatever work done during the day, is
thought and discursively thought in the night, this is to smoke during the
night. What is thought and discursively thought during the night is put into
action through body, words and mind during the day, that is to blaze in the day
Brahmin is a synonym for the Thus Gone One, worthy and righhtfully enlightened.
The wise one is a synonym for the trainer. The tool is a synonym for the noble
one's wisdom.
Dig is a synonym for aroused effort. Obstacle is a synonym for ignorance. Remove
the obstacle is dispel ignorance Its meaning is wise one take a tool and dig.
Bhikkhu, a swollen dead body is a synonym for anger and restlessness. Take the
tool dig and remove the swollen dead body is dispel anger and restlesssness. A
forked path is a synonym for doubts. Take the tool, dig and remove the forked
path is its meaning. The casket is a synonym for the five hindrances;; sensual
interest, aversion, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, and doubts. Dispel
the five hindrances is. wise one take a tool dig and remove the casket is its
meaning. Tortoise is a synonym for the five holding masses. Such as the holding
mass of matter, the holding mass of feelings, the holding mass of perceptions,
the holding mass of determinations, and the holding mass of consciousness.
Remove the tortoise is give up the five holding masses. Wise one take a tool,
dig and remove the tortoise is its meaning. Slaughter house is a synonym for the
five strands of sensual pleasures. Such as pleasing agreeable forms arousing
fondness cognizable by eye consciousness. Pleasing agreeable sounds arousing
fondness cognizable by ear consciousness. Pleasing agreeable smells arousing
fondness cognizable by nose consciousness. Pleasing agreeable tastes arousing
fondness cognizable by tongue consciousness and pleasing agreeabale touches
arousing fondness cognizable by body consciousness. Remove the slaughter house
is dispel the five strands of sensual desires. Wise one take the tool dig and
remove the slaughter house is its meaning. A tendon of flesh is a synonym for
interest and greed. Wise one take the tool and dig is its meaning. The snake is
a synonym for the bhikkhu with desires destroyed. Wait! Do not hurt the snake,
worship the snake, is its meaning.
The Blssed One said thus and venerable Kumàrakassapa delighted in the words of
the Blessed One.