"Listen to this unprecedented story. In ancient times, there was #Bodhisatta_King_Temiya. He ruled a kingdom for 20 years. Due to a slight deviation in his ruling, after death, he fell into lower realms. #He_suffered_in_hell_for_20,000_years.
Compare the royal pleasure of 20 years with 20,000 years in hell. What a tremendous loss! After his hell realm time was complete, he returned to the human realm and was reborn as a prince. At just two and a half to three months old, he realized he was the king's son, understand?
Some people don't even know themselves at one year old, but being a Bodhisatta, he knew at just three months. When he grew up and realized he would have to become king, he trembled with fear. Isn't it amazing that he was so afraid of becoming king?
Others desperately want it, but he didn't! Worth contemplating, isn't it? Then, a devī who was his mother in a previous life said, 'My son, don't be terrified thinking about it. If you don't want to be king, there's a way out.'
He remained silent, trembling. He had found his strategy. Did he speak when he grew up? Not at all! He didn't speak until age 18. He used various strategies, understand? Could he speak for 18 years?
[The speaker comments] I couldn't stay silent for even one day - I'd speak before sunset! But he could maintain this. That's how much he feared hell, understand? Isn't this worth contemplating? #He_feared_hell. Isn't this worth studying?
When he reached 18 years, still not speaking, the king thought, 'The prince is mute. It would be embarrassing if other kingdoms knew.' So he ordered the left-hand executioner, had a pit dug in a remote area near the cemetery, and ordered the prince to be buried.
They put him on an unlucky chariot and were ordered to take him out through an unlucky gate. But the horses went out through an auspicious gate instead. Think about this..."
"When they reached there and dug the pit chest-deep, didn't they ask what was happening? 'Prince, since you don't speak, we're digging this pit as ordered.' 'Now the prince has spoken! Let's return to the palace.'
'You return, I won't. You return, I won't.' 'Where will you go?' 'To the Himalayas.' 'What will you do?' they asked. #I_will_practice_Dhamma, he said. He would practice Dhamma in the Himalayas. When they returned to the palace and reported, 'How did it go? Is everything done?'
'The prince has spoken!' They explained he went to the Himalayas to practice Dhamma. Then the king, with ministers and many soldiers, went to bring his son back.
While practicing in the Himalayas, without oil or salt, how wonderful the taste was! He said he would never return to the palace or kingdom. No oil, no salt, just eating kappasina leaves. [The speaker comments] I couldn't eat it because it's too bitter - I'd return to the palace! But he said he would never return.
How could he find taste without even salt? One might manage without oil, but without salt? Isn't this worth contemplating? For this prince, all beings - humans, devas, and brahmas - helped him. #Did_he_have_any_suffering? #Weren't_all_beings_happy_because_of_him? He found that taste. Isn't this worth contemplating? How satisfying!
Then the king, ministers, queen mother, and queens arrived, explaining the benefits and trying to convince him to return to the kingdom and ascend the throne.
'In my previous life, I was a king for 20 years. With just a slight deviation in ruling, I fell into hell and suffered for 20,000 years,' he said. 'I'm done with being king.' Nothing could convince him.
If there were many deviations, would there be any escape from lower realms? #There_would_be_no_escape_from_lower_realms. Who knows how long it would last? Even a slight deviation led to 20,000 years! How frightening is that? Isn't this worth examining?
The king became frightened. Returning, unable to convince his son, near the palace, looking at it, he said, 'Crown whoever you want as king.' Then he became an ascetic and left with just an alms bowl. The king did this, understand? Isn't this worth examining? This needs to be studied."
'You return, I won't. You return, I won't.' 'Where will you go?' 'To the Himalayas.' 'What will you do?' they asked. #I_will_practice_Dhamma, he said. He would practice Dhamma in the Himalayas. When they returned to the palace and reported, 'How did it go? Is everything done?'
'The prince has spoken!' They explained he went to the Himalayas to practice Dhamma. Then the king, with ministers and many soldiers, went to bring his son back.
While practicing in the Himalayas, without oil or salt, how wonderful the taste was! He said he would never return to the palace or kingdom. No oil, no salt, just eating kappasina leaves. [The speaker comments] I couldn't eat it because it's too bitter - I'd return to the palace! But he said he would never return.
How could he find taste without even salt? One might manage without oil, but without salt? Isn't this worth contemplating? For this prince, all beings - humans, devas, and brahmas - helped him. #Did_he_have_any_suffering? #Weren't_all_beings_happy_because_of_him? He found that taste. Isn't this worth contemplating? How satisfying!
Then the king, ministers, queen mother, and queens arrived, explaining the benefits and trying to convince him to return to the kingdom and ascend the throne.
'In my previous life, I was a king for 20 years. With just a slight deviation in ruling, I fell into hell and suffered for 20,000 years,' he said. 'I'm done with being king.' Nothing could convince him.
If there were many deviations, would there be any escape from lower realms? #There_would_be_no_escape_from_lower_realms. Who knows how long it would last? Even a slight deviation led to 20,000 years! How frightening is that? Isn't this worth examining?
The king became frightened. Returning, unable to convince his son, near the palace, looking at it, he said, 'Crown whoever you want as king.' Then he became an ascetic and left with just an alms bowl. The king did this, understand? Isn't this worth examining? This needs to be studied."
"What is true taste? #Those_who_know_Dhamma, how peaceful are they? Isn't this worth examining? Even without food and drink, they are happy. With very little food and drink, they are happy. When food is plentiful, everyone can say they're happy.
But when facing starvation, can everyone maintain happiness? Yes, even without food and drink, one can be happy. There are ancient sayings about this. Didn't the noble ones teach that #when_one_masters_the_mind_one_finds_happiness?
Aren't there five types of Right View taught:
1. Kammassaka Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Ownership of Kamma)
2. Jhāna Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Absorption)
3. Vipassanā Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Insight)
4. Magga Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of the Path)
5. Phala Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Fruition)
When lacking food and drink, when past unwholesome kamma ripens, can one have adequate sustenance? Don't we see the cause? #When_there_are_causes_effects_appear.
Facing hunger problems is an effect of causes. Does hunger come without cause? Perhaps we stole others' food or clothes in the past. Due to that wrongdoing, doesn't one fall into hell after death?
When the hell realm period ends and one is reborn human, whatever one does, can they easily find sustenance? That's the ripening of vipāka (resultant) cycle. #Kammaṃ_vipākassa (Kamma and its results).
When one understands these consequences, is there still room for frustration? Doesn't their mind become clear and bright? See, #the_mind_becomes_peaceful. Isn't this worth examining?"
But when facing starvation, can everyone maintain happiness? Yes, even without food and drink, one can be happy. There are ancient sayings about this. Didn't the noble ones teach that #when_one_masters_the_mind_one_finds_happiness?
Aren't there five types of Right View taught:
1. Kammassaka Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Ownership of Kamma)
2. Jhāna Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Absorption)
3. Vipassanā Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Insight)
4. Magga Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of the Path)
5. Phala Sammādiṭṭhi (Right View of Fruition)
When lacking food and drink, when past unwholesome kamma ripens, can one have adequate sustenance? Don't we see the cause? #When_there_are_causes_effects_appear.
Facing hunger problems is an effect of causes. Does hunger come without cause? Perhaps we stole others' food or clothes in the past. Due to that wrongdoing, doesn't one fall into hell after death?
When the hell realm period ends and one is reborn human, whatever one does, can they easily find sustenance? That's the ripening of vipāka (resultant) cycle. #Kammaṃ_vipākassa (Kamma and its results).
When one understands these consequences, is there still room for frustration? Doesn't their mind become clear and bright? See, #the_mind_becomes_peaceful. Isn't this worth examining?"
