244 LESSON 01 05 2011
BhΔra Sutta The Burden Free ONLINE eNΔlandΔ Research and Practice
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LESSON 244
BhΔra Sutta: The Burden
“Monks, I will
explain to you the burden,[1]
the laying hold of the burden, the holding on to the burden,[2]
the laying down of the burden. Listen.
“What, monks,
is the burden?
“‘The five
groups of clinging’[3]
is the answer. Which five? They are: the group of clinging to corporeality,…
to feelings,… to perceptions,… to mental formations,… to consciousness.
This, monks, is called ‘the burden.’
“What is the
laying hold of the burden? The answer is that it is the person,[4]
the Venerable So-and-so, of such-and-such a family. This, monks, is called ‘the
laying hold of the burden.’
“What is the
holding on to the burden? The answer is that it is that craving which gives
rise to fresh rebirth and, bound up with lust and greed, now here now there
finds ever fresh delight. It is sensual craving,[5]
craving for existence,[6]
craving for non-existence.[7]
This, monks, is called ‘the holding on to the burden.’[8]
“What is the
laying down of the burden? It is the complete fading away and extinction of
this craving, its forsaking and giving up, liberation and detachment from it.
This, monks, is called ‘the laying down of the burden.’”[9]
Thus said the
Blessed One, the Well-farer[10]
spoke thus; the Teacher then said:
The five groups are the heavy load,
The seizing of the load is man. Holding it is misery, Laying down the load is
bliss. Laying down this heavy load, And no other taking up, By uprooting all
desire, Hunger’s stilled, Nibbaana’s gained.[11]