Majjhima Nikaaya I.
3. 3. Vammikasutta.m-
(23) The Simile of the Ant Hill
I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by
Anaathapindika in Jetas grove in Saavatthi.. At that time
venerable Kumaarakassapa lived in the Dark forest.When the night
was waning a certain deity illuminated the whole of the Dark forest
and approached venerable Kumaarakassapa 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 Maaras,
Brahmaas 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 Kumaarakassapa at the end of that night approached the
Blessed One, worshipped and sat on a side. Sitting venerable
Kumaarakassapa 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 Maaras, Brahmaas 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 ones 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 Kumaarakassapa delighted in
the words of the Blessed One. . .