The Log Dṅrukkhandha Sutta (SN 35:200)

- suttas - - evening talks - short morning talks - lectures - guided meditations - talk collections - other themes - chants - - - - à¹à¸à¸¢ - Franā§ais - Espaā±ol - - Portuguāªs - РÑÑÑкий - - - УкÑаÑнÑÑка Submit Search - Home - Suttas - SN - SN 35:200 The Log ## Browse Suttas Go to Saṃyutta Nikṅya index SN index ## The Log Dṅrukkhandha Sutta  (SN 35:200) On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Ajjheya on the bank of the river Ganges. He saw a large log being carried along by the current of the river Ganges, and on seeing it said to the monks: "Monks, do you see that large log being carried along by the current of the river Ganges?" "Yes, lord." "Monks, if that log doesnât veer toward the near shore, doesnât veer toward the far shore, doesnât sink in the middle, doesnât get washed up on high ground, doesnât get snared by human beings, doesnât get snared by non-human beings, doesnât get snared in a whirlpool, and doesnât become rotten inside, it will tend to the ocean, tilt to the ocean, incline to the ocean. Why is that? Because the current of the river Ganges tends to the ocean, tilts to the ocean, inclines to the ocean. "In the same way, monks, if you donât veer toward the near shore, donât veer toward the far shore, donât sink in the middle, donât get washed up on high ground, donât get snared by human beings, donât get snared by non-human beings, donât get snared in a whirlpool, and donât become rotten inside, you will tend to unbinding, tilt to unbinding, incline to unbinding. Why is that? Because right view tends to unbinding, tilts to unbinding, inclines to unbinding." When this was said, a certain monk addressed the Blessed One: "What, lord, is the near shore? What is the far shore? What is sinking in the middle? What is being washed up on high ground? What is being snared by human beings? What is being snared by non-human beings? What is being snared by a whirlpool? What is becoming rotten inside?" "),

# Right single quote

('â', The near shore,â monks, stands for the six internal sense media. ),

# Right single quote

('â', The far shoreâ stands for the six external sense media. ),

# Right single quote

('â', Sinking in the middleâ stands for passion & delight. ),

# Right single quote

('â', Being washed up on high groundâ stands for the conceit, ),

# Right single quote

('â', I am.â "And what, monks, is being snared by human beings? There is the case where a monk lives entangled with householders, delighting with them and sorrowing with them, happy when they are happy, pained when they are in pain, taking on their affairs as his own duty. This is called being snared by human beings. "And what, monks, is being snared by non-human beings? There is the case where a certain monk lives the holy life in hopes of a certain company of devas, (thinking,) ),

# Right single quote

('â', By means of this virtue or practice or austerity or holy life I will become one sort of deva or another.â This is called being snared by non-human beings. "),

# Right single quote

('â', Being snared by a whirlpoolâ stands for the five strings of sensuality. " And what, monks, is becoming rotten inside? There is the case where a certain monk is unprincipled, evil, unclean and suspect in his undertakings, hidden in his actions, not a contemplative though claiming to be one, not leading the holy life though claiming to do so, inwardly rotten, oozing with desire, filthy by nature. This is called becoming rotten inside." Now at that time Nanda the cowherd was standing not far from the Blessed One. Then he said to the Blessed One, "Lord, I donât veer toward the near shore, I donât veer toward the far shore, I wonât sink in the middle, I wonât get washed up on high ground, I wonât get snared by human beings, I wonât get snared by non-human beings, I wonât get snared in a whirlpool, and I wonât become rotten inside. It would be good, lord, if I could obtain the Going-forth, if I could obtain Acceptance [as a monk]. "In that case, Nanda, lead the cows back to their owners." "The cows will go back, lord, out of attachment for their calves." "Lead the cows back to their owners, Nanda." Then, having led the cows back to their owners, Nanda the cowherd went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, told him, "The cows, lord, have been led back to their owners. Let me obtain the Going-forth in the Blessed Oneâs presence! Let me obtain Acceptance!" So Nanda the cowherd obtained the Going-forth in the Blessed Oneâs presence, he obtained Acceptance. And not long after his Acceptance—dwelling alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute—he in no long time entered & remained in the supreme goal of the holy life, for which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, directly knowing & realizing it for himself in the here & now. He knew: "Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this world." And thus Ven. Nanda became another one of the arahants. See also: AN 6:60; Iti 109 - --> - - - -