Enlightened Living and Spiritual Salvation: Excerpts From the Sutta Nipata, Part 1 of 2

We now present selections from the Sutta Nipata, on the reflection of human body worthlessness and the qualities of a Sage.

VIGAYASUTTA Reflection on Human Body Worthlessness

“[…] Mucus from the nose, through the mouth it ejects at one time bile and (at other times) it ejects phlegm, and from (all) the body come sweat and dirt. Then its hollow head is filled with the brain. A fool led by ignorance thinks it a fine thing. And when it lies dead, swollen and livid, discarded in the cemetery, relatives do not care (for it). […] The Bhikkhu [monk] possessed of understanding in this world, having listened to Buddha’s words, he certainly knows it (that is the body) thoroughly, for he sees it as it really is. ‘As this (living body is) so is that (dead one), as this is so that (will be); let one put away desire for the body, both as to its interior and as to its exterior.’ Such a Bhikkhu [monk] who has turned away from desire and attachment, and is possessed of understanding in this world, has (already) gone to the immortal peace, the unchangeable state of Nirvana. This (body) with two feet is cherished (although) impure, ill-smelling, filled with various kinds of stench, and trickling here and there. He who with such a body thinks to exalt himself or despises others – what else (is this) but blindness?”

MUNISUTTA The Sage

“From acquaintanceship arises fear, from house-life arises defilement; the houseless state, freedom from acquaintanceship – this is indeed the view of a Sage. Whosoever, after cutting down the (sin that has) arisen, does not let (it again) take root and does not give way to it while springing up towards him, him the solitarily wandering they call a Sage; such a great Isi [Sage] has seen the state of peace.

Having considered the causes (of sin, and) [rid of] the seed, let him not give way to desire for it; such a Sage who sees the end of birth and destruction (that is Nirvana), after leaving reasoning behind, does not enter the number (of living beings). He who has penetrated all the resting-places (of the mind, and) does not wish for any of them, – such a Sage indeed, free from covetousness and free from greediness, does not gather up (resting-places), for he has reached the other shore. The man who has overcome everything, who knows everything, who is possessed of a good understanding, undefiled in all things (dhamma), abandoning everything, liberated in the destruction of desire (that is Nirvana), him the wise style a Sage. […]”