From Buddha-to-be to Teacher in the Buddha’s own Words
A translation of sections from four discourses in the Majjhimanikāya in which the Buddha relates his experiences in struggling to attain Awakening, and whether to teach afterwards
A translation of sections from four discourses in the Majjhimanikāya in which the Buddha relates his experiences in struggling to attain Awakening, and whether to teach afterwards
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Austere Striv<strong>in</strong>g - 19<br />
Just like <strong>in</strong> a deep pool, <strong>the</strong> stars <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> water are seen ly<strong>in</strong>g deep and<br />
distant, so <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sockets of my eyes, <strong>the</strong> pupils of my eyes were seen<br />
ly<strong>in</strong>g deep and distant through hav<strong>in</strong>g so little food.<br />
Just like a freshly cut bitter gourd will <strong>be</strong>come wi<strong>the</strong>red and<br />
shrunken through w<strong>in</strong>d and heat, so did <strong>the</strong> sk<strong>in</strong> on my head <strong>be</strong>come<br />
wi<strong>the</strong>red and shrunken through hav<strong>in</strong>g so little food.<br />
Then th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g: ‘I will <strong>to</strong>uch <strong>the</strong> sk<strong>in</strong> of my s<strong>to</strong>mach,’ I <strong>to</strong>ok ahold of<br />
my backbone, th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g: ‘I will <strong>to</strong>uch my backbone,’ I <strong>to</strong>ok ahold of<br />
<strong>the</strong> sk<strong>in</strong> of my s<strong>to</strong>mach, so far did <strong>the</strong> sk<strong>in</strong> of my s<strong>to</strong>mach and my<br />
backbone stick <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r through hav<strong>in</strong>g so little food.<br />
Then th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g: ‘I will pass excrement or ur<strong>in</strong>e,’ I fell d<strong>own</strong> face<br />
forward right <strong>the</strong>re through hav<strong>in</strong>g so little food.<br />
Then I rub<strong>be</strong>d this body and my limbs comfortably with my hand.<br />
Then as I rub<strong>be</strong>d my limbs with my hand, hair that was rotten at <strong>the</strong><br />
root fell out of my body through hav<strong>in</strong>g so little food.<br />
Fur<strong>the</strong>r this occurred <strong>to</strong> men after see<strong>in</strong>g me:<br />
‘The ascetic Gotama is black,’<br />
and <strong>to</strong> some men this occurred:<br />
‘The ascetic Gotama is not black, <strong>the</strong> ascetic Gotama is br<strong>own</strong>,’<br />
and <strong>to</strong> some men this occurred:<br />
‘The ascetic Gotama is not black, he is not br<strong>own</strong>, <strong>the</strong> ascetic<br />
Gotama has golden sk<strong>in</strong>.’<br />
So far was <strong>the</strong> pure and bright colour of my sk<strong>in</strong> spoilt through<br />
hav<strong>in</strong>g so little food.