The Life Stories of the Monks – 1982
that is capable of feeling; the aggregate of perception (
saññākkhanda
)
that has the nature of perceiving; the aggregate of volitions
(
saṅkhārakkhandha
) that help in the formation of all actions; the
aggregate of consciousness (
viññāṇakkhandha
) that has the nature of
knowing things. ‘Cast away the tortoise’ means ‘strive well with
knowledge to get rid of the five aggregates which are the objects of
clinging.’
13. Monastic, ‘knife and mincing-board’ are the names for the five kinds of
sense-pleasure that appear desirable, agreeable, attractive and lovely
and that cause the arising of sensual attachment to them, namely: visual
objects (
rūpārammaṇa
) cognizable by eye-consciousness (
cakkhu-
viññāṇa
); sounds (
saddārammaṇa
) cognizable by ear consciousness
(
sota-viññāṇa
); odours (
gandhārammaṇa
) cognizable by nose-
consciousness (
ghāna-viññāṇa
); tastes (
rasārammaṇa
) cognizable by
tongue consciousness (
jivhā-viññāṇa
); tangible objects
(
phoṭṭhabbārammaṇa
) cognizable by body-consciousness (
kāya-
viññāṇa
). ‘Cast away the knife and the mincing-board’ means ‘strive
well with knowledge to get rid of the five kinds of sense-pleasure.’
14. Monastic, ‘lump of meat’ is the name for sensual attachment or craving
(
nandī-rāga-taṇhā
). ‘Cast away the lump of meat’ means ‘strive well
with knowledge to get rid of sensual attachment or craving.’
15. Monastic, ‘Nāga’ is the name for the Arahat. You are enjoined to let
alone an Arahat without intruding upon him. You are also enjoined to
revere the Arahat.
Some more elaboration:
1. The body is likened to an “ant-hill” because just as an ant-hill lets out snakes,
mongoose, rodents, lizards and ants, the body discharges all kinds of loathsome
matter through its nine holes.
There are also other reasons that explain the simile. Refer to the
commentary on the discourse.
2. “Emitting smoke by night,” signifies the things thought out in the night for
the next day’s activities.