09-18-2022, 09:42 AM
Gatha 74
Certainly, the souls engaged in auspicious-cognition (śubhopayoga) earn various forms of merit (puõya); however,
such merit generates in the beings, up to the celestial beings, intense craving for the sensual-pleasures.
Explanatory Note: Without doubt, the auspicious-cognition (śubhopayoga) earns merit (puõya) and merit is the cause of
superior states of existence, full of craving for sensual-pleasures. Wherever there is craving, there is misery; to subdue craving one indulges in the sensual-pleasures. Without craving, the leech would not indulge in the drinking of the contaminated blood.
Similarly, without craving, the worldly beings would not indulge in the sensual-pleasures. Therefore, merit (puõya) is the birthplace of craving.
Gatha 75
Intense craving for the pleasures of the senses causes anguish; in order to alleviate suffering from craving and consequent
anguish, the worldly beings long for the pleasures of the senses, and indulge in these till they die.
Explanatory Note: The worldly beings chase happiness by indulging in the sensual-pleasures obtained by virtue of merit
(punya), as the deer chases a mirage for water. Finding themselves unable to bear anxiety due to craving for the sensual-pleasures, they indulge in such pleasures repeatedly, until death. As the leech, due to its craving for the blood, drinks repeatedly the contaminated blood till it dies, in the same way, like the vicious souls the virtuous souls too, subjugated by craving and consequent anxiety, indulge repeatedly in the sensual-pleasures. They remain restive till death. Therefore, the happiness obtained by virtue of merit (punya) is not the real happiness; it is the cause of suffering, and warrants rejection.
Certainly, the souls engaged in auspicious-cognition (śubhopayoga) earn various forms of merit (puõya); however,
such merit generates in the beings, up to the celestial beings, intense craving for the sensual-pleasures.
Explanatory Note: Without doubt, the auspicious-cognition (śubhopayoga) earns merit (puõya) and merit is the cause of
superior states of existence, full of craving for sensual-pleasures. Wherever there is craving, there is misery; to subdue craving one indulges in the sensual-pleasures. Without craving, the leech would not indulge in the drinking of the contaminated blood.
Similarly, without craving, the worldly beings would not indulge in the sensual-pleasures. Therefore, merit (puõya) is the birthplace of craving.
Gatha 75
Intense craving for the pleasures of the senses causes anguish; in order to alleviate suffering from craving and consequent
anguish, the worldly beings long for the pleasures of the senses, and indulge in these till they die.
Explanatory Note: The worldly beings chase happiness by indulging in the sensual-pleasures obtained by virtue of merit
(punya), as the deer chases a mirage for water. Finding themselves unable to bear anxiety due to craving for the sensual-pleasures, they indulge in such pleasures repeatedly, until death. As the leech, due to its craving for the blood, drinks repeatedly the contaminated blood till it dies, in the same way, like the vicious souls the virtuous souls too, subjugated by craving and consequent anxiety, indulge repeatedly in the sensual-pleasures. They remain restive till death. Therefore, the happiness obtained by virtue of merit (punya) is not the real happiness; it is the cause of suffering, and warrants rejection.