THE STORY OF A BHIKKHU WHO WISHED TO TAME THE MIND - Dhammapada verse 35

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In today's session, we look at Dhammapada Verse 35 - THE STORY OF A BHIKKHU WHO WISHED TO TAME THE MIND (Aññatarabhikkhu Vatthu). This is encouragement and inspiration towards making effort to restrain, guard, protect and tame the mind.

To further our understanding, we examine the Buddha's explanation of a taming practice and a calming practice, both are most helpful in development and training. We also examine again the distinction between the mind of a worldling and the mind of an arahant. And we close with the Buddha as our most excellent role model - "graceful, inspiring confidence, with peaceful faculties and peaceful mind, one who had attained to the highest taming and serenity"

The Buddha's words from Dhp 35:

“Dunniggahassa lahuno,
yatthakāmanipātino;
Cittassa damatho sādhu,
cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.”

“Difficult to subdue (control),
swift, flying towards wherever there is pleasure;
it is profitable to tame the mind—
a tamed mind brings happiness.”

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:

• — Adantavagga (AN 1.31-40)
• — Paṭhamakhama Sutta (AN 4.164)
• — Pamādavihārī Sutta (SN 35.97)
• — Padhāna Sutta (AN 4.13)
• — Saṁvara Sutta (AN 4.14)
• — Sekha-patipadā Sutta (MN 53)
• — Nagaropama Sutta (AN 7.67)
• — Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20)
• — Rathopama Sutta (SN 35.239)
• — Arahantavedanāvediyanapañha (Mil 6.1.6)
• — Doṇa Sutta (AN 4.36)
• — Salla Sutta (SN 36.6)

Bohoma pin to the person who requested this talk.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ7iQOzmrvY

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai