Listening for this new year!

At one time there was a Bhikkhu named Meghiya with Samma SamBuddha.  This Bhikkhu was fascinated by a mango grove and thought that mongo grove is perfect enough for meditation.  So, he wanted Samma SamBuddha’s permission to go there.  But when he asked, the blessed one asked him to wait a little.

But the bhikkhu Meghiya went on for meditation to that Mango grove by proving that when one is enslaved to the mind, not ready even to listen to a Samma SamBuddha.  From the moment he entered to the mango grove, various kind of unskillful thoughts came to his mind.  Sensual thoughts, malicious thoughts cruel & harmful thoughts etc… etc.  He got surprised by the way his agitated mind behaves like a fish who pulled out of water and cast on a dry land. So, he went back to the blessed one. 

Samma SamBuddha kindly said, “When I asked you to wait, you didn’t listen… and it’s not a good thing carried away by the thoughts arise to your mind”.  Then the blessed one advice the Bhikkhu Meghiya with a beautiful teaching. 

“Meghiya, for liberation… freedom of mind, should mature.  And for that, there are five things that lead to maturity. What five?

“Here, Meghiya, a monk has a good noble friend, a good noble companion, a good noble comrade. For he whose freedom of mind is not fully mature, Meghiya, this is the first thing that leads to maturity.

“Furthermore, Meghiya, is virtue, one should restrain from wrong doings  & capable with suitable conduct, seeing danger in the slightest faults, one should train in the practicing rules one has undertaken. For he whose freedom of mind is not fully mature, Meghiya, this is the second thing that leads to maturity.

“Furthermore, Meghiya, is what we talk.  We should talk what is suitable for opening up the mind, and that leads to absolute disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, deep knowledge, complete Awakening and Emancipation, such as: talk on wanting little, talk on being satisfied, talk on complete seclusion, talk on disassociation, talk on arousing energy, talk on virtue, talk on concentration, talk on wisdom, talk on freedom, talk on knowing and seeing freedom. Such talk as this he gains as he desires, he gains without difficulty, gains without trouble. For he whose freedom of mind is not fully mature, Meghiya, this is the third thing that leads to maturity.

“Furthermore, Meghiya, dwells with energy aroused for the giving up of unwholesome things, for the taking up of wholesome things, steadfast, of firm attempt, one who has not thrown off the burden regarding wholesome things. For he whose freedom of mind is not fully mature, Meghiya, this is the fourth thing that leads to maturity.

“Furthermore, Meghiya, wisdom that leads to seeing dependent origination with understanding of four noble truth, that leads to the complete destruction of suffering. For he whose freedom of mind is not fully mature, Meghiya, this is the fifth thing that leads to maturity.

If one has a good friend, a good companion, a good comrade a noble friend who share the dhamma for true liberation as shared as the first factor, if one listen purely & respect that friend the other four factors are achievable.

But if you are carried away by the agitated mind and don’t have listening, no one can support you to be free.  Even Samma SamBuddha won’t be able to support for those who are not ready to listen. 

So may you get a noble year ahead with true friendship with noble friends & pure listening!