Dear Yong Peng, Piya and friends,
I am glad you draw our attention to this sutta. No need to abandon company,
but we can learn that in the ultimate sense there are no people, no me. The
message is here:
<Santi ca kho Migajaala cakkhuvi~n~neyya ruupaa i.t.thaa
kantaamanaapaapiyaruupaa... nandisa.myojanavisa.myutto kho Migajaala bhikkhu
ekavihaariiti vuccati..>
There are visible objects cognizable by the eye....
The same is said with regard to the other doorways. I can't hear enough of
this, because I am too forgetful, I am attached to people, but this is
conditioned. When visible object (colour) is experienced, sound is not
experienced, and there is no thinking of the world full of people. We are
alone for a short moment. In a way we are momentary recluses, because
understanding must lead to detachment. But this is a long process. It is a
learning process, but we do not have to go out of our way to begin now. The
objects of understanding are near, right at hand: visible object, sound,
lobha, dosa, etc. They all appear now.
First objects have to be seen as only elements, so that personality belief
can be eradicated. This happens when the first stage of enlightenment is
attained, and finally at the realization of arahatship all craving is left
behind. All those who develop the eightfold Path are leading a life that is
brahmacariyaa. In the Commentary to the satipa.t.thaanasutta (Ven Soma),
<Also the word bhikkhu was used by the Buddha to point out the bhikkhu-state
through the practice of the teaching in this way: "He who practises this
practice of the Arousing of Mindfulness is called a bhikkhu.">

Nina


op 12-02-2003 15:13 schreef Ong Yong Peng <ypong001@...> op
ypong001@...:

> Dear Piya, Dimitry, Robert and friends,
>
>
> Even if a person lives near a village, associating with monks and
> nuns, with male and female followers, with king[s] and royal
> ministers, with sectarians and their disciples, his companion [from a
> buddhist psychoanalytical perspective] is craving. By abandoning
> craving, [he does not abandon the people he used to live with], and
> living in this way, he is said to be living alone, living [in a way]
> as good as a monk [by abandoning craving].

> --- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Piya Tan wrote:
>> Despite of what I have expressed here regarding Ven. Thanissaro's
> translation, the Dhammapada has many verses that extol lay followers
> who live the spiritual life, e.g. the Brahmana Vagga and esp Dh 142.