All the Poisons

MN 2

This is what I heard.

One time the Buddha was staying near Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. He said to the seekers,

“I will teach you how to control all the poisons, listen closely.

Seekers, the ending of the poisons is for one who knows and sees, not for one who does not. Knows and sees what? Considering the origin of things and not considering the origin of things. For one who doesn’t consider the origin of things well, the poisons arise and then grow. For one who does consider the origin of things, the poisons don’t arise and those that have arisen will stop.

Some poisons should be given up by seeing, some by controlling, some by using, some by enduring, some by avoiding, some by removing, and some by developing.

Which poisons are given up by seeing?

Suppose you have an average uneducated person who has not seen noble ones or good persons and is untrained in their teachings. This person does not understand what is and what is not fit for consideration. So they end up considering things they shouldn’t be considering and they fail to consider things they should.

What shouldn’t be considered? Anything that gives rise to the poisons of sensual desire, the desire to exist and ignorance, or anything which makes them grow.

What should be considered? Anything that doesn’t give rise to these poisons, or anything which makes them decrease.

This is how someone wrongly considers the origin of things, they think, ‘Did I exist in the past or did I not? What was I in the past? How was I in the past? In what way did I become in the past? Will I exist in the future or will I not? What will I be in the future? How will I be in the future? In what way will I come to be in the future? Am I? Am I not? What am I? How am I? Where did this being come from, and where will it go?’

When they consider the origin of things wrongly, they may come to believe that one of these six views is true and real:

‘I have a true self.’

‘My self does not exist at all.’

‘I see the self with the self.’

‘I see what is not self with the self.’

‘I see the self with what is not self.’

‘My self is what speaks, feels and experiences the fruit of good and bad acts. This self is permanent, eternal, and unchanging.’

This mistake is the thicket of views, the wasteland of views, the twisting of views, the twitching of views, the chain of views. An average uneducated person who is chained down by views will not be freed from birth, aging and death. They will not be liberated from stress, sadness, pain and suffering.

But now imagine that an educated noble follower who has seen noble ones or good persons and is trained in their teachings. This person understands what is and what is not fit for consideration. Since they do not wrongly consider things, the poisons of sensual desire, the desire to exist and ignorance do not arise and grow in them.

And what do they consider? Whatever does not give rise to more poisons and leads to the letting go of poisons already arisen. This is how they consider the origin of things wisely: ‘This is suffering, this is the origin of suffering, this is the ending of suffering, this is the practice that leads to this end.’

When they consider like this, they give up these three chains: identity view, hesitation, and attachment to virtue and vows.

Now, what are the poisons that are given up by controlling?

If a seeker is able to control all their senses while reflecting on the origin of things, that poisoning fever which takes advantage of uncontrolled senses will not arise. If they can control the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind senses, they can prevent those annoying poisons from arising. If they cannot control the senses, poisons will arise.

What are the poisons that are given up by using?

This is when a seeker uses their possessions only for good reasons. They use their robes only for covering themselves, only for protection from cold, heat, animals, wind, and sun. They use food donations for good reasons, only for survival and to support the spiritual life, not for fun, beauty or enjoyment. They eat like this: ‘I will end hunger, but not feel full, so I will be healthy and blameless.’

They use housing for good reasons, to protect themselves from weather, animals and the elements, to enjoy solitude. They also use medicine for good reasons, only to prevent sickness and promote good health. If a seeker is wise and rational in the way they use these things, poisons will not arise. If they do not use these things for good reasons, poisons will arise.

What are the poisons that are given up by enduring?

This when a seeker is able to reflect on the origin of things while enduring cold, heat, hunger, and thirst. They endure insects, animals, wind, and sun. They endure rude and unwanted criticism. They endure sharp, stressful and life-threatening pains. If they are not able to endure these things, certain poisons will arise. But if they can endure them, they will not arise.

What are the poisons that are given up by avoiding?

This is when a seeker rationally avoids wild animals, such as elephants and snakes. They avoid a stump, thorny ground, a pit, a cliff, a swamp and a sewer. They avoid sitting in the wrong place, going to the wrong neighborhood and mixing with bad friends. They avoid whatever a clever spiritual companion would not approve of. If they can avoid these things, poisons will not arise. If they do not, poisons will arise.

What are the poisons that are given up by removing?

This is when a seeker who reflects on the origin of things and does not allow thoughts of sensuality, hostility, harming, or cruelty which have arisen in the mind to remain. They don’t allow bad unwholesome qualities which have arisen in the mind to remain. They get rid of all these, they remove and eliminate them. Those who can do this will avoid the poisons.

Finally, these are the poisons that are given up by developing. This is when a seeker reflecting on the origin of things, develops the awakening factors of analysis of principles, energy, bliss, calm, unification and serenity. These factors rely on seclusion, dispassion, and ending, and they result in letting go. If they cannot develop these factors, poisons will arise. If they develop them, the poisons will not arise.

A seeker that has given up all of the poisons by seeing, controlling, using, enduring, avoiding, removing, and developing is a seeker who has controlled the poisons. They have cut off craving, broken the chains and have ended suffering by truly undoing egotism.

That is what the Buddha said. The seekers were happy with this.