Cattāri Brahmavihārā

I have been pretty regularly reciting the Dhammacakkappavattana sutta (I try to do it once a day, usually in the evening) in Pali so that the truths contained therein become part of my personality and are available to me even when I have no books or media. After almost half a year reciting the sutta though I must admit that the memorization part is still lacking beyond the stock phrases such as “cakkhum udapadi…” whic are repeated many times throughout the sutta. Still, it is interesting to note that I recognize certain passages in the Wat Metta chant book as being taken directly from the Dhammacakka sutta and feel that my efforts have been anything but wasted.

In fact, last night, as I began my recitation I decided to read the Pali followed by the English translation and was struck by how deeply the meaning of the line where the Lord Buddha describes his path as not indulging in the extreme of sensual pleasure (sukhallikanuyogo) because it is as qually low and ignoble as extreme self-abnegation. I realized in that moment that, even practicing as I do, I am still far from Nibbana in that most of my day is devoted to sense pleasure in one way or another. So, what to do? Take the advice of the sutta and cultivate the ariyo atthangiko maggo in order to realize the truth of the four noble truths and put an end to suffering. A tall order but how else can we give meaning to this human life?

May we all cultivate the Eightfold Path and realize the Four Noble Truths for ourselves in this life!