05/08/2026
WHY CAN'T SENTIENT BEINGS LIVE KINDLY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER?
At a cave on Mount Makuta, the Heavenly King Sakka respectfully asked the Buddha:
"Blessed One, I have observed the whole world—the heavenly realms, the human realm, the realm of the Gandhabbas, the Asuras, and others. I see that all sentient beings wish to live in a world where there is kindness, no hatred, no war, and no ill will toward one another.
But, Blessed One, in the end, sentient beings still remain immersed in hatred, war, and ill will toward one another without end.
Blessed One, I wish to know: what fetter is it that causes sentient beings to be unable to live kindly toward one another?"
The Buddha replied:
"Vesava, Lord Sakka of the heavenly realm, it is precisely the fetters of selfishness and jealousy that cause sentient beings, although they wish to live kindly toward one another, to be unable to do so. Instead, they easily give rise to hatred, war, and ill will toward one another."
"How true indeed, Blessed One. My doubts about this have now completely disappeared. But, Blessed One, from what do selfishness and jealousy arise?"
The Buddha answered:
"Vesava, Lord Sakka of the heavenly realm, selfishness and jealousy arise from feelings of liking and disliking. Feelings of liking and disliking arise from desire. Desire arises from discursive thinking and mental activity. Discursive thinking and mental activity arise from delusive imagination.
"Vesava, Lord Sakka of the heavenly realm, in order to eliminate delusive imagination, a practitioner must know what should be associated with and drawn close to, and what should be avoided and abandoned."
Sakka then said:
"Blessed One, today, eighty thousand devas and I have attained the Dhamma Eye of purity. I have gone beyond craving. I know clearly the place of my rebirth, and I can choose the place of my rebirth if I wish. Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension are always present in my mind. I know with certainty that I will attain complete enlightenment and liberation.
I do not know how to fully express my reverence for the Blessed One. The Blessed One is like the sun shining upon this world to save sentient beings..."
Excerpt from the book The Snow Mountain Summit.
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