The stranger rose slowly, easing his cramped
legs. He said, "May I come to see again - with
more questions?"
"Yes, oh yes, you are welcome. Come when you
like," replied the Upasaka. "It is my privilege to
be able to clear your doubts. We consider it a
deed of merit to give instruction in the Dhamma
when it is asked' for,"
The smile remained on his lips as he watched
the stranger walking away and melting into the
shadows.
Three Fires of the WorldFrom pleasure arises greed, from displeasure
and pain arises anger, and from impure
thoughts arises delusion.
The three fires of the world - greed, hatred,
and delusion - consume a person's mind and
cause him to become heedless of the Buddha's
teaching and to act in ways that cause
suffering to himself and others.
Therefore, we should quench these fires
whenever and wherever they appear, by
judging as to what gives rise to true happiness,
by controlling the mind in the face of
displeasure, and by constantly recalling the
qualities of loving-kindness and compassion.
A mind filled with pure and unselfish
thoughts will have no place for worldly
passions to take root.
Greed, anger and delusion are like fever. If a
man is sick with fever, he will suffer and spend
many sleepless nights even if he lies on a
luxurious bed in a most comfortable room.
But if a man is free from such fever, even if it is
on a cold winter night, on the ground with only
a thin covering of leaves, or on a hot summer's
night, he sleeps peacefully.
Human desires are endless. It is like the thirst
of a man who drinks salt water: the more he
drinks the more thirsty he gets.
So it is with a man who seeks to gratify his
desires: the more he tries the more is his
dissatisfaction.
If his desires are gratified, it always leaves
behind unrest and irritation that lingers on:
it never satisfies. If the gratification of his
desires is thwarted, he is driven "insane"
with frustration.
To satisfy their desires, people will struggle,
cheat and fight with each other, king against
king, vassal against vassal, parent against child,
brother against brother, sister against sister,
friend against friend; they will fight and even
kill each other to satisfy their desires.10