Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa


Introduction to 3.2.0
Samuddakasuttaṃ
(Sown Is the Seed)

Yādisaṃ vapate bījaṃ, tādisaṃ harate phalaṃ: – As the seeds are planted such the fruits will be reaped:

These introductory verses from the Sagāthāvaggo, Sakkasaṃyuttaṃ, Saṃyuttanikāyo are uttered by holy saints who tried to devote their life to their spiritual quest, but at times were disturbed by outside uproar and tumult. At one occasion these seers lived in huts at the seashore and asked Vepacitti to grant them a safety-pledge in order that they would not be disturbed in their spiritual quest by the war, which he refused. Because of that refusal the seers cursed Vepacitti with the verses related here.

Vepacitti was previously known as Sambara and was one of the chiefs of the Asuras, those powerful and violent titans, who often were at war with the Devas trying to re-conquer the access to the Tavatiṃsa-world from where they had once fallen down, drunk and hence forth had to dwell at the feet of mount Meru (referred to in the Dhajaggasuttaṃ; see lesson 1.3.4). In that same night that he refused the seers he woke up trice in fear due to nightmares and from then onwards his mind remained confused (cittam vepati- mind deranged) and was hence known by the name of Vepacitti.

It is the disposition of everyone to decide what path to take in one’s life, what perspective one wants to endeavour, whether one desires to acquire material gains regardless of means, aspires for spiritual achievements, or for both or simply lets one’s life drift along. Irrespective of the personal circumstances or material background one has the chance to fall downwards from brightness towards darkness, to maintain the respective position one finds oneself or to walk from darkness into brightness (see lesson 1.3.6): Cattārome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṃvijjamānā lokasmiṃ. Katame cattāro? Tamo tamaparāyaṇo, tamo jotiparāyaṇo, joti tamaparāyaṇo, joti jotiparāyaṇo.

Those who sincerely decide to follow the upright path as laid out by the Buddha, by honestly accepting mistakes, being straightforward and facing these mistakes with the dedication to learn from them and improve not only one’s actions, but one’s verbal behaviour by purifying one’s intention, will quickly realise that the auspicious and supportive words as spoken by the Enlightened One to the Venerable Dhammiko (Dhammikattheragāthā) are true for each and every one:

Dhammo have¹ rakkhati dhammacāriṃ, Dhammo suciṇṇo² sukhamāvahāti³;

Esānisaṃso⁴ dhamme suciṇṇe, Na duggatiṃ gacchati dhammacārī’’ti.

Dhamma indeed protects the one who is faring in Dhamma,

when Dhamma is practiced uprightly it will lead to happiness;

this is the reward for Dhamma rightly practiced,

Someone who follows the Dhamma will not be going downward.

May all be inspired to practice the efficacious Dhamma uprightly!