3.7.6

Lesson 3.7.6 Indriyasaṃvarasīlaṃ – Maintaining One’s Object of Meditation Unobstructed!

Comprehending the underlying principles of the tetrad of saṃvarasīla provides great inspiration for serious meditators. Indriyasaṃvarasīlaṃ focusses on the importance of ‘the virtue and quality of restraint in mastering the sense-faculties’. It refers back to the emphasis with which the saṃvarappadhāna highlights the effort that is needed ‘not to adhere to any of the arisen objects nor dwelling in the details’ (na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī) but to remain aloof towards the input of any sense door. The text also depicts the example of Thera Mahātissa, dwelling in Cetiyapabbata, who through the perfect guarding of the sense-doors remained unaffected by the enticement of passion and thus attained full liberation. There are other stirring examples of Thera Cittaguttatthera and of Thera Mahātissa who, dwelling in the Cīragumba forest and starving of hunger, decided it was better to die than break his precepts by eating fallen mangos that were lying next to him.