SN 20:8 · Blocks of Wood (Kaliṅgara Sutta)
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying was staying near Vesālī, at the Gabled Hall in the Great Forest. There he addressed the monks: “Monks!”
“Yes, lord,” the monks responded to him.
The Blessed One said, “The Licchavis now live heedfully, ardent in exercise, with blocks of wood1 for pillows. King Ajātasattu of Māgadha, Vedehi’s son, doesn’t gain an opening among them, doesn’t gain a foothold. But there will come a time in the future when the Licchavis grow delicate, with soft palms of their hands & soles of their feet.2 They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with pillows of cotton wool. King Ajātasattu of Māgadha, Vedehi’s son, will gain an opening among them, will gain a foothold.
“The monks now live heedfully, ardent in exertion, with blocks of wood for pillows. Māra the Evil One doesn’t gain an opening among them, doesn’t gain a foothold. But there will come a time in the future when the monks grow delicate, with soft palms of their hands & soles of their feet. They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with pillows of cotton wool. Māra the Evil One will gain an opening among them, will gain a foothold.
“Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves: ‘We will live heedfully, ardent in exertion, with blocks of wood for pillows.’ That’s how you should train yourselves.”
Notes
1. Kaliṅgara. This can also mean chaff or straw.
2. Reading mudu-talā hatthapādā with the Thai edition. The Burmese edition has mudu-taluṇa-hatthapādā: “with soft & tender hands & feet.”
See also: DN 16; SN 16:5; SN 16:13; SN 47:6; SN 47:7; AN 3:35; AN 5:79; AN 5:80; Thag 18
Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 licence, for free distribution only. Source: dhammatalks.org (Metta Forest Monastery).
