HOLD NOTHING DEAR - SEPARATION IS PAINFUL

HOLD NOTHING DEAR - SEPARATION IS PAINFUL

Dhammapada (Vs.209-211)

“Never associate with those whom you like, as well as with those whom you dislike. It is painful to part, company from those whom you like. It is equally painful to be with those you dislike.”

While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, The Buddha spoke these verses, with reference to a family, consisting of a father, a mother, and a son.

A youth beloved by his parents, entered the Order without their approval. Later, the parents also entered the Order. Yet they could not give up their affection. Hearing their story, the Buddha uttered these verses.

                                                      
                                                       These verses teach us that:
 

 

“one must not have attachments; because, separation is painful. For, those who are free of bonds there are no endearments or non - endearments.”

Average men and women are only surface-seers. Ordinarily the enjoyment of sensual pleasures is the highest and only happiness to an average person.  An ariya sees things as they truly are.  To an ariya all life is suffering and he/she finds no real happiness in this world which deceived mankind with illusory pleasures.

    

Impeded wish is also suffering. We do not wish to be associated with things or persons we dislike, nor do we wish to be separated from things or persons we love.  

In the first sermon of the Buddha, the central concept is the notion of suffering:

The Four Noble Truth of Suffering is this:

Birth itself is suffering; old age is suffering; sickness is suffering; death is suffering; association with the unpleasant is suffering; separation from the beloved ones is suffering; non acquisition of desired objects is suffering. In brief, all the five aggregates of the body are suffering. 

The wise detached from their kinsmen and sensual pleasures are like that of birds in the air.