Seed

4 discourses

Discourses

The Buddha likens consciousness to a seed which is propagated by a sprinkling of delight. So long as passion for forms, feeling, perception, and intentional constructs persists, consciousness takes root and grows. When delight in these ceases, its support ends; consciousness becomes unestablished and liberated—stable, content, and unshaken—having reached final Nibbāna.

The Sakyans complain that the Buddha declared Saraṇāni a stream-enterer even though he drank intoxicating liquor and failed the training. The Buddha explains that one who takes refuge for a long time cannot fall into states of suffering. He details six types of practitioners freed from lower realms, including those with mere faith and affection.

The Buddha describes how wrong view leads to unwholesome qualities and suffering, while right view leads to wholesome qualities and happiness and what kind of attention fuels what kind of view.

With wrong view, all actions lead to suffering. With right view, all actions lead to happiness. The Buddha explains this with an example of seeds.