Heard like this:
Once, the World-Honored One was in the Jeta Grove, Anathapindika’s park, in the city of Shravasti.
At that time, the World-Honored One spoke to the bhikṣus, saying: ‘In the past, there was a body of water that was home to many large fish.
‘At that time, the large fish would warn the small fish, saying: ‘Do not leave here to go elsewhere, for you may be caught by evil people.’
‘However, the small fish did not listen to the advice of the large fish and went to other places.
‘At that time, a fisherman used food, nets, and ropes to catch various types of fish. When the small fish saw this, they hurried back to where the large fish were.
‘When the large fish saw the small fish arriving, they asked them: ‘Didn’t we warn you not to leave here for other places?’ The small fish replied: ‘We just went to other places.’
‘The large fish then asked: ‘Were you caught by nets and ropes there?’
‘The small fish replied: ‘We were not caught by humans, but we saw a long rope trailing behind us from afar.’
‘The large fish then said to the small fish: ‘You will be killed. Why? Because that long rope you saw is the same one that has killed our ancestors and parents. You will meet the same fate as they did. You are not my children.’
‘At that time, all the small fish became the catch of the fisherman, were lifted and placed on the shore, and many small fish died in this way.
‘This is just like what happens here. Perhaps there is a bhikṣu who travels to another village, wearing his robe and holding his bowl, alms round, dedicated to saving beings. But he does not protect his body, speech, or mind. He does not properly train his senses and is not focused.
While alms round in that village, he sees some women who are exceptionally beautiful, like blooming peach blossoms, and when he sees them, he develops improper thoughts. Because of these improper thoughts, his body, speech, and mind become heated.
‘Because of the heat in his body, speech, and mind, after alms round in that village, he returns to his dwelling and develops sexual desire.
‘He then goes to a noble elder bhikṣu and explains the situation fully because of this.
‘The noble elder bhikṣus tell him: ‘You have developed improper thoughts, and this is not pure. You should view the human body as being no different from a decaying corpse.’
‘These noble elder bhikṣus continued to remind him, doing so three times.
‘At that time, the bhikṣu, with his body, speech, and mind heated, went again to the village to beg for food. He saw some women who were exceptionally beautiful, like blooming peach blossoms. When he saw them, he developed improper thoughts. Because of these improper thoughts, his body, speech, and mind became heated. After alms round in that village, he returned to his dwelling and went again to the noble elder bhikṣus to explain the situation fully.
‘The noble elder bhikṣu told him: ‘You must leave. You are no longer a bhikṣu in our community.’
‘At that time, the bhikṣu did not give up his vows. He put on worldly clothes and became immersed in sensual desires. This is the case where a bhikṣu is used by demons, following Mara’s will, and cannot escape the fate of aging, sickness, death, sorrow, and suffering. In this way, bhikṣus! Wealth and possessions are very difficult, painful, and fearful, and they easily lead to evil paths, preventing one from reaching the highest state.
‘Therefore, bhikṣus! You should learn this way: abandon the benefits already gained, and do not develop greed for benefits not yet obtained. bhikṣus! You should learn in this way.
At that time, the bhikṣus, upon hearing the Buddha’s words, were glad and followed his teachings.
Dharma Torch 