The Sutra of Karma
By Jiang Song
This story is learnt from “the
Sutra of Karma”.
At one time, the Buddha resided at
Anāthapiṇḍika's Park in Sāvatthī. At the same time, a
monk who was sitting cross-legged was not far from the Buddha. His body was
also sitting straight. However, he was in extreme pain
(he was experiencing painful sensations) because of the results of karma
(he was suffering physical pain because of the result
of karma). he also endured the intense suffering from his body. Despite
this, he was unafraid while sitting in meditation, then his mind continued to
have mindfulness and right understanding. The Buddha saw that the monk was near
him meditating while sitting cross-legged and so on. He then spoke to himself
these words:
A monk who can eliminate his own previous karma and new karma does not
need any medicine to treat himself (does not need any
medical treatment for himself) because delusion and ignorance are
abandoned, selflessness is reached, and the mind is purified. He does not have
any attachment to five aggregates.
When I read this story, I observe that every time, I meditate while sitting cross-legged, I experience pain. After feeling suffering, the sensation is unpleasant (the sensation is not pleasant), and the mind is influenced so I will move my legs. This is like the Buddha’s teaching: if we can maintain at mindfulness and right understanding, the old karma will be eliminated, the new karma will not arise. So, I have to learn more patience and mindfulness, when I do sit mediation and dairy life.