The City Parable (MA3)

Medium Discourses 3

The City Parable

Thus I have heard:

One time, the Buddha traveled to the country of Śrāvastī and was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove.

A King’s Border City

It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks,

“Suppose a king’s frontier city is supplied with seven things and an abundance of four foods that are easy and not difficult to obtain.

Because of this, that king’s city won’t be defeated by external enemies but only by internal self-destruction.

“What are the seven things with which that king’s frontier city is supplied?

The king’s frontier city erects a guard tower, building it on ground that makes it sturdy and indestructible.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the first thing with which the king’s city is supplied.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s city digs a moat, making it quite deep and wide, and it’s maintained dependably.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the second thing with which the king’s city is supplied.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city makes a path all around it that’s cleared, level, and broad.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the third thing with which the king’s city is supplied.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city gathers a fourfold army of elephant troops, horse troops, chariot troops, and foot troops.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the fourth thing with which the king’s city is supplied.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city prepares armaments, such as bows, arrows, spears, and pikes.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the fifth thing with which the king’s city is supplied.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city appoints a commander to guard its entrances who is resourceful, intelligent, courageous, and shrewd.

He permits those who are good to enter and bars those who are not good.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the sixth thing with which the king’s city is supplied.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city builds a high wall, making it quite strong and coating it with whitewash.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the seventh thing with which the king’s city is supplied.

“Which four foods are abundant in that king’s city, which are easy and not difficult to obtain?

The king’s frontier city provides a reserve of water, hay, and firewood.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the first food that’s abundant in the king’s city, which is easy and not difficult to obtain.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city gathers much rice and stockpiles barley.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the second food that’s abundant in the king’s city, which is easy and not difficult to obtain.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city stockpiles calabash beans, green grams, and lentils.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the third food that’s abundant in the king’s city, which is easy and not difficult to obtain.

“Furthermore, suppose the king’s frontier city has stores of butter, oil, honey, sugarcane, sugar, fish, sea salt, and dried meat, all of which are fully supplied.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

This is called the fourth food that’s abundant in the king’s city, which is easy and not difficult to obtain.

“Thus, the king’s city is supplied with seven things and has an abundance of four foods that are easy and not difficult to obtain.

It won’t be defeated by external enemies but only by internal self-destruction.

The Noble Disciple

“In this way, suppose a noble disciple also attains seven skillful qualities and acquires four progressive mental states that are easy and not difficult to attain.

Because of this, King Māra won’t get an advantage over him, and the noble disciple won’t follow bad and unskillful things.

Not being affected by defilements, he won’t again be subject to birth.

“What are the seven skillful qualities attained by the noble disciple?

It means the noble disciple attains a firm faith that’s deeply attached to the Tathāgata.

Once he has established the faculty of faith, he will never follow other ascetics and priests, nor gods, Māra, Brahmā, or any other worldly being.

This is called the first skillful quality attained by the noble disciple.

“Furthermore, the noble disciple always acts with conscience.

Being conscientious, he knows the shame of bad and unskillful qualities, defilements, and afflictions, which bring bad consequences and create the basis of birth and death.

This is called the second skillful quality attained by the noble disciple.

“Furthermore, the noble disciple always conducts himself with modesty.

Being modest, he knows the embarrassment of bad and unskillful qualities, defilements, and afflictions, which bring bad consequences and create the basis of birth and death.

This is called the third skillful quality attained by the noble disciple.

“Furthermore, the noble disciple always conducts himself with energy.

He stops what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

He constantly motivates himself to be focused and resolute, making roots of goodness and not abandoning the effort.

This is called the fourth skillful quality attained by the noble disciple.

“Furthermore, the noble disciple learns widely and is well-versed.

He retains, doesn’t forget, and accumulates extensive learning about the Dharma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end.

Its meaning and its expression fully and purely present the religious practice.

He learns widely and is well-versed in such things.

He recites them up to a thousand times, investigates them in his mind, and deeply penetrates them with clear vision.

This is called the fifth skillful quality attained by the noble disciple.

“Furthermore, the noble disciple always conducts himself with mindfulness.

He accomplishes right mindfulness, always recollecting and not forgetting what was practiced long ago and what was heard long ago.

This is called the sixth skillful quality attained by the noble disciple.

“Furthermore, the noble disciple cultivates wisdom.

He observes the law of arising and decline and attains the noble wisdom and insight that accords with this knowledge.

He discerns and comprehends it in order to correctly end suffering.

This is called the seventh skillful quality attained by the noble disciple.

“How does a noble disciple acquire four progressive mental states, which are easy and not difficult to attain?

The noble disciple is secluded from desires and secluded from bad and unskillful things.

While they notice and examine things, this seclusion produces joy and happiness in them, and they accomplish and dwell in the first meditation.

This is called the first progressive mental state acquired by the noble disciple, which is easy and not difficult to attain.

“Furthermore, once noticing and examining things has subsided, the noble disciple has inner calm and a unified mind.

Without noticing or examining things, this samādhi produces joy and happiness, and they accomplish and dwell in the second meditation.

This is called the second progressive mental state acquired by the noble disciple, which is easy and not difficult to attain.

“Furthermore, parting with desire for that joy, the noble disciple lives in equanimity and pursues nothing.

With right mindfulness and right knowledge, they personally experience happiness, about which the noble ones teach them the noble’s happy abiding place of detachment and mindfulness. They accomplish and dwell in the third meditation.

This is called the third progressive mental state acquired by the noble disciple, which is easy and not difficult to attain.

“Furthermore, the noble disciple’s pleasure ceases and their pain ceases.

Their past joy and sorrow having ceased, they feel neither pain nor pleasure.

With the purification of their equanimity and mindfulness, they accomplish and dwell in the fourth meditation.

“In this way, a noble disciple attains seven skillful qualities and acquires four progressive mental states that are easy and not difficult to attain.

“Thus, the noble disciple attains seven good qualities and acquires four progressive mental states that are easy and not difficult to attain.

Because of this, King Māra won’t get an advantage over him, and the noble disciple won’t follow bad and unskillful things.

Not being affected by defilements, he won’t again be subject to birth.

The Noble Disciple Is Like the King’s Border City

“Suppose the king’s frontier city erects a guard tower, building it on ground that makes it sturdy and indestructible.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple attains a firm faith that’s deeply attached to the Tathāgata.

Once he has established the faculty of faith, he will never follow other ascetics and priests, nor gods, Māra, Brahmā, or any other worldly being.

This is called the noble disciple attaining the guard tower of faith, which removes what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

“Suppose the king’s city digs a moat, making it quite deep and wide, and it’s maintained dependably.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple always acts with conscience.

Being conscientious, he knows the shame of bad and unskillful qualities, defilements, and afflictions, which bring bad consequences and create the basis of birth and death.

This is called the noble disciple attaining the moat of conscience, which removes what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city makes a path around it that’s cleared, level, and broad.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple always conducts himself with modesty.

Being modest, he knows the embarrassment of bad and unskillful qualities, defilements, and afflictions, which bring bad consequences and create the basis of birth and death.

This is called the noble disciple attaining the level road of modesty, which removes what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city gathers a fourfold army of elephant troops, horse troops, chariot troops, and foot troops.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple always conducts himself with energy.

He stops what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

He constantly motivates himself to be focused and resolute, making roots of goodness and not abandoning the effort.

This is called the noble disciple attaining the army of energy, which removes what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city prepares armaments, such as bows, arrows, spears, and pikes.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple learns widely and is well-versed.

He retains, doesn’t forget, and accumulates extensive learning about the Dharma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end.

Its meaning and its expression fully and purely present the religious practice.

He learns widely and is well-versed in such things.

He recites them up to a thousand times, investigates them in his mind, and deeply penetrates them with clear vision.

This is called the noble disciple attaining the armaments of being well-versed, which remove what’s bad and unskillful and cultivate skillful qualities.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city appoints a commander to guard its entrances who is resourceful, intelligent, courageous, and shrewd.

He permits those who are good to enter and bars those who are not good.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple always conducts himself with mindfulness.

He accomplishes right mindfulness, always recollecting and not forgetting what was practiced long ago and what was heard long ago.

This is called the noble disciple attaining the commander of mindfulness that guards the entrances, which removes what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city builds a high wall, making it quite strong and coating it with whitewash.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple cultivates wisdom.

He observes the law of arising and decline and attains the noble wisdom and insight that accords with this knowledge.

He discerns and comprehends it in order to correctly end suffering.

This is called the noble disciple attaining the wall of wisdom, which removes what’s bad and unskillful and cultivates skillful qualities.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city provides for a reserve of water, hay, and firewood.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple is secluded from desires and secluded from bad and unskillful things.

While they notice and examine things, this seclusion produces joy and happiness in them, and they accomplish and dwell in the first meditation.

He lives happily without want.

Secure and happy, he brings about nirvāṇa naturally.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city gathers much rice and stockpiles barley.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, once noticing and examining things has subsided, the noble disciple has inner calm and a unified mind.

Without noticing or examining things, this samādhi produces joy and happiness, and they accomplish and dwell in the second meditation.

He lives happily without want.

Secure and happy, he brings about nirvāṇa naturally.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city stockpiles calabash beans, green grams, and lentils.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, parting with desire for that joy, the noble disciple lives in equanimity and pursues nothing.

With right mindfulness and right knowledge, they personally experience happiness, about which the noble ones teach them the noble’s happy abiding place of detachment and mindfulness. They accomplish and dwell in the third meditation.

He lives happily without want.

Secure and happy, he brings about nirvāṇa naturally.

“Suppose the king’s frontier city has stores of butter, oil, honey, sugarcane, sugar, fish, sea salt, and dried meat, all of which are fully supplied.

Those inside the city are kept safe, and external enemies are kept at bay.

In this way, the noble disciple’s pleasure ceases and their pain ceases.

Their past joy and sorrow having ceased, they feel neither pain nor pleasure.

With the purification of their equanimity and mindfulness, they accomplish and dwell in the fourth meditation.

He lives happily without want.

Secure and happy, he brings about nirvāṇa naturally.”

This is what the Buddha said.

The monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.