住み処
Dwelling
2024-07-24 18:00:00
In the early Buddhist scriptures of Shakyamuni Buddha, we find the following law:
“○ [The god said,] ‘What is given that provides strength? What is given that provides beauty? What is given that provides comfort? What is given that provides vision? Who is the one who gives all? Please, I ask you to explain this to me.’ [Shakyamuni said,] ‘Giving food provides strength. Giving clothing provides beauty. Giving a vehicle provides comfort. Giving a lamp provides vision. However, giving a dwelling provides all. One who teaches the truth provides immortality.’” (Samyutta Nikaya I)
That is to say, a person who is given a dwelling (a place to live) obtains a worldly life.
And a person who realizes immortality and can make Nirvana their dwelling is called a Buddha.
Therefore, it is said that “if a conscientious person believes in the rightly taught Dharma and accumulates merit, they will create karma and eventually reach and dwell in this perfect peace (= Nirvana).”
Meanwhile, it can be said that everyone wanders and strives to find a desirable dwelling (a place to belong) for themselves.
Ultimately, that is Nirvana.
However, one cannot reach Nirvana through worldly matters.
If a person seeks to obtain this, they must leave behind their worldly dwelling and aim for Nirvana.
Of course, for anyone, it is not easy to muster the desire to deliberately abandon a familiar place and seek that ultimate place (= Nirvana).
Nevertheless, some people, due to their karma, will muster this brave spirit, walk the path, and head towards Nirvana.
As a result, they will discover, with a kind of astonishment, their own self who has completely extinguished their former dwelling and its creator.
Regarding this, we can find the following description in the early Buddhist scriptures of Shakyamuni Buddha:
153 Throughout countless lifetimes, I have wandered through the cycle of birth and death in vain, searching for the builder of this house. It is a painful thing to repeat this life and that life.
154 Oh builder of the house! Your true nature has been seen. You will no longer build this house. All your rafters are broken, and the roof of the house is destroyed. My mind has gone beyond all formations and has completely eradicated all cravings. ("Words of Truth - Dhammapada, Chapter 11: Aging," translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
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