English
the refuge of the third kind of deer, where they might be caught.' They surrounded that laid-out pasture on all sides with large nets. And indeed, monks, the fowler and the fowler's company saw the refuge of the third kind of deer, where they went to be caught. Thus, monks, even those third kind of deer were not freed from the fowler's power. 265. There, monks, the fourth kind of deer thought thus: 'Those first kind of deer... ...thus those first kind of deer were not freed from the fowler's power. And those second kind of deer thought thus: 'Those first kind of deer... ...thus those first kind of deer were not freed from the fowler's power. What if we were to completely abstain from pasture food, abstaining from dangerous enjoyments, and live having plunged into forest abodes.' They completely abstained from pasture food... ...thus even those second kind of deer were not freed from the fowler's power. And those third kind of deer thought thus: 'Those first kind of deer... ...thus those first kind of deer were not freed from the fowler's power. And those second kind of deer thought thus: 'Those first kind of deer... ...thus those first kind of deer were not freed... They were freed from the fowler's power. "What if we were to completely abstain from the fowler's food, abstaining from fearful enjoyments, and live having plunged into forest haunts?" They completely abstained from the fowler's food... Yet, even those second deer were not freed from the fowler's power. "What if we were to establish a dwelling place near that food laid out by the fowler, and having established a dwelling place there, we would eat the food laid out by the fowler without clinging, unattached, eating the food without clinging, unattached, we would not fall into intoxication, being unintoxicated, we would not fall into heedlessness, being heedful, we would not be at the fowler's will regarding that food?" They established a dwelling place near that food laid out by the fowler, and having established a dwelling place there, they ate the food laid out by the fowler without clinging, unattached, eating the food there without clinging, unattached, they did not fall into intoxication, being unintoxicated, they did not fall into heedlessness, being heedful, they were not at the fowler's will regarding that food. Then it occurred to the fowler and the fowler's retinue: "These third deer are indeed cunning, deceptive, these third deer are indeed powerful, extraordinary beings, they consume this food that has been laid out. And we do not know their coming or going. What if we were to surround this food that has been laid out with a large net and snares on all sides, perhaps we might see the dwelling place of the third deer, where they might be caught." They surrounded that food that had been laid out with a large net and snares on all sides. Indeed, the fowler and the fowler's retinue saw the dwelling place of the third deer, where they were caught. Thus, even those third deer were n... They were freed from the trapper's power. "What if we where the trapper and the trapper's company cannot reach, there we make our abode? Having made our abode there, we will eat the food scattered by the trapper, without being dependent, without being infatuated. Eating the food without being dependent, without being infatuated, we will not fall into intoxication. Not intoxicated, we will not fall into heedlessness. Not heedless, we will not be at the trapper's will regarding that bait." They, where the trapper and the trapper's company could not reach, there they made their abode. Having made their abode there, they ate the food scattered by the trapper, without being dependent, without being infatuated. Eating the food there without being dependent, without being infatuated, they did not fall into intoxication. Not intoxicated, they did not fall into heedlessness. Not heedless, they were not at the trapper's will regarding that bait. "Then, monks, it occurred to the trapper and the trapper's company: 'These fourth kind of deer are indeed cunning, they are tricksters. These fourth kind of deer are indeed powerful, they are outsiders. They consume this bait that has been scattered, yet we do not know their coming or going. What if we surround this scattered bait on all sides with large sticks and nets, perhaps we might see the abode of the fourth kind of deer, where they might be caught.' They surrounded that scattered bait on all sides with large sticks and nets. But, monks, neither the trapper nor the trapper's company saw the abode of the fourth kind of deer, where they might be caught. Then, monks, it occurred to the trapper and the trapper's company: 'If we disturb the fourth kind of deer, they, being disturbed, will disturb others, and those, being disturbed, will disturb others. Thus, this scattered bait will be all..." the other herds of deer will escape. What if we were to overlook the fourth herd of deer? Indeed, bhikkhus, the fowler and the fowler's company overlooked the fourth herd of deer. Thus, bhikkhus, those fourth herds of deer escaped the fowler's power. 266. This simile, bhikkhus, has been made by me for the understanding of the meaning. And this is the meaning here: 'Bait', bhikkhus, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure. 'Fowler', bhikkhus, is a designation for Māra, the Evil One. 'Fowler's company', bhikkhus, is a designation for Māra's company. 'Herds of deer', bhikkhus, is a designation for ascetics and brahmins. 267. Therein, bhikkhus, the first ascetics and brahmins, having entered and become infatuated with that bait laid by Māra and those worldly allurements, consumed the food. Having entered and become infatuated with the food there, they indulged in intoxication, being intoxicated, they fell into heedlessness, being heedless, they became subject to Māra's will in that bait and in those worldly allurements. Thus, bhikkhus, those first ascetics and brahmins did not escape Māra's power. Just as those first herds of deer, bhikkhus, so do I say these first ascetics and brahmins are like them. 268. Therein, bhikkhus, the second ascetics and brahmins thought thus: 'Those first ascetics and brahmins, having entered and become infatuated with that bait laid by Māra and those worldly allurements, consumed the food. Having entered and become infatuated with the food there, they indulged in intoxication, being intoxicated, they fell into heedlessness, being heedless, they became subject to Māra's will in that bait and in those worldly allurements. Thus, those first ascetics and brahmins did not escape Māra's power. What if we were to completely abstain from the consumption of bait and worldly allurements, which are fearful and dangerous...' We shall abstain, having plunged into forest hermitages, we shall dwell. They completely abstained from the bait-food, the world's allurements. Abstaining from fearful enjoyments, having plunged into forest hermitages, we shall dwell. They completely abstained from the bait-food, the world's allurements. Abstaining from fearful enjoyments, having plunged into forest hermitages, they dwelt. There they were eaters of vegetables, eaters of millet, eaters of wild rice, eaters of moss, eaters of rice husks, eaters of rice bran, eaters of rice scum, eaters of oil-cake, eaters of grass, eaters of cow-dung. They sustained themselves on roots and fruits of the forest, eating fallen fruits. In the last month of summer, when grass and water were scarce, their bodies became extremely emaciated. As their bodies became extremely emaciated, their strength and energy declined. As strength and energy declined, their liberation of mind declined. As liberation of mind declined, they returned to that very bait laid by Māra and those worldly allurements. There, clinging to them, infatuated, they ate the food. There, clinging to them, infatuated, as they ate the food, they fell into intoxication. Being intoxicated, they fell into heedlessness. Being heedless, they became subject to Māra's will in that bait and in those worldly allurements. Thus, monks, these second ascetics and brahmins were not freed from Māra's power. Just as, monks, those second deer, so do I declare these second ascetics and brahmins to be like them. 269. There, monks, the third ascetics and brahmins thought thus: ‘Those first ascetics and brahmins, who were caught in that bait laid by Māra and those worldly allurements... (etc.)... Thus those first ascetics and brahmins were not freed from Māra's power. And those second ascetics and brahmins thought thus: ‘Those first ascetics and brahmins, who were caught in that bait laid by Māra and... and these worldly baits… Thus indeed, those first recluses and brahmins were not freed from Māra's power and influence. What if we were to abstain completely from the food-bait and worldly baits, having abstained from fearful enjoyments, and live having plunged into forest abodes? They completely abstained from the food-bait and worldly baits. Having abstained from fearful enjoyments, they lived having plunged into forest abodes. There they were eaters of greens… eaters of fallen fruits. In the last month of summer, with the depletion of grass and water, their bodies reached extreme emaciation. For those whose bodies had reached extreme emaciation, their strength and energy declined. With the decline of strength and energy, their liberation of mind declined. With the decline of liberation of mind, they returned to that very food-bait laid by Māra and those worldly baits. There they ate the food, clinging to it and infatuated. There, eating the food, clinging to it and infatuated, they fell into intoxication. Being intoxicated, they fell into heedlessness. Being heedless, they became subject to Māra's will regarding that food-bait and that worldly bait. Thus indeed, those second recluses and brahmins were also not freed from Māra's power and influence.