Nava Sutta

SN 22:101 The Adze-Handle

Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland

“Just as a carpenter or a carpenter’s assistant sees on his adze-handle the marks made by his fingers and thumb, but does not thereby have the knowledge. ’So much of the adze-handle was worn away by me today, so much yesterday, so much at another time,’ but merely has the knowledge that it is being worn away by its wearing away.

“In the same way, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu living devoted to the practice of mind-development (bhavana) does not have the knowledge, ’So much of the taints (asava) was worn away today, so much yesterday, so much at another time.’ But he has the knowledge they are being worn away by their wearing away.

“Just as a sea-going boat, stranded for six months on the shore by the tide in the winter, has its rigging spoilt by wind and sun, and then, warped by a shower of rain in the rainy season, easily weakens and rots away: in the same way, Bhikkhus, for a Bhikkhu living devoted to the practice of mind-development, the fetters (samyojanani) easily weaken and rot away.”