Buddha's Teaching to Angel: Finding Peace Through Hardship

Linked Discourse 2.6 With Angel Kamada

Sometime ago in old India, at Savatthi.

Standing to one side, the Angel Kamada said to the Buddha, 

    “It’s too hard, Blessed One! It’s just too hard!”

Buddha said to the Angel:

    “They do it even though it’s hard,”

    “the stable trainees with ethics, and samadhi.

    For one who has entered the homeless life,

    contentment brings happiness.”

Angel Kamada replied:

    “Such contentment, Blessed One, is hard to find.”

Buddha said to the Angel:

    “They find it even though it’s hard,”

    “those who love peace of mind;

    whose minds love to meditate

    day and night.”

Angel Kamada replied:

    “But it’s hard, Blessed One, to immerse this mind in samadhi.”

Buddha said to the Angel:

    “They become immersed in samadhi

    even though it’s hard,”

    “those who love calming the faculties.

    Having cut through the net of Death,

    the noble ones, Kamada, go on their way.”

Angel Kamada replied:

    “But this path, Blessed One, is rough and hard to travel.”

Buddha said:

    “Though it’s rough, hard to travel,

    the noble ones, Kamada, go on their way.

    The ignoble fall headfirst on a rough path.

    But the path of the noble ones is smooth,

    for the noble ones are smooth amid the rough.”

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