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The Net of Love 7
In 2010, at the Full Moon Meditation Hall, the final gatha of the sutra The Net of Affection emphasizes the five kinds of craving that arise when the mind finds something pleasing—that is, the consciousness of desire, even knowing the consequences, still recklessly pursues it. Illustrated by the example of a pink water jug containing poison or a fish biting a fake bait with a hook, we are easily deceived and entangled, leading to deep suffering. The wise avoid the seductive appearance, choosing a healthier way to quench their thirst, understanding wisdom as an umbrella or a sharp sword that helps cut through desire. Salvation and liberation come only from wisdom, not from any deity.
Other important contents:
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The five kinds of craving that cause people suffering:
- wealth
- power
- fame
- sensual pleasure
- delicious food
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Three parallel inner images:
- the monk – longing for practice, the Buddha nature within
- the artist – loving beauty, appreciating the world
- the warrior – using the sword of wisdom to cut through afflictions right in the present moment
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The path of liberation:
- giving rise to Bodhicitta—the aspiration for complete liberation
- taking refuge in the Sangha—the community of practice as the boat that carries us across the ocean of suffering
- letting go of passions to be free from fear, releasing sử and kết (the inner chains)
- recognizing that desire arises from tư (craving) and tưởng (wrong perception), cutting them at the root to attain nirvana
