The second sutta in the Majjhima Nikaya is the Sabbasava. Asavas are personal issues. So this is all the personal issues.
So this sutra is, it's essentially seven pieces of advice for improving one's character. And they are somewhat disparate, but they're an interesting list.
1/ It starts off by saying that there are some things that, when you pay attention to them, tend to arouse the three poisons: greed, hate, and delusion.
So the first advice is not to pay attention to things of this kind. Simply don't go there.
2/ The second advice is related to obsessiveness.
Self-obsession, doubt, by which I think we would understand worry, worrying oneself obsessively about this or that. Or on the other hand, trying to stick rigidly to rules in one's life. All of these things can damage one's character. And to this end, one needs to study the Four Noble Truths, the way that the Four Noble Truths work. We can go into that in more detail in another podcast.
3/ Then there is the question of vanity and self-indulgence.
The advice that the Buddha gives here is essentially use things for their proper use. Use clothing, not for display and vanity, but for its proper use, to keep you warm, to protect you from the elements, to preserve decency.
Things have a proper use. Food has a proper use: to sustain you, sustain your health, give you energy, and so on. But of course we use food in all sorts of ways. So use things for their proper use. This is the third advice.
4/ Then there is a fourth advice, which is that there are many little things that are irritating and troublesome in life. Heat, excesses of heat. We've had plenty of that in France recently. Or the other extreme, cold. Bugs, insects. There are many little things like this, unwelcome things, unwelcome words that people may say, unwelcome feelings that may arise in you, distress, vexation, things of this kind.
For these, one needs to develop endurance, a certain stoical attitude.
5/ At the same time, fifth advice, one shouldn't go to the other extreme.
There are some things… if you're confronted with a mad bull, you don't endure it, you run away. Some things should be dealt with by prudent avoidance.
6/ More fundamentally here, of course, Buddhism goes back to the three poisons, greed, hate, and delusion. The Buddha says one should simply not tolerate them in oneself. When you notice them arise, you should do something about it. Don't allow them to poison you. If there is anger around - people are getting angry and irrational - you should think, “Am I going to allow this to poison my own life too? Why simply because they are spreading poison, should I allow myself to be poisoned as well?” So, don't tolerate them in oneself.
7/ And finally, the seventh advice is essentially a teaching on the seven factors of enlightenment: mindfulness, investigation, energy, rapture, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity.
These are important factors that will build your character. Again, material for another podcast.
But finally, in the very last line of this sutra, the Buddha says the key thing is to give up conceit. When we are conceited, it's so easy to slip into all these difficulties. If we can give up conceit, then we have the magic key. So, at bottom, this sutra has the same message as the first one, Majjhima Nikaya number one.
Give up conceit, get beyond the ego, and everything will fall into place.
Namo Amida Bu. Thank you very much.
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