Venerable Soṇa Koḷivisa

At the city of Champa, in the Angka region, there was a wealthy son named Sonakolivisa or for short Sona The Tripitaka describes him as having Sukhumalachart was raised meticulously. And the special feature is that the soles of both feet have hair growing on them. The commentary explains that The soles of Sona's feet were red. The soft hairs that grow are colored like butterfly pea flowers. and looked as beautiful as the master had decorated it As for the biography gathered from the scriptures, it is said that He has three castles for three seasons. Eat well And when to walk anywhere The servants will lay down a fine carpet.

The thing that most clearly tells Sona's happiness is not the number of castles. But it is the soles of the feet that almost never touch the ordinary floor.

The commentary tells that in the past, Sona was the head of 80,000 men who helped build a library dedicated to the Pacceka Buddha. and laymen throughout the quarter. As for him, he brought his own fine woolen pavāra cloth** and spread it over the area where the Pacceka Buddha had stepped on. Used as a towel for His feet. The commentary connects that merit with the happiness and special characteristics of Sona's feet in this life. The man who once gave up his fine cloth to support the feet of the Pacceka Buddha. Born into a house with carpets supporting his feet every step of the way.

News of the young man with hair growing on the soles of his feet reached King Bimbisara. He therefore ordered Sona to come to him and intended to see the appearance for himself. Sona's parents knew that Lifting or stretching your feet in front of your face is extremely rude. and in the royal court it may be considered an offense. So he taught his son that When paying respects, sit cross-legged with both feet on your lap.

Sona did so. The soles of the feet then turned up so that the king could see himself without lifting his feet towards him. Meditation position has become a strategy that maintains both respect and royal wishes at the same time. King Bimbisara saw it and his doubts disappeared. The fine hairs on the soles of Sona's feet actually existed, as rumored.

On that day, King Bimbisara summoned 80,000 village officials in the Angka region to a meeting. When he explained his affairs and saw the soles of Sona's feet, He said to the people,

“Beneficial matters at present You have received advice from us. Now go and see the Blessed One. He will guide you in your future benefits.”

All 80,000 people along with Sona left the royal court. Head up to Mount Khitchakut where the Lord Buddha resides. An audience that began with a desire to see the special characteristics of a man. So he led the whole group to find something more important.

When they arrived, they asked the Sakta monk, who served as the Buddhist lay attendant, to request an audience with them. The Sakta displayed his power according to the Buddha's idea. before coming down to bow at His Majesty's feet and proclaiming

“The Lord Buddha is my teacher. I am a disciple.”

People who were originally interested in the Sāgata turned their attention to the Buddha. The Lord Buddha taught Anupupikatha, starting with charity, precepts, heaven, the disadvantages of sensual pleasures, and the benefits of leaving sensual liberation. Then he preached the Four Noble Truths when the listeners' minds were ready. Those people gained Dhamma vision. Attain Sotapattiphala and to the Triple Gem as refuge But Sona looked at his abundant life with new eyes.

Sona saw that it would be difficult for the owner of a house surrounded by wealth and burdens to practice chastity as pure and perfect as a conch. So he told the Lord Buddha:

“I wish to remove my hair and beard. Wearing a Kasaya cloth Leaving the ordination house to become a monk May Your Majesty please allow me to be ordained.”

The Buddha ordered him to go back and ask permission from his parents first. When Sona had finished, he bestowed ordination. A young man who used to have someone cover the carpet for him every step of the way. Now enter a life where you have to take responsibility for every step yourself.

After his ordination, Venerable Sona went to stay in the Sitawan Forest and began to strive with all his might. Commentary on Sona Sutta says: There are 500 meditation paths lined up. You choose the one that suits you. Then walk back and forth again and again Happiness does not make you avoid hard work. On the contrary, when you choose the path of monasticism. Instead, he hastened his efforts as if he had to compensate for his life on the carpet all at once.

But a body that has never received such force has its limits. The soles of both feet began to crack.

The Tripitaka records that Phra Sona walked in meditation until his feet were broken. and place of meditation “Stained with blood It is like a place where cattle are killed.” The commentary expands that When you can't walk on your feet He knelt and used his palm to help him continue walking. Until the knees and palms were shattered into gaps, but even the body was injured to that extent. You still haven't seen Opas or a vision. and the mind has not yet been freed from the taint

The blood on the floor confirmed that Phra Sona had not lacked effort. But it cannot be confirmed that the method being used is correct.

When the body is suffering from exertion Phra Sona sat at the end of his meditation retreat and thought. Among the disciples who desire perseverance He was one who never gave up. But the mind has not yet escaped. Commentary expands on the hopelessness at that time: He had gone so far as to think that If one is a person who can understand the Dhamma by listening only briefly or by having to explain further. or by having to continue practicing The mind should be freed. When you still haven't escaped. Therefore, he is afraid that he may be the one who only has words. but cannot attain Dhamma in this life

We still have a lot of wealth at home. If you go back to owning a house, you can still use your wealth and make merit. The thought of wanting to feel bad arises after working hard and not seeing results.

“If anything, we should resign from the monkhood and live as a layperson. It is better to make merit and create merit that is suitable for laypeople.”

Phra Sona's problem was not that he did not want to persevere. But that is, you have persevered until you see no other way but to make it harder than before or to quit altogether.

The Buddha knew that thought. So he came from Mount Khitchakut to the Sitawan Forest. He did not begin by criticizing. Instead, he asked what was truly going on in Sona's mind. According to the commentary, Sona had prepared the asana before starting the practice. According to the custom of monks who wished that the Lord Buddha would come to teach at his residence. Even if there is no other asana Use old leaves as a support and then lay a Sangkhathi on top. When the Master arrived The seat was ready to receive Him.

“Sona, you retreat to a secret place. Is there not this kind of anxiety in your heart?”

He reflected on all the diligence you had done. A mind that has not yet been freed and the idea of ​​going back to using the wealth to make merit Phra Sona replied that it was so. The Buddha then asked about one of his previous knowledge—playing the harp.

The Buddha asked: When he still owned the house Wasn't Phra Sona skilled at playing the harp? When you accept So he asked further in order. The commentary says that Parents used to think If your child studies other arts A healthy body may be difficult. So I chose to study music. Because Sona can sit on the bed and practice. Skills that were once chosen to preserve the body Therefore it became the language that the Buddha used to save the lives of his ancestors.

“The timing of your lute strings is too tight. Does your harp have a working sound?”
“It doesn't work. My Buddha"
“Your lute strings are too slack. Does your harp have a working sound?”
“It doesn't work. My Buddha"
“When the strings of your lute are not tight, Not too slack Stretched at the appropriate level. Does your harp have a working sound?”
“It works, my Lord Buddha.”

The Buddha chose what Phra Sona knew from experience to illuminate what he had overlooked in his practice.

The Lord Buddha therefore concluded that

“Sona, similarly, exertion that is too demanding leads to distraction. Effort that is too slack leads to laziness. Therefore, put your effort in moderation. Adjust your senses to be consistent. And take the vision of that equality.”

This teaching does not mean to neglect or act slackly. Phra Sona was already very diligent. What needs to change is the level and method of perseverance. So that faith, perseverance, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom work together to support each other. The strings of the harp do not produce sound because they are pulled as hard as possible. but because it is stretched to a workable level

After receiving the royal instruction Phra Sona set his diligence to be consistent. Adjust the organic matter to be consistent. and hold the vision of that equality He avoided being alone, was careless, had perseverance, and was determined. The Tipiṭaka does not say that he stopped striving. but said that you Be diligent regularly When perseverance does not push the mind into distraction. The mind is therefore ready to see the Dhamma.

Soon, Phra Sona realized the ultimate in celibacy, attained the Arahat Fruit, and knew clearly that his life was over and the work that should be done was finished. There is no other activity for this purpose.

After attaining Arahatship Phra Sona went to see the Buddha to predict the results of Arahantship. But he did not just say that “I am an Arahant” instead explains the characteristics of the Khinasapa through six Dhammas to which the mind is inclined.

• Bow down to Nekkhamma
• Bow in the stillness
• bow in non-violence
• Bow down to the end of desire.
• bow to the end of prejudice
• Bow towards not being fascinated.

These words show the results of adjusted perseverance. It's not just the body working harder. But the mind is free from the pull of lust, anger, and delusion.

After Phra Sona prophesied Arahat results The Lord Buddha praised his happiness and the wound on his foot and said:

“Sona, you are a peaceful person. We allowed her only one-piece shoes.”

This permission was specifically in line with Phra Sona's needs. But he was not in a hurry to accept it. He thought of the eyes of others who might understand that Those who give up a great deal of wealth to become a monk are still attached to shoes. Phra Sona then proceeded to speak. This is not to deny taking care of your body. But so that permission does not become their sole prerogative.

Phra Sona said: If the Lord Buddha gives permission to the monks, he will use it. But if he does not give permission to the monks, he will not use it.

“If the Blessed One gives permission to the monks Even I will use it. If the Blessed One does not grant permission to the monks Even I will not use it.”

The Buddha then convened the Sangha and allowed the monks to wear single shoes. He also banned double-layered, three-layered, and multi-layered shoes. People who used to have carpets covering only their walkways Now I don't even want a pair of shoes. If the fellow virgins have not yet shared that benefit

In the Arahatphalan prophecy Phra Sona addressed any misunderstandings that might occur. Some people may think Phra Khinasop bowed down in silence because he wanted gain, worship, or praise. He insisted that it should not be seen like that. Phra Khinasapa bowed down in silence because lust, anger, and delusion were gone. It's not because you want to create an image for others to see that you are strict.

When it was not yet achieved Phra Sona used to measure his perseverance by the marks of his wounds. But when the work is finished What defines quiet life is not the image that anyone can see. It is the hopelessness that used to cause the heart to struggle.

Phra Sona further explains that when form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or Dhamma Even the most desirable kind Arrive at Phra Khinasop Those emotions do not dominate the mind. The mind still recognizes emotions. But not laced with passion, steadfast and unshakable. The liberated person contemplates the arising and passing away of things that appear. without being dragged back into desire or repulsion

This is the difference between the body being forced to endure with a mind that is aware of things that affect it without falling under its power

Phra Sona compared the liberated mind to a mountain of solid rock. There are no holes or holes. Even the strong wind and rain blowing from any direction cannot shake it.

“The mountain of stone is a solid block. Just as the wind is not shaken by the wind, all forms, sounds, smells, tastes, physical objects, and mental objects are not shaken. Likewise, the fixed mind is wonderfully liberated by a monk who is stable and cannot be shaken.”

Previously, only the results that had not yet occurred made Phra Sona almost change his path. After practicing the right way Even the emotions that we like and dislike cannot shake the mind to move with them.

When Phra Sona returned The Buddha said to the monks: The wise man who rightly prophesied Arahanthapla would say things like this. Without bowing to him, “I am an Arahant,” so Phra Sona did not use the fruits of the Dhamma to create a new identity in place of the old image. He explains what the mind of a person who has passed away is like. How are emotions affected? And why is the mind not shaken?

This success did not require blood on the meditation path to witness. The Dhamma that appears in the mind is already a witness.

Later, the Buddha established Phra Sonakolivisa as an attakka. The best among the monks who aspire to perseverance This position did not arise because he caused the most pain to his body. If covering both initial courage Honesty when seeing that the old methods are not effective and the ability to adjust one's diligence according to the teachings until attaining Arahat Fruit

Phra Sona did not win with greater strength than before. but with diligence directed by wisdom

The story of Phra Sona shows that Pain is not a measure of progress. Broken feet indicate that the body has been used hard. But this does not always indicate that the mind is approaching liberation. When one method causes the mind to become distracted Increasing force using the same methods will not solve the problem. Adjusting methods is not a weakness. And taking care of the body is not neglecting diligence.

The Buddha did not make Phra Sona stop striving. He made perseverance return to its duty.

Once still a millionaire People know Sona because the soles of their feet have soft, fine hair. The King still wished to see for himself. But after being ordained The value that makes his name in the religion is not that characteristic. The soles of his feet, which used to be supported by a carpet, were cracked and bleeding. Then the specially permitted shoes were asked to be shared by the monks. Things that used to be a matter of people taking care of Sona Therefore, it changed to a matter of Phra Sona's consideration of others.

From being a person who looked at the soles of his feet, he became a monk who showed a mind that could not be shaken like a mountain of stone.

The teachings on the harp line arose during the Buddha's time. As for the Principles 4 S, these are words that Father Dhammachayo used to summarize the guidelines for training the mind to be easy to understand and remember. When taken into consideration together You will see the rhythm of perseverance more clearly.

• Mindfulness — Know how your body and mind are at this moment. Do not let the desire for results drag your heart forward.
• Comfortable — Trust in relaxation, do not squeeze, do not tense, and do not turn your practice into self-punishment.
• Consistent — Do it continuously, not accelerating periodically until your strength is exhausted.
• Observe — Look at the results whether it's tight or loose. Then adjust according to the truth

Phra Sona already has determination and continuity. But at first he lacked comfort and did not notice that his perseverance was straining until his mind was distracted. Therefore, the Buddha did not increase the number of meditation cycles. But he made me come back and adjust the reasons for what was being done.

Phra Sona's life has two opposite pictures. The first picture is of the soles of the feet on the carpet. The second picture is blood on the meditation path. One picture is so comfortable that you hardly recognize the rough floor. Another image was so intense that my body couldn't take it anymore. The sound of the harp makes you see a third way—not being stuck in comfort. and do not take suffering as a sign of perseverance. If we consider the 4 S principles, that path is to have mindfulness, be aware, trust to be comfortable, act consistently and diligently observe whether the method used makes the mind steady or distracted.

The 4 S principles do not invite you to be less diligent. And it doesn't mean to ignore it or act slackly. But it helps to keep all of your strength from being lost in forcing yourself in the wrong direction. Phra Sona was praised as being the best in perseverance. After you listened to the sound of the harp strings and adjusted your effort until the timing was right. Perseverance therefore no longer consumes the practitioner. If it becomes a stable force that leads you to your destination