Venerable Soṇa Koḷivisa

The story begins in the city of Champa, Angka region, where there lived a wealthy son named Sonakolivisa or for short “Sona” The Tripitaka does not introduce this young man simply as the son of a rich man. But use one special word: Sukhumalachat means a delicate, fragile person who has been raised meticulously.

and also directly recorded one special feature that The soles of both Sona's feet had hair growing The Commentary further explains that The soles of his feet were red. and has beautiful, fine fur As for the biographical scriptures, which collect stories from the Commentary, it gives us a clearer picture of Sona's life. He grew up in comfort.

When you grow up to be a young man There are three castles for seasonal residences. There is meticulous maintenance. And there are very interesting details. No matter where Sona walks There will be a fine carpet laid out for him to walk on so the soles of his feet barely touch the rough floor. To the point where there is a story that When Sona is dissatisfied with someone, he may threaten.

“Then We will put our feet on the ground.” For the general public You might laugh after listening to this. “Walk on the ground...is this a threat?” But for the person taking care of Sona That's a big deal. Because this young man had been cherished to such an extent. Letting the soles of your feet touch the floor is still something that should not happen

His life at that time Therefore, it is almost extremely far from the words hardship, patience, and pain. If anything tells you how far Sona is from hardship. It might not be three castles. But it is the carpet that receives his every step.

The commentary also goes back to events in Sona's past life. He was once the leader of 80,000 men, who together built a library to house the Pacceka Buddha. He personally brought His fine woolen pavāra was spread in the area where the Pacceka Buddha had stepped on. Used as a cloth for drying His feet.

After that, those people paid homage to the Pacceka Buddha throughout the quarter. Commentary connects that merit with the happiness and special characteristics of the soles of Sona's feet in this life. Therefore, it is a very interesting detail. The man who once offered his good things to support the feet of the Pacceka Buddha came into this life. The soles of his own feet were greatly cherished

The fame of the young man with hair growing on the soles of his feet spread to the royal court. At that time, King Bimbisara ruled the region of Bihar. His Majesty wished for Sona to come and meet him. and he wanted to see for himself the special features on the soles of his feet. When Sona's parents found out about the matter A delicate question arose:

How ​​can the king look at the soles of his feet without offending him? If Sona suddenly raised or stretched his feet in front of his face, In addition to being very bad manners In the context of the royal court, it could still be considered an offense. The parents wisely taught their sons in advance: When he came to see Sit cross-legged in front of the Buddha

When the day of viewing arrived The attendants brought Sona along on a staves. This brief detail only serves to emphasize how cherished he is. But the climax of the event lies in what happened in front of the king. Sona pays respects Then he sat cross-legged as his parents recommended. The soles of both feet naturally turned up to allow viewing.

Without lifting your feet or stretching your feet towards Him, this is a clever use of the meditation pose. It's intelligence that doesn't just lie in words. But in a manner that maintains both respect and decency at the same time. King Bimbisara saw it for himself that On both soles of Sona's feet, hair actually grew

That day, Sona did not come alone. King Bimbisarn summoned 80,000 village officials in the royal territory to a meeting when his royal duties were completed. And he saw the soles of Sona's feet as he wished. The king then said to the people: “Beneficial matters at present You have received advice from us.

Now go and see the Blessed One. His Majesty will advise you on your future benefits.” With that order, the meeting at the royal court became the beginning of a new journey. All 80,000 householders, along with Sona, Leaving Rajgir Heading up to Mount Khitchakut in which the Lord Buddha resided

When they arrived, they found the Sakta. Person who serves as the Buddha's lay layperson So he asked him to tell him that a large group of people had come to see him. Phra Sakta went to speak. The Buddha ordered a seat to be arranged in the shadow of the temple. Soon, the people who had just sat in front of the king They came and sat together in front of the Buddha.

When the Lord Buddha came out and sat on his seat. People instead paid more attention to the Sakta. Because it was the Saktas who came out to welcome them and arranged for them to have an audience. The Buddha knew that thought. So he ordered the Sakta to show miraculous powers. The Sakta soared into the air, walked, stood, sat, and displayed various expressions for all to see.

Then he came down and bowed at His feet and said, “The Blessed One is my teacher. I am a disciple.” The people who heard this thought the same thing. Only disciples have this ability. And how good is the Buddha? At this time, all eyes turned to the Buddha in unison. Sona himself sat among them. A young man who had wealth, servants, and was cherished in almost every way.

You are about to discover one thing that wealth cannot buy: Dhamma The Buddha taught the Dhamma in order. He spoke of charity, precepts, heaven, punishment, depravity, and the sorrow of lust. Including the benefits of leaving sexual desire. When he knew that the minds of the listeners should be right with the Dhamma Therefore, he announced the main sermons of the Buddhas.

That is, suffering, Samudaya, Nirodha, the Path, Dhamma Eyes arise for many listeners. As for Sona...

The Dhamma he listened to made him look at his own life differently again.

Sona sat and thought about his life. His house is rich. Lots of assets Convenience with everything But those things made him see another side of the truth. Living in a house and practicing chastity to perfection is This was not easy to do So he went to see the Buddha and stated his wishes.

Want to change hair and mustache Clothed in Kasaya robes, he left the house and was ordained as a monk. A young man who used to have a carpet for his feet I'm asking to leave all that life. To enter a life where no comfort is guaranteed. and the Buddha allowed Sonakolivisa was ordained from "Sona, the millionaire son of Champa"

Becoming "Phra Sona"

Not long after ordination Phra Sona went to live in the Sitawan Forest and there another side of his personality appeared. Phra Sona did not take his life on the carpet with him into the forest. When you decide to become ordained You are extremely serious. He preached intense perseverance, walking meditation, walking...

Walk...

Walk back, walk back, again and again The man who once walked on the carpet Now walking on the meditation path The man who was carried everywhere Now he is using his own two feet to make an effort. and a man with one of the most delicate soles It turned out to be the person who used his feet the hardest. Until finally...

The soles of both feet are broken

The wound on his foot opened and blood flowed, but Phra Sona continued to persevere. until the blood from the soles of your feet was stained on your meditation path The Tripitaka uses very strong comparisons: the meditation path is “stained with blood like the killing of a cow.” This is an unbelievable picture of the opposite of life before ordination. Before ordination...

There is a rug for shoes after ordination...

The floor of the meditation path was stained with blood from his own feet before being ordained...

The servants carried him on a stretcher to meet the king after being ordained...

There is no one to carry you. You are using your own body to walk towards liberation. And you probably hope that When you have worked hard to this extent The result will definitely happen, but...

The results you want have not yet occurred

One day, Phra Sona retreated to be alone. A thought arose in his mind. He thought that among the Lord Buddha's disciples who aspire to diligence We are one person. Simply put, “If it's about perseverance Haven't we tried hard enough?" The foot is broken, the blood is bleeding, the body has been used to its limit, but why...

Is the mind still free from the afflictions?

Then the past came back into my mind. There were still many possessions at home. If you go back to being a layperson We can use that wealth and make merit. Then the most important idea arises. “Then Are we feeling bad?” This is one of the most interesting points of the story. Phra Sona was not about to become tired because he did not want to practice.

I'm not about to wear out because I'm addicted to comfort. You are not about to wear it because you miss the carpet at home. On the contrary, you are about to wear it because you think. “We tried our best. But it hasn't been successful yet. Maybe a secular life is a path that suits us better.” This is the mindset of people who don't lose because they're lazy. But he was about to give up because he used force incorrectly.

The Buddha knew Phra Sona's thoughts with his knowledge. So he went to his residence. Then he asked, "Sona, have you ever played the harp in the house?" Sona replied, "Yes, Lord Buddha." The Buddha then asked, “If your harp's strings are too tight, Will it have a beautiful voice or not?” Phra Sona said:

“No, my Lord Buddha.” “If the line is too slack Will there be a beautiful sound?” “No, my Lord Buddha.” “But if the strings are not too tight. It's not too loose. If you stretch it just right, the sound will be beautiful, right?" "Yes, my Lord Buddha." The Buddha then said. “In the same way, Sona, the effort that is being preached is too tight. It would lead to distraction. perseverance that is too slack It leads to laziness, so put in the right amount of effort. Make the organic matter even. and hold on to that vision of equality.”

This teaching is called “Three-stringed harp” or commonly known as “The middle path of perseverance”

The teaching about the harp line does not mean that “Do not be diligent” and does not mean “neglect or act slackly” but means Persistence must be appropriate for the work being done If it is too slack The mind sinks into laziness. If it is too tense, the mind becomes distracted. Restless and exhausted, Dhamma practice is not a competition.

Who can walk meditation longer? Who can sleep more? Who will torture the body more severely? because the body was too oppressed It may cause the mind to be unstable. and an unsettled mind unable to see the Dhamma as it really is Phra Sona is doing what seems good. is to have perseverance But that effort is still lacking.

You are using perseverance like a hammer. Beat yourself over and over again. Hoping that liberation will come from the pain. Therefore, the Buddha did not tell you to stop striving. But he taught you Adjust the method of diligence from forcing to supporting. from oppression It's about knowing the rhythm. from conquering the body It is working with the body and mind intelligently.

The word “Make the intuition equal” means adjusting the various components of the mind to balance. Too much faith, but little wisdom, can become unexamined belief. too much intelligence But I have little faith. It can become hesitation and analytical thinking without action. Too much effort but too little concentration can lead to anxiety.

Too much concentration But little perseverance may become lethargic Consciousness must therefore take care of everything, noticing whether the mind is loose or tight, sinking or clouding. Trying in the right way Or are you making an effort to overcome your own fears, anxieties, and feelings of failure? Phra Sona has faith.

Have diligence and determination, but your diligence is not yet balanced with concentration and calmness. The Buddha therefore pointed out that Practicing Dhamma is not about accelerating all the time. Sometimes you have to hurry. Sometimes you have to pay installments. Sometimes you have to walk. Sometimes you have to sit. Some periods must be considered. Sometimes you have to put your thoughts down. Good practitioners are therefore not the ones who control themselves the hardest.

But someone who knows When should I increase my effort? And when should you relax and focus your mind

Phra Sona received the Buddha's words with respect. He did not argue that “But I tried my best,” not saying, “If I don't walk until my feet are broken, So how can we achieve it?” and not stick to the old methods just because we have already invested a lot of effort. He admits that Past perseverance, even if serious But it's still not balanced

Then Phra Sona adjusted his practice. Don't force your body too much. Don't let your mind slacken. But keep the diligence in moderation. Walk when you should. Sit when you should. Consider when to consider Rest when you should. and always be mindful of the condition of the body and mind When perseverance is just right The mind began to focus. When the mind is determined

Intelligence can work. and when wisdom sees the form and name as they really are His clinging began to loosen. Eventually, Phra Sonakolivisa attained Arahatship. along with interaction Become an Arahant who is perfect in morality.

Phra Sona's story therefore has a very memorable turning point. Before that, he thought that he might not be suitable for the life of a monk. He thought that his efforts were not producing results. I think going back to being a layperson might be a better option. But after listening to the teachings about Sai Phin He returned to enlightenment. and received praise from the Lord Buddha saying

Excellent among monks who praise perseverance Someone who is almost worn out. Instead, he became a recipient of the title of Etthakkha for perseverance. This makes us see that failure in a period That doesn't mean we will always fail. Sometimes what we lack not an effort But it is the understanding that How ​​should I try

When hearing the word “middle way,” some people might understand that it is to cut the seriousness in half. But the harp's strings were not exactly centered by calculation. It's where the string sounds best. So is perseverance. Suitability is not a fixed number of hours. It is not a rule about how much to walk, how much to sit, or how much to rest.

But it is the level that the body can still tolerate. The mind is still awake. And the way we do it still brings us closer to our goal. Phra Sona did nothing wrong because he was serious. You made the mistake of using pain as a measure of progress. When your feet hurt more So he thought that he was working harder. Even though the mind has drifted further and further away from determination. The important question is therefore not

“How much can we endure?” But it is “What we are doing Does it help your body and mind become more ready to see the truth?” If the answer is no. Adjusting methods is not a weakness. It is bringing wisdom back to directing perseverance.

Phra Sona's story is not only useful to monks. But it also deeply reflects the lives of ordinary people. Some people are trying to study, work, try to build a business. try to maintain the relationship try to change yourself Try to practice Dhamma. And when the results have not yet occurred I started to think “Or are we not suitable for this?”

“Or should we quit?” “Or are other people better than us?” But before deciding to give up. You may have to ask yourself first: Are we really trying too little, or are we trying too much and losing balance?

We are moving forward Or are you running away from your own fear?

We are doing what is necessary. Or are we hurting ourselves to prove that we are serious?

Sometimes taking a break It's not giving up. changing methods It's not backwards, it's not asking for advice, it's not showing weakness. and accepting that “The current way of doing things is not right” may be the beginning of real progress.

If we look at this as a single picture We see the soles of a pair of feet. In the beginning, the soles were supported by a carpet. taken care of No need to experience the roughness of the world. Later, the soles of those feet walked on the meditation path until they cracked, until blood flowed, until the ground was red. But in the end What made Phra Sona attain Dhamma? It's not blood flowing from your feet.

It is not the number of rounds of walking meditation. It's not the pain that you endure, but the wisdom that comes when you know how to adjust your effort accordingly. Blood will not make you attain enlightenment. What leads to liberation is Seeing the truth of the body and mind Not clinging to comfort and not clinging even to suffering

Because of both comfort and pain They are just states of being that arise, exist and then pass away.

Phra Sona is portrayed as a person with great perseverance. But before it was praised like that You must first learn that True perseverance is not about making others see how hard you are. It's not about hurting yourself to feel like you're moving forward. And it's not about being attached to that picture. “We must be people who never stop.”

Sometimes there are people who just won't stop. You may not have the perseverance. But you may be afraid that If you stop, you will see your own tiredness. Sometimes people work hard all the time. May not be focused But they may be running away from feelings of not being good enough. The Buddha therefore taught Sona to listen to the voice of the mind. Don't just listen to the voice of expectation.

Don't just listen to the voice of fear. and listen not only to the voice of ambition But listen with mindfulness: How is your body now? How is the mind? This perseverance comes from wisdom. Or is it caused by self-compression?

Sai Phin principles can be applied to every matter. If we work too hard Until there was no time to rest The body may break down, the mind may burn out, and the quality of work may decrease. If we rest too much and don't take action, dreams won't come true. If we study too hard but not systematically reviewed Knowledge may not crystallize. If we read too little

But hoping for a lot of results is not enough. If we practice Dhamma seriously Until every time I meditated it became an exam. The mind became more distracted. If we let ourselves go without practicing at all The mind has no strength. Every matter requires adjustment. And the fit of each person is not equal. What is suitable for one person

It might be too much for another person. What suits us today It may not be suitable for us tomorrow. Therefore, the middle way is not a fixed formula. But it is the ability to know and observe. and adjust according to reality

Phra Sona used to think that “We tried. but have not yet attained the Dhamma.” If you conclude there that “That means we don't have the ability.” The story would probably end with wear and tear. But the Buddha helped him see that The problem is not with you. But it's in the method. This is a very important lesson. When we do something and it's not successful.

Don't rush to conclusions just yet. We're not talented, we're not fit, we're stupid, we're not disciplined. Or we will never be able to do it. Maybe the things that need to be changed are just the way we study, the way we work, the way we rest, the way we communicate, and the way we prioritize. or a way of looking at problems Some failures don't say "Stop," but they may say "Stop."

“Change your ways”

At first, Phra Sona tried to overcome his desires by force. He walked until his feet were broken. But the passion doesn't disappear because the body hurts. Because passion is not in the soles of the feet. Passion is in the mind. And the mind cannot be cleansed by punishing the body alone. When the Buddha taught about the lute Phra Sona then changed from fighting violently.

Let's practice with understanding. He did not reduce his seriousness. but reduce the extremes It doesn't reduce perseverance. but increases intelligence I didn't stop traveling. But learn how to travel properly. And that is the reason for his later perseverance. becomes a steady effort It is not perseverance that consumes itself.

When you know that the old method is too tight. People often fall into another trap. It is a pity that we have already gone down. We may think, “We have walked this far. How can I change now?” “I have been patient for a long time. If you stop, it means everything is wasted.” But Phra Sona did not keep the old method just because he had devoted himself to it. You accept the advice.

Then use the original intention in a new way. What should be preserved is not pain. It is not the number of turns on the meditation path. And it is not a picture of how patient we are. What should be preserved is the intention to be free from suffering. As for the method If it is found that it is not supportive You must dare to adjust. Past hard work doesn't have to be in vain.

If it allows us to learn that How ​​should I place my feet next time?

In his youth, people were attracted to Sona because of the special features on the soles of his feet: hairy, red, delicate, and supported by a carpet, that was what made people see him. But when Sona was ordained What makes you valuable is no longer on the soles of your feet. It's not about wealth. Not in happiness It's not about being a millionaire.

But it is internal morality. From a young man with special physical characteristics Becoming a senior monk with special moral virtues From someone who others have to cover for. Become a person who can walk the path of Dhamma on your own. from those who had been carried Become truly self-reliant And from those who almost gave up Becoming a person whom the Buddha praised as

Excellent in perseverance This is the greatest change of Phra Sona. It is not a change from rich to poor. It's not about changing from someone with a carpet to someone with broken feet. But it is a change from those who do not yet know the way. He is the one who reaches his destination.

The story of Phra Sona's harp line occurred during the Buddha's time. As for the word The 4 principles are words that Father Dhammachayo used to summarize the guidelines for training the mind to be easily understood and remembered. Even though they are words from different eras But when considered together We will see more clearly that Why did Phra Sona have to adjust his efforts?

• Mindfulness — Bring your mind back to yourself. Know how your body and mind are right now. Don't let the desire for results drag you forward.
• Comfortable — Relax, don't squeeze, don't tense, and don't let your practice become a punishment for yourself.
• Regularly — Do it continuously, not accelerating periodically until you run out of strength and then have to stop for a long time.
• Observe — Watch to see if we are doing it the right way, is it too tight, is it too loose? Then adjust it to suit the actual conditions.

Phra Sona already had determination and continued action, but in the beginning, that continuation lacked comfort. And he hadn't yet noticed that his perseverance was getting tighter and tighter. When results do not occur He almost concluded that he was not suitable for the life of a monk. The Buddha did not tell you to increase the number of rounds on the meditation path. But he invites you to come back and look at cause and effect. Through the sound of the harp strings that you know well

Because if you don't notice We may do the same thing over and over and call that “perseverance” even though it is true. What you should add may not be strength, but it may be mindfulness, comfort, and the ability to adjust your mind in the right direction

In his youth, the carpet determined where Phra Sona would put his feet. When he was ordained, fierce determination came to dictate his every step. At one time he could hardly allow his feet to touch the ground. Once again, he refused to stop. Even though my feet are cracked and bleeding The two periods of life seem opposite to each other. But there is one thing in common.

That is, the body and mind have not yet worked together at the right time. The teachings on Sai Phin changed everything. The Buddha did not praise blood on the meditation path. and did not criticize Phra Sona's intentions. He helped you see that The strings of perseverance are becoming too tight. When you adjust your effort to be consistent. and adjust the organic balance

So the original intention no longer consumes you. But it became a stable force that led to liberation. If we take this matter and review it through the 4 S principles of Father Dhammachayo. All images fit together nicely.

• Have mindfulness, be aware, not let your mind chase after results that have not yet arrived.
• Trust comfort to let your body and mind be tools for prayer. It is not an opponent that must be defeated.
• Do it consistently so that perseverance is your long-term strength. It is not a fire that burns strong and then extinguishes quickly.
• Always observe the results that occur. Know if it's tight or loose. Then dare to adjust without sticking to the old methods.

Therefore, the 4 S principles do not invite us to be less diligent. But it helps us to persevere without getting lost. Don't force yourself until you lose your balance. And don't let go until the intention disappears. Phra Sona was praised as Excellent among monks who praise perseverance It is not because you cause yourself the greatest pain. But because after receiving advice You are conscious enough to listen. notice something wrong and adjust until perseverance is back on the right track

If today we are trying our best but the results still haven't come. As for Phra Sona's story, he did not rush to tell us to continue. and didn't rush to tell us to stop But it invites us to come back to living with consciousness, trusting it to be comfortable, continue to do it consistently and wait notice whether the strings of the heart's harp are tight or loose when all 4 S's work together.

Perseverance is not forcing yourself to reach your goal. But it's about placing your body and mind in the right rhythm and then slowly walking in the path that actually leads to that destination.