Monks, when an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person makes the statement,
"There is a bottomless chasm in the ocean," he is talking about
something that doesn't exist, that can't be found. The word "bottomless
chasm" is actually a designation for painful bodily feeling.
When an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person is touched by a painful bodily feeling, he sorrows, grieves, & laments, beats his breast, becomes distraught. This is called an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person who has not risen up out of the bottomless chasm, who has not gained a foothold.
When a well-instructed noble disciple is touched by a painful bodily feeling, he does not sorrow, grieve, or lament, does not beat his breast or become distraught. This is called a well-instructed noble disciple who has risen up out of the bottomless chasm, whose foothold is gained.
Whoever can't endure them
once they've arisen--
painful bodily feelings
that could kill living beings--
who trembles at their touch,
who cries & wails,
a weakling with no resiliance:
he hasn't risen up
out of the bottomless chasm
or even gained
a foothold.Whoever endures them
once they've arisen--
painful bodily feelings
that could kill living beings--
who doesn't tremble at their touch:
he's risen up
out of the bottomless chasm,
his foothold is gained.