SN 20.8 - SN 20:8 Blocks of Wood | Kaliṅgara Sutta
Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu
Source: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN20_8.html
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Copyright: Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017
License notice: Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported. To see a copy of this license visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. “Commercial” shall mean any sale, whether for commercial or non-profit purposes or entities. Questions about this book may be addressed to Metta Forest Monastery Valley Center, CA 92082-1409 U.S.A. Additional resources More Dhamma talks, books and translations by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu are available to download in digital audio and various ebook formats at dhammatalks.org. Printed copy A paperback copy of this book is available free of charge. To request one, write to: Book Request, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA.
Attribution: From Handful of Leaves, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu; https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/Ebooks/SuttaPitaka_251113.epub. Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported. To see a copy of this license visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. “Commercial” shall mean any sale, whether for commercial or non-profit purposes or entities. Questions about this book may be addressed to Metta Forest Monastery Valley Center, CA 92082-1409 U.S.A. Additional resources More Dhamma talks, books and translations by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu are available to download in digital audio and various ebook formats at dhammatalks.org. Printed copy A paperback copy of this book is available free of charge. To request one, write to: Book Request, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA.
Publisher references (not part of the sutta): See also: DN 16; SN 16:5; SN 16:13; SN 47:6; SN 47:7; AN 3:35; AN 5:79; AN 5:80; Thag 18
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Blocks of Wood
 Kaliṅgara Sutta (SN 20:8)

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying was staying near Vesālī, at the Gabled Hall in the Great Forest. There he addressed the monks: “Monks!”

“Yes, lord,” the monks responded to him.

The Blessed One said, “The Licchavis now live heedfully, ardent in exercise, with blocks of wood1 for pillows. King Ajātasattu of Māgadha, Vedehi’s son, doesn’t gain an opening among them, doesn’t gain a foothold. But there will come a time in the future when the Licchavis grow delicate, with soft palms of their hands & soles of their feet.2 They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with pillows of cotton wool. King Ajātasattu of Māgadha, Vedehi’s son, will gain an opening among them, will gain a foothold.

“The monks now live heedfully, ardent in exertion, with blocks of wood for pillows. Māra the Evil One doesn’t gain an opening among them, doesn’t gain a foothold. But there will come a time in the future when the monks grow delicate, with soft palms of their hands & soles of their feet. They will sleep until sunrise on soft beds with pillows of cotton wool. Māra the Evil One will gain an opening among them, will gain a foothold.

“Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves: ‘We will live heedfully, ardent in exertion, with blocks of wood for pillows.’ That’s how you should train yourselves.”

Notes

1. Kaliṅgara. This can also mean chaff or straw.

2. Reading mudu-talā hatthapādā with the Thai edition. The Burmese edition has mudu-taluṇa-hatthapādā: “with soft & tender hands & feet.”