The Buddha retreated from the quarreling Sangha deep into the forest. There he lived secluded and well-attended by a noble elephant at the foot of a Sāl-tree. From the treetops a monkey watched as this powerful bull elephant served and protected the recluse; even fetching fresh water and collecting ripe fruit for him!

‘This won’t do!’ thought the monkey, ‘the elephant brings him everything except a reason to smile!’

There are simply some places an elephant is too shy and restrained to stick their nose. To develop the skill to knock loose some honeycomb with a stick, without harming any eggs, larvae, pupae or bees; without earning the retaliation of the hive - it takes the daring-ness of a monkey-king to conquer every impossibility!

You can expect eleven benefits when the loving heart is well-wielded, has been cultivated, developed, and practiced, made a vehicle and a basis, kept up, consolidated, and properly implemented!

You sleep at ease.

You wake happily.

You don’t have bad dreams.

Herein a mendicant cultivates these limbs of wisdom! Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Levity, Tranquillity, Immersion, Equanimity; which are based on seclusion, on dispassion, on cessation, and ripens into the surrendering of a self!

Being in the presence of a SKELETON, or thinking seriously about the idea, is very fruitful and bountiful! You can expect one of two results: enlightenment in the present life, or if there’s something left over, non-return! It is conducive to great benefits! — to a great sanctuary from toil! — to great inspiration! — to a great ease of living!

‘Those crossing reedy waters, make bridges over the muddy marshes;

Aloft goers follow after, those who have reached the other shore evidently went!’

‘With tender wings that’ve never failed, And tender legs that’ve never tripped;

Parents both abandon, When the Fire (Jataveda) goes around!’

OLD SICK DEAD; are known as the Messengers that the Buddha encountered that started him on his journey - and he recommended to contemplate them daily!

“Where is the choicest cut? If all my cuts are my best cut!”

- the Butcher

“It is for the sake of friendly neighborhoods that sanctuaries shrink! When the wise cut down condemn-ably scary trees!

It is for the sake of friendly neighborhoods that sanctuaries grow! When the wise conduct all life’s duties by the cut of the moon!

Come now, tigers can’t return to live in the jungle! With the moonlit forest cut tiger-less, tigers hunt Nibbana!”

Byagghajataka JA 272