Lessons In Practical Buddhism - Sirimangalo.Org

entered into absorption, their complexion became quite
bright. Wondering how this could be possible without
sensual enjoyment to keep them satisfied, the angel came to
ask this question of the Buddha.
It is understandable that the angel should be so puzzled,
being surrounded by sensual pleasure at all times such as
human beings can only dream of. The thought of being
without such pleasure must have been horrifying to the
angel, who would have thought it impossible to be at ease
without them, let alone appear as radiant as the monks did
under the austere circumstances of their monastic life.
The commentary explains the monks’ radiance in technical
terms, as:
“citte pasanne lohitaṃ pasīdati, cittasamuṭṭhānāni
upādārūpāni parisuddhāni honti.”
“When the mind is clear, the blood becomes clear and
derived matter that is dependent on the mind becomes
purified.”
While such an explanation is perfectly valid, the Buddha
offered a more poetic explanation to the angel, with the
following verses:
“atītaṃ nānusocanti, nappajappanti nāgataṃ.
paccuppannena yāpenti, tena vaṇṇo pasīdati”.
“For the past they do not mourn, nor for the future pine;
they are nourished by the present, so does their colour
shine.”
“anāgatappajappāya, atītassānusocanā.
etena bālā sussanti, naḷova harito luto”ti.
“In pining for the future, or over the past forlorn,
by this do fools wither up, just as green reeds once
shorn.”
If we are able to let go of illusion and learn to find peace in
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