old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

The man who silently hides his arrogance
is on the road to hell
as surely as the man
all bloated up by pride.
Seek instead the happiness
of a peaceful heart.
Practice mindfulness
to realize the three knowledges.
True success can only come
when arrogance is subdued.
Thanks to his deep awareness, Vangisa was able to transcend many sorrows and obstacles, and to make great strides on the path of
transformation. He attained the fruit of Never-Returner, confirmed by Venerable Sariputta. The day his heart and mind were opened,
Vangisa composed a poem to express his gratitude to the Buddha:
Intoxicated by youthful dreams,
I wandered far and wide
through marketplaces and countryside,
until at last I met the Buddha!
All compassionate, he shared
the wondrous teaching with me.
My faith was awakened
and I donned the robes of a monk.
Dwelling in awareness,
focusing heart and mind,
I have attained the three knowledges,
thanks to the Awakened One!
Far and wide, the Lord
has sown the seeds of illumination.
Because all beings dwell in darkness,
he has shown the Way—
the Four Noble Truths,
the Noble Eightfold Path,
Tranquility, Joy, and Freedom.
His words so subtle and profound,
his noble life without blame,
skillfully, he leads all beings to liberation.
How deep my gratitude!
Once in a special teaching session held for the younger bhikkhus, Venerable Sariputta held Bhikkhu Vangisa up as an example. He told
them that in the beginning of his practice, Vangisa was sometimes troubled by certain afflictions and states of mind; but thanks to
determined practice, he overcame such states and attained great understanding. “Therefore,” Sariputta told the young monks, “don’t let
yourself be caught in any mental complex, whether an inferiority or a superiority complex. Practicing mindfulness, you will be aware of
everything that is going on inside yourself and nothing will be able to entangle you. Learning to master the six senses is a most wonderful
method to make firm progress along the path.”
Listening to Rahula talk about Vangisa made Svasti feel as if he knew Vangisa. Though he had met Vangisa, he had never had a real
chance to speak with him. He resolved to find an occasion to get acquainted with Venerable Vangisa, for he knew he could learn much
from Vangisa’s spiritual experience.
Svasti remembered how the Buddha once used the image of the sea to explain the practice of mastering the six senses. The Buddha said,
“Bhikkhus, your eyes are a deep ocean in which are concealed sea monsters, whirlpools, and perilous currents. If you don’t proceed in
mindfulness, your boat will be attacked and submerged by the sea monsters, whirlpools, and perilous currents. Your ears, nose, tongue,
body, and mind are also deep oceans in which are concealed sea monsters.”
Recalling those words, Svasti’s understanding increased manifold. The six senses were indeed deep oceans whose hidden waves could