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

Chapter Fifteen
Forest Ascetic
Master Uddaka was seventy-five years old. He was venerated by all as though he were a living god. Uddaka required all new disciples to
begin at the most elementary levels of practice, so Siddhartha began again with the simplest meditation techniques. But in just a few weeks,
he demonstrated to his new teacher that he had already attained to the realm of no materiality, and Master Uddaka was impressed. He
saw in this young man of noble bearing a potential spiritual heir, and he taught Siddhartha with utmost care.
“Monk Siddhartha Gautama, in the state of no materiality, emptiness is no longer the same as empty space, nor is it what is usually
called consciousness. All that remains are perception and the object of perception. Thus, the path to liberation is to transcend all
perception.”
Siddhartha respectfully asked, “Master, if one eliminates perception, what is left? If there is no perception, how do we differ from a
piece of wood or a rock?”
“A piece of wood or a rock is not without perception. Inanimate objects are themselves perception. You must arrive at a state of
consciousness in which both perception and non-perception are eliminated. This is the state of neither perception nor non-perception.
Young man, you must now attain that state.”
Siddhartha left to return to his meditation. In just fifteen days, he realized the samadhi called neither perception nor non-perception.
Siddhartha saw that this state allowed one to transcend all ordinary states of consciousness. But whenever he came out of this meditative
state, he saw that in spite of its extraordinariness, it did not provide a solution to the problem of life and death. It was a most peaceful state
to dwell in, but it was not the key to unlock reality.
When Siddhartha returned to Master Uddaka Ramaputta, the Master praised him highly. He grasped Siddhartha’s hand and said,
“Monk Gautama, you are the best student I have ever had. You have made enormous progress in such a short time. You have attained the
highest level I have. I am old and not long for this world. If you will remain here, we can guide this community together and when I die, you
can take my place as Master of the community.”
Once again, Siddhartha politely declined. He knew that the state of neither perception nor non-perception was not the key to
liberation from birth and death, and that he had to move on. He expressed his deepest gratitude to the Master and to the community of
monks, and took his leave. Everyone had come to love Siddhartha, and all were sad to see him go.
During his stay at Uddaka Ramaputta’s center, Siddhartha made friends with a young monk named Kondanna. Kondanna was very fond
of Siddhartha and regarded him as a teacher as well as a good friend. No one else in the community except Siddhartha had attained the
state of no materiality, not to mention the state of neither perception nor non-perception. Kondanna knew that the Master considered
Siddhartha worthy to be his spiritual heir. Just looking at Siddhartha gave Kondanna faith in his own practice. He often approached
Siddhartha to learn from him, and a special bond grew between them. Kondanna regretted his friend’s departure. He accompanied
Siddhartha down the mountain and waited until he was no longer in sight before returning back up the mountain.
Siddhartha had accomplished so much with the masters reputed to be the two best meditation teachers in the land, and yet the
fundamental issue of liberation from suffering was still burning inside him. He realized that he probably would not be able to learn much
more from any of the other teacher-sages throughout the land, and so he knew that he had to seek the key to enlightenment on his own.
Walking slowly west, between rice fields and across a long stretch of muddy lagoons and streams, Siddhartha reached the Neranjara
River. He waded across it and walked until he reached Dangsiri Mountain, half a day’s walk from Uruvela village. The steep and rocky
slopes ended in saw-toothed peaks and concealed many caves. Boulders as large as the homes of poor villagers perched on the
mountainside. Siddhartha resolved to remain here until he discovered the Way to Liberation. He found a cave in which he could sit in
meditation for long hours, and while sitting, he reviewed all the practices he had done for what was now more than five years. He
remembered how he had advised the ascetics not to abuse their bodies, telling them that that would only add to the suffering of a world
already filled with suffering. But now as he considered their path more carefully, he thought to himself, “You can’t make a fire with soft, wet
wood. The body is the same. If physical desires are not mastered, it is difficult for the heart to attain enlightenment. I will practice selfmortification
in order to attain liberation.”
Thus, the monk Gautama began a period of extreme asceticism. On dark nights, he entered the deepest and most wild reaches of the
forest, the mere thought of which was enough to make a person’s hair stand on end, and there he remained throughout the night. Even as
fear and panic engulfed his mind and body, he sat without stirring. When a deer approached with its rustling sounds, his fear told him that
these were demons coming to kill him, but he did not budge. When a peacock broke a piece of dead twig, his fear told him it was a python