Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

356Appendixconcentration, are aspects of right effort to which the yogi has to pay attention.The practice of contemplation however, is born with the effort to control thesense-faculties. It may be rightly said that the long journey to peace andimmunity from mental ill through the Path does not really begin until therestraint of sense-faculties, which stops the arising of thoughts useless forrelease from ill, become habitual to the yogi. When control of the sensefacultiesbecomes strong and a habit, it makes for the maturing of the qualitiesnecessary for intuition of highest freedom. The value of constant practiceof restraint of the sense-faculties is brought out in the story given below ofthe Elder Mahatissa who dwelt on Cetiya Hill (Mihintale).The Elder was once going for alms to Anuradhapura. A woman who hadquarrelled with her husband having thought, 'Remaining alone in the houseis better than this unpleasant marriage', got on to the road early in the morning,fully trimmed up and decked out like a divine nymph, to go towards Mihintale.And she who was going to the house of her relatives saw on the way the worshipfulElder of calm demeanour and broke out into wanton laughter withlow intent of making him look at her. The Elder, who was walking withattention on his basic contemplation subject, wondering 'What is it?' lookedup. And because of his seeing the row of bones of her teeth, his own contemplationsubject of bones became clear to his mind. Developing insight thenand there, he attained the Fruit of Arahatship. So it is said:Having beheld the bones that were her teeth,And called back to mind his first perception,The elder, who was standing in that place,Indeed, arrived at the consummate state.The husband, who was going in search of her, saw the Elder and askedhim, 'Venerable sir, did you see a woman going?'. The Elder replied:/ know not whether what passedThrough this place was a man or woman,But I know that on this highwayThere is going a frame of bones. 1One who is devoted to control of the senses should keep all evil thoughtsout of his mind and be unremitting in his effort to be on the alert rememberingthe teaching of the Buddha on diligence (appamdda), and also keep his thoughtsdirected on grasping the meaning of the Dhamma, by study of, and reflectionon, it. In that way the ardent disciple makes use of all his contacts to help1. Vis. Mag. 21: Tassa dantatthikam disvd pubbasanham anussari;TattK eva so thito thero arahattam apdpuni ti.Ndbhijdnami itthi va puriso va ito gato,api ca atthisanghdto gacchaf esa mahdpathe */,