THE WISE KEEPS THE MIND STRAIGHT LIKE AN ARROWS SHAFT ॥(3.1 & 3.2) Verses 33 & 34॥

THE WISE KEEPS THE MIND STRAIGHT LIKE AN ARROWS SHAFT ॥(3.1 & 3.2) Verses 33 & 34॥  

The Story of Venerable Méghiya –Once, while residing on the Calika Mountain, the Buddha spoke these verses, with reference to Venerable Méghiya. Once, by reason of attachment to the three evil thoughts, lust, hatred, delusion, Venerable Méghiya was unable to practice meditation in this mango-grove and returned to the Buddha. 

The Buddha said to him, “Méghiya, you committed a grievous fault. I asked you to remain, saying to you, ‘I am now alone, Méghiya. Just wait until some other monk appears.’ But despite my request, you went your way. A monk should never leave me alone and go his way when I ask him to re- main. A monk should never be controlled thus by his thoughts. As for thoughts, they are flighty, and a man ought always to keep them under his own control.” At the conclusion of the stanzas Méghiya was established in the fruit of conversion and many other monks in the fruits of the second and third paths. 

Explanation (Verse 33) 

There are several references in the Dhammapada, to the craftsmanship of the fletcher. The Buddha seems to have observed the process through which a fletcher transforms an ordinary stick into an efficient arrow- shaft. The disciplining of the mind is seen as being a parallel process. In this stanza the Buddha says that the wise one straightens and steadies the vacillating mind that is difficult to guard, like a fletcher straightening an arrow-shaft. 

Explanation (Verse 34) 

When making an effort to abandon the realm of Mara (evil), the mind begins to quiver like a fish taken out of the water and thrown on land.