Way thought for the day, 29th June 2012 – Though a person be ornamented with jewels

 

Instead of disgust with the world, Yasa felt the cooling stream of hallowed wisdom, and, having obtained the pure and spotless eye of truth, he looked at his person, richly adorned with pearls and precious stones, and his heart was filled with shame.

The Tathagata, knowing his inward thoughts, said, “Though a person be ornamented with jewels, the heart may have conquered the senses. The outward form does not constitute goodness or affect the mind. Thus the body of a samana may wear an ascetic's garb while his mind is immersed in worldliness. A man that dwells in lonely woods and yet covets worldly vanities, is a worldling, while the man in worldly garments may let his heart soar high to the most hallowed thoughts. There is no distinction between the layman and the hermit, if but both have banished the thought of self.”

From The Hallowed Book of Man

Chapter: The Spotless Eye of Truth

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