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Sutta Seeds
Drinks?

~3 minutes read
A black and white simple humorous sumi-e painting of a smiling Buddha with a large belly. He is wearing a traditional Zen robe and a wide Japanese hat that covers his eyes. Only his nose and a wide, smiling mouth are visible. He sits casually on the ground, leaning against it with one hand. In the other outstretched hand, he’s raising a teacup in a celebratory toast with great energy, causing a drop to splash from the cup. In front of him is a traditional tea kettle with another cup. Above the kettle is the Japanese character 'cloud' printed with a traditional red seal.

“The Greater Discourse on Ways of Undertaking Things” (MN 46) offers a simile of four beverages:

The first drink tastes bad and contains poison.
Taking a sip symbolizes actions that are unpleasant in the present and lead to future unease and suffering.

The second drink is delicious but also contains poison,
representing actions that are pleasant in the present but lead to future unease and suffering.

The third drink is a bad-tasting medicine,
like actions that are difficult or uncomfortable in the present but bring future happiness.

Finally, the fourth drink is a delicious medicine!
As you may have guessed, these are actions that are enjoyable in the present and bring future happiness.

☸

Which one?