Casting Off the Burden

At Savatthi. "Friends, I will teach you the burden, the carrier of the burden, the taking up of the burden, and the casting off of the burden. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak."

"As you say, Bhagavan," the friends responded.

The Blessed One said, "And which is the burden? 'The five types of clinging,' it should be said. Which five types? Clinging to form, clinging to feeling, clinging to perception, clinging to conceptions, clinging to sense-awareness. This, monks, is called the burden.

"And which is the carrier of the burden? 'The person,' it should be said. This venerable one with such a name, such a clan-name. This is called the carrier of the burden.

"And which is the taking up of the burden? The fear that makes for further limitations — accompanied by worry and anxiety, avoiding now this and now that — i.e., fearing sensual pleasure, fearing limitation, fearing ungroundedness. This is called the taking up of the burden.

"And which is the casting off of the burden? The remainderless fading and cessation, renunciation, relinquishment, release, and letting go of that very fear. This is called the casting off of the burden."

That is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-gone, the Teacher, said further:

A burden indeed

are the five types of clinging,

and the carrier of the burden

is the person.

Taking up the burden in the world

is unsatisfactory.

Casting off the burden

is bliss.

Having cast off the heavy burden

and not taking on another,

pulling up fear,

along with its root,

one is free from hunger,

totally unbound.

[Inspired by the Bhara Sutta]