Commentary on the Samādhi Meditation Sūtra
Chapter 2: Characteristics of the Defilements of Greed, Hatred, and Delusion
Original Text: **When a person learning meditation first arrives at the teacher's place, the teacher should ask: 'Are your precepts pure? Have you committed no grave sins or evil transgressions?' If the person says the five precepts are pure, with no grave sins or evil transgressions, then the teacher should next instruct them in the path and methods.**
**If the person says they have broken precepts, the teacher should ask again: 'Which precept did you break?' If they say it was a grave precept, the teacher should say: 'Like a person whose ears and nose have been cut off has no need to look in a mirror, you should go back now. Diligently recite the sutras and encourage the making of merit; this can plant the causes and conditions for the future path. The path and methods in this life are forever abandoned. It is like a withered tree; even if watered, it will not produce flowers, leaves, or fruit.'**
**If they broke other, lighter precepts, the teacher should then instruct them in proper repentance. If they become pure, and the teacher possesses the divine eye and the mind-reading faculty, they should then teach the methods for progressing on the path according to the person's affliction.**
**If the teacher has not attained these powers, they should observe the signs or ask the person: 'Among the three poisons, which is predominant? Is it excessive lust, excessive hatred, or excessive delusion?'**
Explanation: When a person wishing to learn meditation first arrives at the teacher's place, the teacher should ask them: Are your precepts pure? Have you committed any transgressions? Are the transgressions not the kind that are grave sins or extremely evil? If the student says their five precepts are pure, without grave unwholesome karmas or evil transgressions, then the teacher should teach them the methods of meditation.
If the student says they have broken precepts, the teacher should ask again: Which precept did you break? If the student says they broke a grave precept, the teacher should say: Just like a person whose ears and nose have been cut off has no need to look in a mirror, you should go back now. Diligently recite the Buddhist sutras, cultivate much merit; this way you can plant the causes and conditions for the path in future lives. In this life, you have no opportunity to attain the Way. It is like a withered tree; even if generously watered, it can no longer grow flowers, leaves, or fruit.
If the student broke other, lighter precepts, then the teacher should instruct them in proper repentance. If this person repents and their mind becomes pure, and if the teacher has developed the divine eye and mind-reading powers, they should expound the methods for progressing on the path suitable for this person according to their specific circumstances. If the teacher has not developed these powers, they should observe this person's outward appearance and the signs of their mental conduct. Then ask them: Among the three poisonous defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion, which one is more prominent? Is your lust excessive, your hatred excessive, or your delusion excessive?
Original Text: **How to observe the signs? If it is the sign of excessive lust, the person is frivolous, keeps many wives and concubines, is talkative and credulous; their countenance is pleasant, their speech is easygoing, they have little hatred and also little sorrow; they are skilled in many arts, well-informed and knowledgeable, fond of songs and poetry, eloquent in discussion; they are good at discerning human feelings, have many fears; their mind is on the bedchamber, fond of wearing thin clothes, thirsting for female beauty, fond of bedding, attire, perfumes, and flowers.**
Explanation: How to observe the signs? If it is the sign of excessive lust, the person is relatively frivolous, marries multiple wives and concubines, their speech is excessive, and they are credulous towards others; their complexion is pleasant, their speech is agreeable, their mind has little hatred and little sorrow; they master many talents and skills, are well-traveled and knowledgeable, fond of lyrics and poetry, eloquent; skilled at observing worldly affairs, easily frightened; their mind delights in the bedchamber, fond of wearing thin clothing, craving and clinging to female beauty, fond of bedding, dressing meticulously, liking fragrances and fresh flowers.
Original Text: **The mind is often soft, capable of compassion, pleasant in speech, fond of cultivating meritorious deeds, aspiring to be reborn in heaven. They are at ease among crowds, discerning others' beauty and ugliness, trusting women. Their lustful fire is blazing, the mind is often regretful and changeable, fond of self-adornment, enjoys viewing colorful paintings, stingy with their own possessions, covetous of others' wealth, fond of making friends and relatives, dislikes solitude, attached to their dwelling place, follows the vulgar crowd, easily startled and fearful, their will is restless like a monkey.**
Explanation: A person with strong lustful desires has a mind often soft, capable of compassion towards others, speech gentle and pleasant, fond of cultivating merit, also aspiring to heavenly pleasures. Among large groups, they are fearless, very popular, agreeable, and at ease. Skilled at discerning others' physical beauty or ugliness, easily trusting women. Lustful fire is blazing, yet the mind is easily regretful and changes its initial resolve, lacking constancy. Fond of adorning and dressing up, enjoys viewing colorful paintings. Stingy with their own possessions, yet can luckily obtain others' wealth. Likes to befriend relatives and friends, dislikes solitude. Attached to their dwelling place and goes with the flow. Regarding people and events, they are always easily startled. Their aspirations are unstable like a monkey's.
Original Text: **Their vision is shallow, they act without forethought, act impulsively, easily satisfied. They are prone to weeping and crying, their body is delicate and soft, unable to endure cold and hardship, easily discouraged and easily pleased, unable to endure hardship, greatly delighted by small gains, greatly distressed by small losses. Their hair lies flat, their body is warm and sweaty with an odor, their skin is thin, hair fine, many wrinkles, often pale. They trim their nails and groom their beard, have white teeth, walk briskly, fond of clean clothes.**
**Their learning is not focused, fond of wandering in woods and gardens, sentimental and demanding, attached to worldly views. If virtuous people are nearby, they inquire first, fond of using others' words, force a smile and endure insults, grasp matters quickly. In their undertakings, they discern beauty and ugliness, pity suffering and distress. They are arrogant and competitive, cannot tolerate being slighted, fond of giving and bestowing favors, attract good people. When they get fine food and drink, they share it with others.**
Explanation: Short-sighted, lacking foresight, acting without considering consequences, their will is shallow and inferior, interested in people and events that suit their preferences, prone to weeping when encountering things that displease them. Their body is thin and weak, unable to endure cold and pain—these are signs of frivolity. Unable to bear hardship, either shrinking back or becoming excessively joyful; slightly gaining something brings great joy, slightly losing something brings sorrow and regret. Hair lies close to the scalp, fond of combing hair, enjoys dressing up. The body is warm, sweat has an odor—this is an outward sign of an impure mind. A person with an impure mind has a peculiar body odor, unpleasant sweat, unpleasant body smell, strong-smelling excrement. Skin is thin, hair fine, skin relatively pale with many wrinkles. Frequently trims fingernails, grooms beard, teeth are white, fond of wearing clean attire.
Interests are broad, not focused on cultivating one skill or art, fond of wandering about. Emotionally rich, extremely greedy, mind attached to vulgar conventional views, simple-minded. If virtuous and cultivated people are nearby, they can actively seek connection and greet them, fond of agreeing with others' words, forcing a smile, skilled at enduring, yielding and flattering, hearing principles, immediately understands and comprehends. Skilled at discerning beauty and ugliness, sympathizes with others' distress and difficulties. Arrogant and fond of contention, unwilling to be infringed upon or humiliated by others. Fond of giving to others, attracts some good people, shares their own fine food with others.
Original Text: **They do not dwell on the near and trivial, their aspirations are lofty, their eyes crave sensual forms. Their undertakings are incomplete, lacking foresight. They know worldly customs, observe expressions, probe others' minds. Pleasant in speech and clever in debate, their friendships are not solid. Their hair is sparse, they sleep little. Sitting, lying, walking, standing, they do not lose their dignified bearing. They can quickly use their possessions to relieve emergencies, but soon regret it. They grasp meaning quickly but soon forget it. They hesitate to act, difficult to change themselves, difficult to free from desire. Their transgressions are minor. Such are the various signs of lust.**
Explanation: Their mind does not dwell on the present or small matters, their aspirations are lofty, aiming high but achieving little. Their eyes delight in seeing beautiful forms, their undertakings are incomplete and not thorough. Lacking foresight, skilled in worldly affairs, good at reading expressions, probing people's minds. Eloquent and persuasive, yet their friendships are superficial, without depth, friends are also unstable. Hair is sparse, they sleep little, yet while walking, sitting, standing, or lying down, they can maintain their demeanor.
They can use all their possessions to relieve others' urgent needs, but soon afterward regret and lament it; such people help others wanting quick repayment. Soon they forget their initial resolve and fail to act to fulfill their promises. Habits are difficult to change, hard to free from desire, yet the wrongdoings they commit are minor, not too serious.
The above various characteristics are the signs of lust. Every small bodily and verbal action can reveal one's character and virtue; details are often unnoticed by oneself and often overlooked by others. But details truly speak volumes. An expression, an action, a look, a tone, an attitude, a glance—all can reveal mindset, habits, and virtue, yet one finds it hard to discover and control them oneself. Major aspects can be disguised, but minor details go unnoticed and cannot be faked.
Original Text: **The signs of a hateful person: often worried and troubled, suddenly violent and resentful, coarse in body and speech. They can endure many hardships, find everything unacceptable, often sorrowful, seldom joyful, capable of great evil, devoid of compassion, fond of disputes and litigation. Their countenance is ruined and haggard, frowning, glancing sideways. They are hard to talk to, hard to please, difficult to serve, hard to satisfy.**
Explanation: The appearance of a person with strong hatred: much worry and trouble, prone to sudden outbursts of rage, their mind always harboring resentment and discontent. Their body is large and robust, their verbal conduct coarse. They can endure hardships unbearable to ordinary people, always discontented with events, not yielding to others' views. Their face shows sorrow, they have little joy, are unhappy most of the time. Prone to commit great evil deeds, cruel and without compassion, fond of conflict and litigation. Their face is ugly, skin rough, sallow, dark, and haggard. Fond of frowning, looking at others sideways. Ordinary people find it hard to speak gently with them, and it's hard to please their mind. Difficult to associate with or serve, hard to satisfy them. People with strong hatred generally have a rather ugly, unpleasant appearance, often fierce-looking.
Original Text: **Their mind is like a sore, yet they proclaim others' faults. Their arguments are forceful, unyielding, cannot be subdued, hard to sway, hard to befriend, hard to discourage, harboring poison hard to expel. What they learn they do not forget, capable and skillful, their mind is not lazy. They act swiftly, observe silently, their thoughts are deep and hard to fathom. They repay kindness received, can gather crowds, subdue others, cannot be thwarted. They can see things through, hard to interfere with, having little fear. Like a lion, they cannot be subdued.**
Explanation: Their mind is unsettled, as if wounded, fond of pointing out others' defects, showing others' shortcomings, their words are aggressive, fond of dominating, ordinary people cannot subdue them. Their mind is hard to sway, others cannot persuade them, hard to get close to, also hard to make them lose heart, they do not shrink back from events. Once hatred resides in their heart, it is hard to pacify and eliminate. Whatever they experience, they do not easily forget. Highly capable in work, outstanding in skills, clever and diligent, not lazy. Acts swiftly, observes events silently.
A person harboring hatred keeps things to their heart, reluctant to speak. Their thoughts are deeply hidden, others cannot easily know them; if they receive kindness, they can repay it. Outstandingly capable, can gather crowds, settle matters, subdue people. Does not shrink back from difficult tasks, not easily discouraged, not easily defeated, can see things through to the end, will not give up halfway, others find it hard to obstruct or interfere; such people are generally fearless, like a lion, never yielding.
Original Text: **They go straight ahead without turning back, charge directly forward. They remember and do not forget, ponder and think much, recite and memorize. They can give generously, small favors without seeking return. They are sharp teachers, free from desire, dwell alone, have little lust. Their mind often harbors a sense of superiority, clings to nihilistic views. Their eyes often look maliciously. They speak truthfully, explain matters clearly. They have few friends, are stubborn in their undertakings, remember firmly, do not forget. They have much physical strength, broad shoulders and chest, wide forehead, neat hair. Their mind is firm, hard to subdue. They grasp quickly, do not forget, can free themselves from desire. They are fond of committing grave sins. Such are the various signs of hatred.**
Explanation: Like a lion, they charge straight ahead without turning back. They remember events and people they encounter. Their mind is full of thoughts, thinking is sharp, fond of memorizing and reciting, generous in giving, chivalrous and righteous. Bestowing small favors without seeking repayment, nor calculating. Can guide others, their disposition is fierce, able to leave worldly desires, fond of solitude, having little lust. Their mind often has a sense of superiority, acts arbitrarily, clings to their own dogmatic views without letting go. Often looks at others with malicious eyes, fond of speaking truthfully, not lying, handles matters straightforwardly. Few friends, little social interaction, stubborn in their work, won't listen to advice. Strong memory, robust body, broad shoulders and chest, full, broad, and even forehead. Their mind is strong and hard to tame, reacts swiftly, remembers events, can leave greed behind, fond of committing great unwholesome karmas.
The above are all signs of hatred. An unsettled, unpeaceful mind of hatred obstructs meditation. Clinging without forgetting, an impure mind, obstructs meditation.
Original Text: **The signs of a deluded person: much doubt and regret, lazy and without views, self-satisfied and hard to humble, arrogant and hard to accept. They distrust what should be trusted, trust what should not be trusted. They lack reverence, believe whatever they encounter.**
**They follow many teachers, are frivolous and rash, shameless and abrupt. They act without forethought, teach others perversely. They do not choose friends, do not groom themselves, fondly follow heterodox paths, cannot distinguish good and evil. They learn with difficulty, forget easily, are dull-witted and lazy. They scold and slander those who practice giving, lack compassion, destroy the bridge of the Dharma. They do not understand events.**
Explanation: The appearance of a deluded person: when encountering events, their mind is unclear, full of doubt; after doing things, they often regret, their nature lazy, not diligent in thinking, lacking independent views, always indecisive, and once decided, regret arises again. Their mind is often self-satisfied, hard to accept others' good advice, unwilling to yield or compromise. Ignorant yet not admitting ignorance, hard to persuade or advise. Ignorant and arrogant, yet not accepting others' words, not convinced by others. They distrust what should be trusted, trust what should not be trusted. Do not know to respect those worthy of respect, cannot distinguish right from wrong, credulous, believing whatever they encounter, unable to think deeply and investigate.
They follow teachers everywhere, not selecting good people or wholesome teachings, their thoughts frivolous and restless, without shame, rash and abrupt. Act without using their brains, thinking is weak and inferior. Being deluded themselves, they teach others perversely, being muddled and coarse. Do not select friends, do not know closeness or distance, slovenly, unkempt. Fond of learning from heterodox paths, cannot distinguish good from evil, right from wrong. What they learn is hard to retain, often forgotten; their faculties are dull, their mind often lazy. Scold and slander those who practice giving, without a compassionate heart. Often undermine the teachings, encounter events without clarity, without understanding.
Original Text: **They glare without seeing, lack wisdom and skill. They seek much, hope much, doubt much, trust little. They detest good people, destroy karmic retribution of sin and merit. They cannot distinguish good words, cannot understand faults, do not accept admonition. They alienate relatives, harbor hatred and resentment. They do not know etiquette, fond of harsh speech. Their beard, hair, and nails are long, teeth and clothes are filthy. They are driven by others, unafraid where they should fear, worried where they should be happy, happy where they should worry, laugh where they should grieve, grieve where they should laugh. They follow only after being pulled. They can endure hardship, cannot distinguish flavors, find it hard to free themselves from desire, commit deep sins. Such are the various signs of delusion.**
Explanation: Towards relatives and good people, they often confront them with hatred, glaring maliciously, their mind dull, lacking wisdom and skill. Greedily seek everywhere, their nature suspicious, distrusting what others say. Detest good people, prone to commit evil deeds, destroy meritorious retribution. Cannot distinguish others' good words, nor understand their own or others' faults. Do not accept others' teachings and illustrative words, easily generate hatred and resentment towards relatives. Act without knowing etiquette in front of others, fond of harsh speech. Unkempt, dirty, long nails, filthy clothes. Often driven by others, yet unaware of fear in dangerous places. Worried in happy places, happy in worrisome places, joyful in sorrowful places, sorrowful in joyful places. Pulled along, following others, yet can endure such hardship. Cannot distinguish sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, clinging everywhere, hard to free from desire, often commit relatively grave sins. The above are all signs of delusion.
Among the three poisonous defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion, greed is the easiest to subdue and eradicate, hatred comes next, and the hardest to subdue and eradicate is delusion. Because of delusion, not distinguishing good and evil, not listening to advice, then there is no way to change one's mind. Hatred is relatively solid and hard to eradicate, but as long as there is wisdom and one listens to guidance, there is still a way to overcome it. Greedy people, if not deluded, deeply consider gains and losses, cultivate some meditation, are most easily influenced, easiest to subdue and eradicate.
Original Text: **If a person has excessive lust, treat them with the method of impurity. If a person has excessive hatred, treat them with the method of loving-kindness. If a person has excessive delusion, treat them with the method of contemplating dependent origination. If a person has excessive discursive thought, treat them with the method of mindfulness of breathing. If a person has an equal measure [of defilements], treat them with the method of mindfulness of the Buddha. For such various illnesses, there are various methods of treatment.**
Explanation: If a person has excessive lust, use the contemplation of impurity to counteract it. If a person has excessive hatred, use the method of loving-kindness to counteract it. If a person has excessive delusion, use the method of contemplating dependent origination to counteract it. If a person has excessive discursive thought, use the method of mindfulness of breathing to counteract it. If a person has an equal measure of several [defilements], use the method of mindfulness of the Buddha to counteract it. For such various mental illnesses, use various methods to counteract them.
