Reading guide
Two ordinary materials, two different outcomes
This project's own reading: the simile turns on an ordinary, observable fact any listener could confirm — some leaves are naturally too stiff or brittle to hold water regardless of skill in weaving, while others naturally can — making the impossibility claim vivid and checkable rather than abstract.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, suppose someone were to say: ‘Without truly comprehending the noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path, I will completely make an end of suffering.’ That is not possible.
§2It’s as if someone were to say: ‘I’ll make a basket out of acacia leaves or pine needles or myrobalan leaves, and use it to carry water or ripe palmyra fruit.’ That is not possible. In the same way, suppose someone were to say: ‘Without truly comprehending the noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path, I will completely make an end of suffering.’ That is not possible.
§3But suppose someone were to say: ‘After truly comprehending the noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path, I will completely make an end of suffering.’ That is possible.
§4It’s as if someone were to say: ‘I’ll make a basket out of lotus leaves or flame-of-the-forest leaves or camel’s foot creeper leaves, and use it to carry water or ripe palmyra fruit.’ That is possible. In the same way, suppose someone were to say: ‘After truly comprehending the noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path, I will completely make an end of suffering.’ That is possible.
§5That’s why you should practice meditation …”
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.