Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c11.s1.65

c11.s1.65

a few days, thinking “I also follow the calling of a hermit and adopt the holy life, I too shall be similarly treated.” Accordingly resolving that it was well to don the hermit’s robes, returning home, he gave over to his relatives and friends all his moveables and immovables, and adopted the life of a hermit, eating jungle roots and fruits and the like food, he dwelt in a certain rock cave. Having attained dhyāna in a short time, and able to travel in the sky, one day when near his cave, he saw in a creeper called Nari Lata, a full blown flower having the appearance of a woman, in all wise of perfect beauty, glorious in grace. At that very moment he lost the power of dhyāna which he had so long successfully practised by great self control; his dhyāna disappeared at the thought of indulgence, his passions were let loose. Feeling very sorrowful thereat (he thought) ‘Now what shall I do? What is the use of taking all this trouble and living in the jungle’, and returning to the abodes of men, taking a wife and thinking to live in comfort, he went to his village, cast off his hermit’s robes and became a layman and begot children; following industrial and commercial pursuits he with difficulty supported his wife and children, and at the end of his life died in accordance with karma, having forfeited the privilege of birth in Brahma Loka. Thus even for those who have successfully attained dhyāna the power of levitation is destroyed by the strength of lust and they are subject to samsāra’s woe. To those that heed this fact, that desire is as a thorn in the flesh, like a thief stealing away the holy life, like a great fire to burn the holy forest (of hermits) and reduce to ashes; considering those most evil consequences, drive away evil lusts and adopt a holy life.” This story of the consequences of lust is taken from the Kathāvastu Prakaraṇa.