Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c8.s1.t5.28

c8.s1.t5.28

Thus is related to us the conversation of Buddha with Sona,[*] a young man, who had imposed on himself an excess of ascetic observances, and now, when he becomes aware of the fruitlessness of his practice, is on the point of turning to the opposite extreme, and reverting to a life of enjoyment. Buddha says to this disciple: "How is it, Sona, were you able to play the lute before you left home?"—"Yes, sire."—"What do you think then, Sona, if the strings of your lute are too tightly strung, will the lute give out the proper tone and be fit to play?"—"It will not, sire."—"And what do you think, Sona, if the strings of your lute be strung too slack; will the lute then give out the proper tone and be fit to play?"—"It will not, sire."—"But how, Sona, if the strings of your lute be not strung too tight or too slack, if they have the proper degree of tension, will the lute then give out the proper sound and be fit to play?"—"Yes, sire."—"In the same way, Sona, energy too much strained tends to excessive