Acacia Leaves

“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.

It’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.’ ^[1]

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.

But 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.

It’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.’ ^[2]

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.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”