The Stench and the Flies
a summarized transcription
by Ajahn Nyanamoli Thero
“On one occasion the Buddha, having gone for alms in Varanasi, after the meal, returning from his alms round, addressed the bhikkhus:”This morning I dressed, took my bowl and robe and entered Vārāṇasī for alms. While walking for alms I saw a dissatisfied bhikkhu seeking gratification outwardly, muddle-minded, confused, without clear comprehension, uncomposed, with a wandering mind and loose sense faculties. Having seen him, I said to that bhikkhu: ‘Bhikkhu! Do not pollute yourself. Flies will inevitably pursue and attack one who has polluted himself and been tainted by a stench.’ Then, being exhorted thus by me, that bhikkhu acquired a sense of urgency.”
When this was said, a certain bhikkhu asked the Blessed One: “What, Bhante, is meant by ‘pollution’? What is the ‘stench’? And what are the ‘flies’?”
“Longing, bhikkhu, is what is meant by ‘pollution.’ Ill will is the ‘stench.’ Bad unwholesome thoughts are the ‘flies.’ Flies will inevitably pursue and attack one who has polluted himself and been tainted by a stench.
The flies—thoughts based on lust—
will run in pursuit of one
unrestrained in the sense faculties,
unguarded in the eye and ear.A bhikkhu who is polluted,
tainted by a stench,
is far from nibbāna
and reaps only distress.Whether in the village or the forest,
the unwise foolish person,
not having gained peace for himself,
goes around followed by flies.But those accomplished in virtuous behavior
who delight in wisdom and peace,
those peaceful ones live happily,
having destroyed the flies.— AN 3.128
Ajahn Nyanamoli: How should you address these “flies” of impure thoughts? Is it more effective to deal with them one by one, using methods of concentration, or try to deny them in some other way? Or, is it better to eliminate the root causes to stop these thoughts from recurring?
The key to abandoning them is by removing what attracts them in the first place.
Q: The stench.
Nm: And you maintain that stench by acting out of craving, by not being restrained, by not enduring things on the right level.
Q: If one keeps restraint and endures on the right level, can those flies return?
Nm: The return of those unwholesome thoughts is not a random occurrence; it results from losing control over one’s behavior and allowing impurities to accumulate. This happens because of choices made to act out of craving, succumb to sensual desires, abandon sense-restraint, lose sight of broader perspectives, and yield to distractions. Attempting to address these thoughts through concentration practices or methods to stop thinking doesn’t address the root issue. It’s akin to chasing the flies without addressing the source of the problem.
Even if you lead a life of skillful management, you remain in the same domain whereby those thoughts will keep arising. The key is not to focus on or deny the symptoms like ill will or lustful thoughts but to address their root cause. These thoughts persist because the mind frequently dwells on themes that provoke them, such as the value of pleasure, the justification of aversion, the sense of ownership, entitlement, etc., all of which contradict the universal nature of things. The solution lies in not indulging in these themes and instead developing their opposites.
Q: You can’t start the cleansing if you have that wrong view that it is the flies that are making me stink.
Nm: Exactly, the flies are not the source of the stench; they are merely its indicators. The presence of flies indicates that something is there to attract them.
Q: If you can’t accept that, there is no hope in freeing yourself from flies.
Nm: And you wouldn’t accept that because it’s just too much aversion towards flies and desire for the stench.
Q: So one must understand the origin of the stench and acknowledge that the flies are there because of it.
Nm: Yes, don’t perpetuate the idea of dealing with the flies themselves but rather focus on recognizing that the presence of flies signifies the simultaneous existence of what attracts them. Lustful thoughts, for instance, cannot manifest unless there is a simultaneous presence of a lustful state of mind fueled by longing for and value in sensual pleasures.
The key is to discern this and understand what to look for and how to address it. If all one does is justify dealing with the flies through various management techniques and concentration methods, then these insights will not be fruitful.
Q: Recognizing the source of the issue is close to having the right view or at least – it’s a step in the right direction. i.e. the mundane right view.
Nm: Yes, understanding the problem’s root is essential for cultivating the right view. Without this insight, you can’t learn how to endure things on the right level. Right endurance does not mean tolerating the flies without action. Instead, it entails taking action consisting of abandoning the pollution/stench. That is the Middle Way.
The root of suffering is craving, not external things, sensory experiences, or thoughts. It’s the craving in response to what is felt that is at the core of suffering, and this is something you carry with you.
Understanding the right view begins with comprehending what suffering truly is. When you recognize the presence of craving, you simultaneously acknowledge the presence of suffering.
When you discern craving, and comprehend its signs and features, you have the foundation of the right view. You’ve genuinely, correctly, and accurately identified the cause of suffering. Consequently, you know precisely how to escape it without needing further analysis.
Knowing the presence of craving reveals that the absence of craving leads to the absence of suffering, regardless of external circumstances.
So, how can you develop the absence of craving? That’s where the Noble Eightfold Path comes in. You might not necessarily see it in its eight-fold structure as the Buddha described it, but you grasp its fundamental principles. These include practicing sense restraint, guarding your sense doors, refraining from acting out of craving and abandoning the unnecessary aversion towards discomfort and the unwarranted delight in comfort, which are forms of craving. You won’t find craving as a tangible object you can witness with your senses; it’s always in the background context, maintained through a careless attitude towards pleasure—your default inclination. The true peril is not the presence or absence of pleasure in the world but the tendency to lean towards it and away from pain gratuitously.
Q: Leaning towards pleasure, is longing.
Nm: Leaning away from pain is aversion.
Q: That’s the stench and then the suffering is the flies.
Nm: That’s all the consequences of it. So if there is no leaning, there would be no flies. If there is no leaning towards pleasure, there would be no lustful thoughts. If there is no leaning away from pain, i.e. aversion, or craving, there would be no angry thoughts, no thoughts of ill will, or discontent. That’s what I mean, thoughts and hindrances and everything else are the symptoms of the problem. The problem of your craving.