Haste Makes One Sick

Haste is a common characteristic inherent in most people when dealing with day to day affairs.
People tend to accomplish most affairs with undue haste whether these particular affairs need
or do not need urgent attention for completion. It is evident most of the time that people are not
in a composed, relaxed mental frame to accomplish most of these tasks with patience. Even
their day to day physical activities such as talking, eating, walking are also done with undue
haste. Some think that this undue haste is an inborn characteristic of human beings.
If we can go in to the root causes of the undue haste, an important lesson could be learnt for the
benefit of our lives. A story from the Buddhas time on haste would shed light on our present day
busy, hectic lifestyles.
According to this story, Bikkhuni Uttara, aged 120 years, was on her alms rounds one day when
she noticed the Buddha, who was also on the alms rounds with the other monks, coming
towards her direction. Bikkhuni Uttara, out of respect for the Buddha, stepped aside hurriedly to
make way for the Buddha. While stepping aside hurriedly, she stepped on her robe by accident
and fell on the ground. The Buddha who saw this incident came to her and treated her with the
assistance of others and expounded a discourse, emphasising the importance of acting without
undue haste in life. At the end of this discourse, Bhikkuni Uttara attained the fruit of stream entry
(sotapanna).
A part of a stanza from this discourse which reads as parijinna midam rupam - roga niddam
pabamguram is important for our discussion here. The stanza indicates that this body is a
constantly changing, foul mass which is similar to a disease - causing nest. Rupa refers to a
change or transformation from one state to another. This change results from a state of heat.
Also, the change depends on the degree of heat. Heat is the main factor responsible for the
change or transformation of all phenomena. In this particular stanza, rupa refers to a change
or transformation taking place in the mind and the body resulting from a state of heat.
Depending on the degree of heat, changes or transformations of the mind would take different
forms. Going back to the main story, we could observe how bhikkhuni Uttaras mind got agitated
at the sight of the Buddha who was reaching towards her direction. Buddhas sight transformed
her mind so much with heat, that she was completely disoriented and fell on the ground by
stepping on her own robe. In other words, she experienced an overwhelming change or
transformation (rupa) in her mind.
According to the teachings of the Buddha, the primary cause for mental inflammation is the
expectation of a personal gain at all times. Every time one expects to gain something, one
mind tends to become inflamed with desire. This expectation is always based on finding
happiness in life. The expectation for happiness prompts human beings to act in haste. The
haste, in turn, causes adverse mental and bodily changes, transformations. It has been ,even,
medically proved that distortions in blood caused by inflamed mental states to create certain
illnesses. The Buddha, analysing the same scenario, identified the tendency to become sick as
roga niddam. Niddam means a birds nest. At first, a birds nest is a desirable place to live.

The nest gradually becomes a filthy, contagious place during the successive periods of laying of
eggs, incubation, hatching and birth of nestlings. Similarly, whenever an individuals mind
becomes inflamed unnecessarily, this individual creates a breeding ground for germs to cause
mental and bodily illnesses similar to a birds nest. According to the Buddhas teachings, the
main reason for developing a contagious body, similar to a nest, is the mental agitation,
inflammation caused by the desire for personal gains. Mind always inclines towards personal
gains. The higher the desire for personal gains the higher the intensity of heat in the mind.
Heated, inflamed mind motivates one to act in haste. A man kills another man for personal gain.
Even an animal kills another animal to achieve this end. Humans, specially, are caught in this
vicious cycle and they experience suffering and uneasiness as a result. This is a complex
dilemma for which humans have been looking for a practical answer. A Buddha is born into this
world for the purpose of presenting a solution to this complex situation. Only a Buddha could
dispel our fears and show the path to deal with these situations with success.
When a man kills or attempts to kill another man for some personal gain, the intensity of mental
heat, agitation is thousand times greater than the intended personal gain. Once an individual
realises this undying reality associated with this absurd act of killing would refrain from it
altogether. This understanding would enable one to experience lesser degree of mental heat,
agitation. He would totally refrain from killing any living being once he comprehends the virtue
and benefit of maintaining the mind devoid of intense heat, resulting from desires for personal
gains. Same approach is applicable to an individual, who steals for personal gain; who engage
in sexual misconduct for personal gain; who tells lies for personal gain; who consumes
intoxicant drinks and substances for personal gain. If an individual realises the intense harmful
impact on the mind resulting from these offences, rather than the temporary personal gain, he
would definitely refrain from these harmful practices. Such an approach would save the mind
from getting heated, inflamed and would ultimately lead one to a peaceful mental state. This
would lead one to a virtuous life. A life associated with virtue is far happier than a life associated
with five primary offences. (Harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and
intoxication)
In accordance with this analysis, we find that each precept advocating an act of letting go. The
ultimate meaning of letting go is referred to as dana (giving, generosity). So, based on this
analysis, we can determine that the only way for happiness, peace of mind is the practice of
dana. Therefore, it is evident that the gain one experiences through a process of inflaming,
agitating the mind is not a realistic happiness. Agitating or inflaming the mind is a source for
mental and physical illnesses. Those who are unaware of this life secret are compelled to lead
lives filled mental and physical illnesses. Intellectuals known as Buddhists follow this secret at
all times and lead happy, peaceful lives devoid of mental and physical illnesses.
Based on the writings by Kotte Devananda Thero