Commentary on Numerical Sayings I(4)

Some comments on AN.I.6-7: Untamed - Adanta

Untamed: Means a mind that has not brought the forces of greed, hate and confusion under control. [back]

Tamed: Means a mind which has subdued the destructive forces of greed, hate and confusion. [back]

Unguarded: Means a mind, which is unaware of itself and blinded as to its own activities! It watches neither what is coming in though the sense doors (input), nor what is going out through the doors of thought, speech and action (output). As it does not deliberately and systematically evaluate, what is appearing in the door of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind, it is unable to recognize, sort out and control any detrimental inputs... As it does not deliberately and systematically evaluate, what is going out, it is unable to prevent the expression of detrimental thought, speech and action. Such a mind is therefore inevitable vulnerable and prone to these quite painful effects of these actions. Neglect is the bad root also here! [back]

Guarded: Means a mind, which continuously watches, notes and evaluates both sense input and action output. Thus it is able to prevent detrimental inputs giving rise to disadvantageous mental states such as greed and anger. Therefore, it is able to prevent disadvantageous outputs through the doors of thought, speech and action, which results in future delayed pain. In this way, such a mind guards and protects itself and others simultaneously, against any otherwise inevitable painful consequences. Continuous and alert awareness is the good root also here! [back]

Unprotected: Means not covered like by an umbrella, not shielded as by a screen, against suddenly arising and incoming states of lust, jealousy, irritation, impatience, aversion, intolerance, arrogance, stubbornness, conceit, laziness, restlessness, shamelessness, doubt and confusion. [back]

Protected: Means a mind covered by acute awareness of all arising mental states and shielded by recognition of their moral character and discrimination and clear comprehension of their causes. [back]

Uncontrolled: Means a mind, which is unable to resist any temptation, nor able to restrain any aversion. It means a mind unable to recognize speculative views as speculative views and a mind unable to recognize skeptical doubt as skeptical doubt. [back]

Controlled: Means a mind, which is fully able to:
Recognize and overcome sudden impulses of desire.
Perceive and calm sudden impulses of aversion.
Discriminate views as views and knowledge as knowledge.
Examine what is doubtful and follow what is certain and safe.
Evaluate all sensations as advantageous, detrimental or neutral.
Evaluate all planned mental, verbal and bodily actions as advantageous, detrimental or neutral. [back]

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