A Small Amount of Existence is Not Praiseworthy

Monks, just as even a small amount of feces is foul smelling, so too I do not praise even a small amount of existence, even for a mere finger snap.

Monks, just as even a small amount of urine is foul smelling…a small amount of saliva is foul smelling…a small amount of pus is foul smelling…a small amount of blood is foul smelling, so too I do not praise even a small amount of existence, even for a mere finger snap.

(Reference: AN 1.328)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how existence of any type within The Cycle of Rebirth is not praiseworthy.

Praiseworthy: deserving admiration; commendable.

Gotama Buddha’s Teachings on The Path to Enlightenment solve the problem of the discontent mind and upon a being attaining Enlightenment to eliminate discontentedness, they will have eliminated the conditions which create rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.

An Enlightened being will no longer experience existence in The Cycle of Rebirth, therefore, Gotama Buddha is explaining that existence is not deserving of admiration nor commendable. Just as “a small amount of feces is foul smelling”, The Buddha considers existence as undesirable.

To exist in any form or formless realm means the mind is hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) still experiencing craving and anger. The Path to Enlightenment is to eliminate craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) to eliminate discontentedness from the mind and having done so, a being will have eliminated The Cycle of Rebirth no longer experiencing existence in any realm.

The Buddha does not favor existence even for a split second or for a “finger snap”.

Just as urine, saliva, pus, blood, and feces are all “foul smelling”, so too The Buddha does not feel existence in The Cycle of Rebirth is deserving of admiration or commendable.

The Buddha did not teach that one should aspire for continuous rebirth but instead, that one should train the mind to independently verify The Teachings to acquire wisdom eliminating discontentedness and existence in The Cycle of Rebirth.

Once the mind is Enlightened, there will no longer be any discontentedness nor rebirth. What happens after death for an Enlightened being is an undeclared Teaching.

You may have come across teachings where people believe that The Buddha taught that Practitioners should be a bodhisattva and that the goal of this path and Teachings is to return to existence to help others attain Enlightenment.

You can see from this Teaching in The Words of The Buddha, that he did not teach the bodhisattva approach that some people choose to share today. The Buddha did not share that one should aspire for existence but instead, apply effort and dedication to learning and practicing these Teachings to attain Enlightenment to end The Cycle of Rebirth.

Due to The Universal Truth of Impermanence, there are many different beliefs that have been integrated into The Buddha’s Teachings over countless years and generations. But, these beliefs are not based on The Words of The Buddha as they are modifications made after his death and do not lead to Enlightenment. The Path to Enlightenment does not include belief but instead is based on truth to acquire wisdom.

Through you learning and practicing with The Words of The Buddha, you will come to understand exactly what he did and did not teach and be able to see the truth for yourself.

The Buddha never taught anyone to aspire for rebirth or come back to help others attain Enlightenment. That is not the goal of The Path to Enlightenment.

Once a being is Enlightened, there will no longer be any rebirth. And, how could one help others attain Enlightenment if they themselves have not attained Enlightenment? Could an individual who has never driven a car teach another person to drive a car? This is not possible and would only lead to chaos and confusion.

The goal of this path is, if you choose, to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings so you can observe the truth to acquire wisdom liberating the mind from constant discontentedness and continued rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth. Having done so, all sorrow, grief, and despair will be completely eliminated from the mind - permanently.