Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 201Walking Against Stream
Pāli / Sanskrit:Walking against stream
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Explanation of the Discourse “Walking Against the Stream”
Background
The discourse “Walking Against the Stream” is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli canon, the Vinaya section that contains training rules and instructions on conduct from the Buddha and his disciples. Though this discourse is not listed among the principal collections of the Sutta Piṭaka, it reflects one of the basic principles of moral conduct in early Buddhism.
In the context of Buddhist practice, the “stream” is often understood as the current of afflictive habits, the natural tendencies of the mind according to habit, and human weakness before emotions and desires. To practice the Dharma, a practitioner must be able to oppose this current, that is, to overcome obstacles and natural psychological tendencies.
Main Content
The discourse teaches that the path of Buddhist practice is the path of “walking against the stream,” that is, acting contrary to what ignorance and afflictions impel. When a person is swept along by the currents of greed, hatred, and delusion, they seek pleasure in sense objects, conceal faults, and sink into unwholesome states of mind.
By contrast, a monastic or anyone practicing the Dharma must act in the opposite way: abandoning petty ambitions, acknowledging one’s faults, and training the mind toward wholesome things. This is the act of “walking against the stream,” not following the natural flourishing of the afflictions, but moving in the direction of liberation.
The discourse emphasizes that those capable of “swimming against this stream” are rare, true sages. They are not carried along by social tendencies, nor do they follow what the majority pursues; instead, they follow the Noble Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha. Such persons are regarded as truly worthy of reverence.
Practical Meaning
The practical meaning of this discourse lies in this: Buddhist practice is not an easy path or one favored by society. It requires perseverance, readiness to endure hardship, and the capacity to question values that society regards as normal.
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