The Dangers of Sensual Pleasures and Self-Mortification : หน้า 196/263

1.1 Kāmasukhallikāyunāga: indulgence in the various sensual pleasures is harmful in the following ways: 1.1.1 Hino: It makes the mind coarse and clouded; 1.1.2 Gammo: (this word literally means "householder") It is the reason why people settle for the household life; 1.1.3 Pothujaniko: It makes the mind collect defilements and become engrained with them; 1.1.4 Antioyo: It is the reason one cannot escape the clutches of the defilements; 1.1.5 Anathasamhito: It is unprofitable. 1.2 Attakilamathānuyoga: the ascetic practice of self-mortification which is harmful in at least the following three ways: 1.2.1 Dukkho: It brings needless suffering on yourself; 1.2.2 Antioyo: It is the reason one cannot escape the clutches of the defilements; 1.2.3 Anathasamhito: It is unprofitable. The Buddha had to mention these two extremes right from the beginning of the sermon because in contemporary religious practice there were two main schools of thought. The first school of thought taught to eat, drink and be merry and one day one will find true happiness which will be everlasting. Prince Siddhattha had tried this for himself since his time in the royal palace and found that it was ineffective. The Group of Five knew this too, so the sermon started from something they could agree upon. It also warned the Group of Five not to slip back into worldly ways. However, the school of thought which advocated self-mortification was like a cloud blocking the light of the sun in the spiritual thought of those days. Many people in those days were in-