॰
My Morning MonkArchive
November 28, 2025

The Simile of the Cloth

MN 7 — The Simile of the Cloth

The Passage

"Monks, suppose a cloth were defiled and stained, and a dyer dipped it in some dye, whether blue or yellow or red or carmine; it would look poorly dyed and impure in color. Why is that? Because of the impurity of the cloth. So too, when the mind is defiled, an unhappy destination may be expected. Monks, suppose a cloth were pure and bright, and a dyer dipped it in some dye, whether blue or yellow or red or carmine; it would look well dyed and pure in color. Why is that? Because of the purity of the cloth. So too, when the mind is undefiled, a happy destination may be expected."

Summary

The Vatthūpama Sutta uses the vivid image of dyeing cloth to illuminate how mental impurities affect our experience and destiny. Just as a stained cloth cannot take dye well, a mind clouded by anger, ill-will, envy, or arrogance cannot absorb the teachings or develop clearly. The Buddha lists sixteen impurities of mind and explains how recognizing and abandoning them leads to a "mind like pure cloth" — bright, receptive, and capable of deep wisdom. The sutta emphasizes that purification isn't about perfection but about recognition: seeing clearly what clouds the mind, then gently releasing it. When the mind is cleansed, it naturally inclines toward what is wholesome, like a clean cloth taking on brilliant color.

॰The Monk Reflects

I think about this teaching when I'm trying to learn something new but my mind is elsewhere — still rehearsing yesterday's argument, still composing tomorrow's to-do list. The stained cloth cannot receive the dye. And here I am, trying to meditate while mentally writing emails. But the Buddha isn't asking for perfection. He's asking for recognition. Can I notice when the cloth is stained? Can I pause before adding more color and tend to what's already there? Some mornings the mind feels like a garment that's been through too many washes — a bit faded, a bit worn. That's alright. Even an old cloth can be cleaned. Even a tired mind can find a moment of clarity. The practice isn't about becoming spotless. It's about noticing the spots, and choosing not to add more.

Sources

MN 7 — Vatthūpama SuttaShunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Tags

purificationmindwisdompractice