Foam

SN 22.95

One time the Buddha was staying near Ayojjha by the river Ganges. He said,
“Seekers, imagine there was a big lump of foam on the Ganges and someone with good eyesight would see it and examine it carefully.

They would see this foam as empty, hollow and without substance. How can foam have any substance?

Just like this, a seeker carefully observes all kinds of form in the past, present or future; internal or external; rough or fine; inferior or superior; far or near.

On close examination, they see all forms as totally empty, hollow and without substance.

Imagine that during a heavy autumn rain a bubble forms on water and immediately pops, and someone with good eyesight would see it and examine it carefully.

They would see this as empty, hollow and without substance. How can a bubble have any substance?

Just like this, a seeker carefully observes all kinds of feeling tones, past, present and so on. On close examination, they see all of them as totally empty, hollow and without substance.

Imagine that during a hot summer day a shining mirage appears and someone with good eyesight would see it and examine it carefully.

They would see it as empty, hollow and without substance. How can a mirage have any substance?

Just like this, a seeker carefully observes all kinds of perceptions, past, present and so on. On close examination, they see all perceptions as totally empty, hollow and without substance.

Imagine that someone went into a forest searching for heartwood and they would see a big banana tree. They would cut it down, and peel away all the layers without even finding sapwood, much less heartwood.

They would see it as empty, hollow and without substance. How can a banana tree have any substance?

Just like this, a seeker carefully observes all decisions, past, present and so on. On close examination, they see all decisions as totally empty, hollow and without substance.

Imagine that a magician performs an illusion at a crossroads and someone with good eyesight would see it and examine it carefully.

They would see it as empty, hollow and without substance. How can an illusion have any substance?

Just like this, a seeker carefully observes all forms of awareness, past, present and so on. On close examination, they see all awareness as totally empty, hollow and without substance.

When they see this, a well-trained student gets disenchanted with form, they don’t care for feeling tones, perceptions, decisions and awareness.

When this happens they become dispassionate and then they are free.

When they feel this freedom, they know that birth has ended. Their spiritual journey is over. They did what they had to do and there is no going back.
This is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy Teacher also said:

Form is like a lump of foam; 
feeling tone, a bubble; 
perception is like a mirage; 
decisions, a banana tree; 
and awareness is like an illusion;
so says the Kinsman of the Sun. 
However you observe them
and carefully examine them, 
they’re empty and hollow 
when seen closely.
The great wise one taught
that this body form
will be discarded
when these three are let go:
vitality, warmth, and awareness.
It will lie there, thrown aside,
food for others, without will.
That’s what it is like,
this illusion, this idiot fraud.
It’s said to be a murderer,
no substance is found here.
A seeker should examine 
the five heaps like this. 
Mindful, with clear knowing,
by day or by night. 
They should give up all chains, 
and make a refuge for themselves. 
They should live as if their head was on fire, 
seeking the indestructible.“