Explanation of the parable
The cloth represents human behavior; on the other hand, a dirty cloth represents bad behavior such as malice, jealousy, malice, trickery, hypocrisy, pride, haughtiness, pride, arrogance, inflation, and indolence. All these represent a contaminated or impure state of mind. If one fills his/her mind with such things, even when one fills their mind with clean thoughts they are also contaminated. On the other hand, if one has a pure state of mind and associates with such people, they often contaminate their mind and eventually makes his/her mind impure. A clean cloth represents a pure state of mind, in that, someone who is free from hypocritical acts, malice, haughtiness, pride, trickery as well as arrogance and indolence. This pure state of mind passes on the clean nature of thoughts to those who interact with them. The same also applies to those thoughts that enter into their state of mind, as they can be kept and maintained pure. On the other hand, the dyes represent a particular group of people and thoughts, ideas that one interacts with, if it’s a clean dye, it represents pure people and thoughts such as sincerity, kindness, and generosity. Also, a dirty dye represents evil thoughts as well as contaminated people.
Say explicitly how this parable is meaningful to Buddhists as an indication of how Buddhist practices change an individual
When one abandons an impure state of mind, they have abandoned cupidity as well as malice, jealousy, malice, trickery, hypocrisy, pride, haughtiness, pride, arrogance, inflation, and indolence. He, therefore, experiences peace as well as satisfaction as a result of the same. When one does that they are now filled with joy as well as pre- satisfaction knowing that they have denounced the evil ways as well as embraced ways that are holy and pure. This, therefore, leads to a change of behavior as they can now impart positively those that they interact with. This leads to a change of behavior and the imparting of clean and pure morals when one emulates the Buddhist culture, they are changed people and these results can be seen. This person can therefore successfully make the choices in life that they have ever wished for with excellent results.
How is it that a bhikku [a Buddhist monk] “may partake of the choicest rice with all manner of sauces and curries” without any harm to his spiritual life?
Just like a dirty cloth dipped in clean water becomes clean and washed, that is the same way in which those who denounce their bad behavior and take on spiritual life can be. They are with a clean and better life that can clean up and still motivate those who are of an impure mind to change and become better people. In so doing they become better people who perform acts of compassion as well as operate on faith and love.
Wouldn’t want such things to be a hindrance to enlightenment?
No, it would not be a hindrance to enlightenment as it would encourage more knowledge as people would able to have an open mind that is free from impurities. On the other hand, through acts of compassion and love, one would not hurt another as well as do anything that would be detrimental to the health of the other. This will, therefore, help in passing on clean and pure morals from one generation to another. In my opinion, by wanting such a state of mind, it would lead to enlightenment as one will be able to learn proper morals, therefore denouncing bad habits such as lying, stealing as well as doing things that are contrary to the spiritual law. Hence, it serves as enlightenment for people to rise to the challenge and embrace proper behavior.