พระอาจารย์ยกเรื่องพญานกคุ้มจากพระไตรปิฎก ผู้ตั้งสัจจกิริยาด้วยคำจริงง่าย ๆ ยามเผชิญไฟป่า เพื่ออธิบายว่าความบริสุทธิ์ใจและความจริงใจคือสิ่งที่เกื้อกูลให้สัจจาธิษฐานสำเร็จผล และสอนให้กล้ายอมรับความจริงแม้ในยามคับขันPra Ajarn cites the Jataka tale of the quail prince, who made a solemn asseveration of plain truth when facing a forest fire, to explain that purity of heart and sincerity are what make an aspiration built on truth succeed — and to teach the courage to face the truth even in a crisis.
A student asked Pra Ajarn to expand on the of truthfulness supporting aspiration — known as saccādhiṭṭhāna, the asseveration of truth.
Pra Ajarn explained that saccādhiṭṭhāna means bringing of heart and sincerity to bear on setting an intention for something to succeed. When purity of heart and sincerity arise, a wholesome mind arises along with them; the Triple Gem shines brightly within, and a stream of merit flows in continuously, together with the success of whatever has been aspired for or determined.
He cited the story of the quail prince recorded in the Tipitaka, an account of the Bodhisatta's past life before he attained full awakening as the Buddha. At that time he was still a tiny quail chick, newly hatched, with wings that could not yet fly and legs that could not yet walk. When a forest fire broke out while his parents were away searching for food, the little chick made an asseveration of truth in plain, simple words: "My two wings exist, but cannot yet fly. My two feet exist, but cannot yet walk. My mother and father have gone out in search of food. May the fire please turn back." And the fire genuinely turned back.
Pra Ajarn pointed out that what mattered was that these words were true and spoken from a pure heart. Even ordinary, plain words, when they invoke genuine truth in a moment of crisis, can produce real results. He noted that people ordinarily panic and flounder when facing a crisis, unable to act, because possesses the mind in that moment. But the little quail was able to steady its mind because was in charge, giving it the courage to declare the truth and achieve the desired result.
He taught that in life, when facing a crisis, one should not panic but should hold fast to the truth. Most people, when they make a mistake, tend to lie or make excuses to cover it up, because the unwholesome is guiding them from behind. Instead, one should stand firmly in the truth — admitting a mistake when one is wrong — let the wholesome take charge of the mind, and always have the courage to face the truth. This is the Dhamma of truthfulness supporting aspiration, and it is what allows what one sets out to achieve to truly succeed.