The secondary literature consistently highlights the goldsmith simile as a classic illustration of the need for balanced effort and proper timing in Buddhist practice, particularly meditation.
Kumārajīva, Yamabe, and Sueki (2009): The Sutra on the Concentration of Sitting Meditation (page 106) directly references this passage from Saundarananda (SauN 16.64-65). They explain that if the goldsmith acts untimely—blowing too much, stopping too early, sprinkling water at the wrong moment, or neglecting the gold—the refining process fails. This underscores the precise nature of the metaphor, where each action (blowing, cooling, observing) must be executed at the opportune moment to prevent ruin or incompleteness.
José Van Den Broeck (1977): La Saveur De L'Immortel (A-p'i-t'an Kan Lu Wei Lun) / The Taste Of The Deathless (page 133) provides a similar interpretation from the Abhidharma-amṛta-rasa-śāstra. It explicitly links the goldsmith's actions to aspects of meditative practice: constant blowing on the fire would scorch the gold (likened to excessive exertion), constant sprinkling with water would cool it (likened to excessive concentration/dhyāna), and constant abandonment would prevent its proper maturation (likened to equanimity). This text clearly articulates how the simile serves as a guide for balancing diligence (vīrya), concentration (samādhi/dhyāna), and equanimity (upekṣā) in meditation, preventing the pitfalls of sloth, agitation, or lack of refinement.
Bhikkhu Bodhi (2012): The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha (page 331) offers a translation of a Pali parallel (Anguttara Nikaya) that details the same metaphor. It warns that exclusive focus on one aspect—blowing (heating), sprinkling water (cooling), or just looking on (equanimity)—will lead to failure: burning, cooling down, or failing to reach the right consistency. This reinforces the idea that an integrated and responsive approach is essential.
**Dear Colleagues,
I’m no expert in either metallurgy or alchemy, but couldn’t the verse be referring to ordinary metalworking? One heats a metal to make it workable (dhaman might suggest the use of bellows or a blowpipe), and sometimes one submerges it in liquid to cool the metal. Both processes—heating and cooling—require proper timing.
In English the process of rapidly submerging the workpiece in liquid is known as quenching. It seems to me the idea of quenching a workpiece, causing it to be “quenched,” “extinguished,” or “calmed” of its fiery properties, falls comfortably within the lexical range of saṃśam and makes good sense in context.
Best wishes,
Michael
Michael S. AllenAssociate Professor
Department of Religious Studies
University of Virginia
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