What it meant by that the mind reside in the cave?

What it means by that the mind reside in the cave?

Dūraṅgamaṃ ekacaraṃ, asarīraṃ guhāsayaṃ; Ye cittaṃ saṃyamissanti, mokkhanti mārabandhanā.

Dwelling in the cave, the mind, without form, wanders far and alone. Those who subdue this mind are liberated from the bonds of Mara.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak … .budd.html

There is the explanation in the version of the Dhammapada here

  1. Dwelling in the cave (of the heart), the mind, without form, wanders far and alone. Those who subdue this mind are liberated from the bonds of Mara.
    Cittavagga: The Mind

The cave must be ‘darkness’ rather than seclusion for the 2nd bit to make sense.

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Why it can’t be radiant?

Because if it was radiating it wouldn’t need subduing

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Also, anyone who has developed internally focused calm, knows what this ‘cave’ is. This sentence also locates mental phenomena in a certain physical space, unlike commentarial descriptions stating Nama is not experienced in a specific physical space.

With metta

@char101 I asume this could refer to the formless realms though I haven’t had a chance to look up the Pali.

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The commentary tells the story of a novice monk daydreaming though.

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