e.g. (Bhikku Bodhi Translation)
I'm unsure about the meaning of this wording, especially "others will [...], we shall not [...]"."Now Cunda, here effacement should be practised by you: (1) Others will be cruel, we shall not be cruel here: effacement should be practised thus."
...
(44) Others will adhere to their own views, hold on to them tenaciously, and relinquish them with difficulty; we shall not adhere to our own views or hold on to them tenaciously but shall relinquish them easily: effacement should be practised thus."
Is The Buddha telling Cunda that he should practice by repeating these attitudes in his mind and memorize them until they've become an internal standard? Are these 44 sentences meant as meditation subjects?
And is he advising Cunda that he should constantly remind himself of the fact that others "do it wrong" and that the noble one's disciples are better (because of the direct comparison)? What's the use of the direct comparison here and in general?
Is it suggested that to train the mind, one should regulary see how "wrong" others live but how much better oneself should do?
I don't know whether one should practice thinking in a way of "others lie but i won't, others kill but I won't, others will be of wrong speech but I won't" etc. or cut the comparisons and just go "I won't lie, I won't kill, I wont do wrong speech". Since "others" here would mean nonbuddhists, I'm unsure of the use and benefit of training the mind to focus on the differences between oneself and others(all nonbuddhists in this case).
Perhaps I'm just too dumb to understand most Suttas Most look just so obscure in their wording and I fail to understand how the sutta would be set into actual practice.
Another thing about the Sellakha Sutta: The Buddha gives examples how to train in avoidance ie by saying "one given to be uncelibate has celibacy by which to avoid it" or "one given to sloth and torpor has freedom from sloth and torpor by which to avoid it." I have no idea what is really meant here and how it related to practice. It's not like sensual lust can be avoided by flicking a switch in the head and activating celibacy. In the same way sloth and torpor can not be avoided by thinking "Oh will I will just be free from sloth and torpor now" and *boing* crisis averted ? Perhaps my experience is just very different and other people can do it like this?