Similes of the Buddha

[Rudite Salina]

Dear Ajahn,

"If there is a herd of cows locked in a barn, and the barn door is opened, the cow that is the strongest will go out first. If there isn't one like that, then the one who is the habitual leader will go out first; if there is no habitual leader then the one nearest the door will go out first. If there is none like that, they will all try to go out at the same time."

Could you please tell which sutta is this simile from?
I read this simile in the collection of Dhamma talks To Be Seen Here and Now by Ayya Khema (Chapter Kamma is Intention).

Thank you.
With metta,
Rudite

[Ajahn Brahmali]

Dear Rudite,

I do not recall reading this simile anywhere in the suttas. Perhaps it is found in a commentarial work. Does anyone else know where this simile comes from?

With metta.

[Ajahn Brahmali]

Dear Rudite,

I have tried to trace this simile but without success. It does not seem to be in the suttas, nor in the Visuddhimagga.

The simile clearly refers to the working of kamma at death, as this is explained in the Visuddhimagga. But even this fourfold scheme of kamma, and their relative priority at death, is not actually found in the suttas, which makes me wonder how significant it really is. To me it is the making of good kamma through a good Buddhist practice that is most important. If we live well now, we are very likely to have a good death.

With metta.

[Rudite Salina]

Dear Ajahn,

Thank you very much for clarifying this.

With metta,
Rudite