AN 10.94 · With Vajjiyamāhita
AN 10.94 · Vajjiyamāhitasutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre.
Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita left Sāvatthī in the middle of the day to see the Buddha. Then it occurred to him, “It’s the wrong time to see the Buddha, as he’s in retreat. And it’s the wrong time to see the esteemed mendicants, as they’re in retreat. Why don’t I visit the monastery for the wanderers of other religions?”
Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati divā divassa campāya nikkhami bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Atha kho vajjiyamāhitassa gahapatissa etadahosi: “akālo kho tāva bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Paṭisallīno bhagavā. Manobhāvanīyānampi bhikkhūnaṁ akālo dassanāya. Paṭisallīnā manobhāvanīyāpi bhikkhū. Yannūnāhaṁ yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkameyyan”ti.
Then he went to the monastery for the wanderers of other religions. Now at that time, the wanderers of other religions had come together, making an uproar, a colossal racket as they sat and talked about all kinds of low topics.
Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkami. Tena kho pana samayena te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā saṅgamma samāgamma unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentā nisinnā honti.
They saw Vajjiyamāhita coming off in the distance, and stopped each other, saying, “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. The householder Vajjiyamāhita, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, is coming into our monastery. He is included among the white-clothed lay disciples of the ascetic Gotama, who is residing near Campā. Such venerables like the quiet, are educated to be quiet, and praise the quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.”
Addasaṁsu kho te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna aññamaññaṁ saṇṭhāpesuṁ: “appasaddā bhonto hontu. Mā bhonto saddamakattha. Ayaṁ vajjiyamāhito gahapati āgacchati samaṇassa gotamassa sāvako. Yāvatā kho pana samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakā gihī odātavasanā campāyaṁ paṭivasanti, ayaṁ tesaṁ aññataro vajjiyamāhito gahapati. Appasaddakāmā kho pana te āyasmanto appasaddavinītā appasaddassa vaṇṇavādino. Appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti.
Then those wanderers of other religions fell silent. Then Vajjiyamāhita went up to them, and exchanged greetings with the wanderers there. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The wanderers said to him:
Atha kho te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ. Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yena te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā etadavocuṁ:
“Is it really true, householder? Does the ascetic Gotama criticize all forms of mortification? Does he categorically condemn and denounce those fervent mortifiers who live rough?”
“saccaṁ kira, gahapati, samaṇo gotamo sabbaṁ tapaṁ garahati, sabbaṁ tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ ekaṁsena upakkosati upavadatī”ti?
“No, sirs, the Buddha does not criticize all forms of mortification. Nor does he categorically condemn and denounce those fervent mortifiers who live rough. The Buddha criticizes where it is due, and praises where it is due. In doing so he is one who speaks after analyzing the question, and is not one-sided on this point.”
“Na kho, bhante, bhagavā sabbaṁ tapaṁ garahati napi sabbaṁ tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ ekaṁsena upakkosati upavadati. Gārayhaṁ kho, bhante, bhagavā garahati, pasaṁsitabbaṁ pasaṁsati. Gārayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhagavā garahanto pasaṁsitabbaṁ pasaṁsanto vibhajjavādo bhagavā. Na so bhagavā ettha ekaṁsavādo”ti.
When he said this, one of the wanderers said to him, “Hold on, householder! That ascetic Gotama who you praise is an exterminator who refrains from making statements.”
Evaṁ vutte, aññataro paribbājako vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: “āgamehi tvaṁ, gahapati, yassa tvaṁ samaṇassa gotamassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, samaṇo gotamo venayiko appaññattiko”ti?
“On this point, also, I reasonably respond to the venerables. The Buddha has stated ‘This is skillful’ and ‘This is unskillful’. So when it comes to what is skillful and unskillful the Buddha makes a statement. He is not an exterminator who refrains from making statements.”
“Etthapāhaṁ, bhante, āyasmante vakkhāmi sahadhammena: ‘idaṁ kusalan’ti, bhante, bhagavatā paññattaṁ; ‘idaṁ akusalan’ti, bhante, bhagavatā paññattaṁ. Iti kusalākusalaṁ bhagavā paññāpayamāno sapaññattiko bhagavā; na so bhagavā venayiko appaññattiko”ti.
When this was said, those wanderers sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say. Seeing this, Vajjiyamāhita rose from his seat. He went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all they had discussed.
Evaṁ vutte te paribbājakā tuṇhībhūtā maṅkubhūtā pattakkhandhā adhomukhā pajjhāyantā appaṭibhānā nisīdiṁsu. Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati te paribbājake tuṇhībhūte maṅkubhūte pattakkhandhe adhomukhe pajjhāyante appaṭibhāne viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yāvatako ahosi tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.
“Good, good, householder! That’s how you should legitimately and completely refute those futile men from time to time. Householder, I don’t say that all mortifications should be undergone. But I don’t say that no mortifications should be undergone. I don’t say that all observances should be undertaken. But I don’t say that no observances should be undertaken. I don’t say that all efforts should be tried. But I don’t say that no efforts should be tried. I don’t say that everything should be given up. But I don’t say that nothing should be given up. I don’t say that you should be liberated with all kinds of freedom. But I don’t say that you should not be liberated with any kind of freedom.
“Sādhu sādhu, gahapati. Evaṁ kho te, gahapati, moghapurisā kālena kālaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetabbā. Nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ tapaṁ tapitabbanti vadāmi; na ca panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ tapaṁ na tapitabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ samādānaṁ samāditabbanti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ samādānaṁ na samāditabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ padhānaṁ padahitabbanti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ padhānaṁ na padahitabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbo paṭinissaggo paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi. Na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbo paṭinissaggo na paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbā vimutti vimuccitabbāti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbā vimutti na vimuccitabbāti vadāmi.
When undergoing certain mortifications, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t undergo those mortifications. When undergoing certain mortifications, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should undergo those mortifications.
Yañhi, gahapati, tapaṁ tapato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ tapaṁ na tapitabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, tapaṁ tapato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ tapaṁ tapitabbanti vadāmi.
When undertaking certain observances, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t undertake those observances. When undertaking certain observances, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should undertake those observances.
Yañhi, gahapati, samādānaṁ samādiyato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ samādānaṁ na samāditabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, samādānaṁ samādiyato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ samādānaṁ samāditabbanti vadāmi.
When trying certain efforts, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t try those efforts. When trying certain efforts, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should try those efforts.
Yañhi, gahapati, padhānaṁ padahato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ padhānaṁ na padahitabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, padhānaṁ padahato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ padhānaṁ padahitabbanti vadāmi.
When giving up certain things, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t give up those things. When giving up certain things, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should give up those things.
Yañhi, gahapati, paṭinissaggaṁ paṭinissajjato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpo paṭinissaggo na paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, paṭinissaggaṁ paṭinissajjato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpo paṭinissaggo paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi.
When being liberated with certain kinds of freedom, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t be liberated with those kinds of freedom. When being liberated with certain kinds of freedom, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should be liberated with those kinds of freedom.”
Yañhi, gahapati, vimuttiṁ vimuccato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpā vimutti na vimuccitabbāti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, vimuttiṁ vimuccato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpā vimutti vimuccitabbāti vadāmī”ti.
After Vajjiyamāhita had been educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired with a Dhamma talk by the Buddha, he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.
Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.
Then, not long after Vajjiyamāhita had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, even a mendicant who for a long time has had little dust in their eye in this teaching and training would legitimately and completely refute those wanderers of other religions just as the householder Vajjiyamāhita did.”
Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante vajjiyamāhite gahapatimhi bhikkhū āmantesi: “yopi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dīgharattaṁ apparajakkho imasmiṁ dhammavinaye, sopi evamevaṁ aññatitthiye paribbājake sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggaṇheyya yathā taṁ vajjiyamāhitena gahapatinā niggahitā”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
AN 10.95 · With Uttiya
AN 10.95 · Uttiyasutta
Then the wanderer Uttiya went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
Atha kho uttiyo paribbājako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha, “Worthy Gotama, is this right: ‘The cosmos is eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile’?”
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho uttiyo paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti?
“This has not been declared by me, Uttiya.”
“Abyākataṁ kho etaṁ, uttiya, mayā: ‘sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’”ti.
“Then is this right: ‘The cosmos is not eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile’?”
“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti?
“This has not been declared by me, Uttiya.”
“Etampi kho, uttiya, abyākataṁ mayā: ‘asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’”ti.
“Then is this right: ‘The cosmos is finite …’ … ‘The cosmos is infinite …’ … ‘The soul and the body are one and the same …’ … ‘The soul is one thing, the body another …’ … ‘A realized one still exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one no longer exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one both still exists and no longer exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile’?”
“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, antavā loko …pe… anantavā loko … taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ … aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīraṁ … hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti?
“This has not been declared by me, Uttiya.”
“Etampi kho, uttiya, abyākataṁ mayā: ‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’”ti.
“When asked about all these points, worthy Gotama says that they have not been declared by him.
“‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti, iti puṭṭho samāno ‘abyākataṁ kho etaṁ, uttiya, mayā— sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti vadesi.
‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti, iti puṭṭho samāno: ‘etampi kho, uttiya, abyākataṁ mayā asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti vadesi.
So what then has been declared by Worthy Gotama?”
‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, antavā loko …pe… anantavā loko … taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ … aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīraṁ … hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti, iti puṭṭho samāno: ‘etampi kho, uttiya, abyākataṁ mayā— neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti vadesi. Atha kiñcarahi bhotā gotamena byākatan”ti?
“Uttiya, I teach my disciples from my own insight in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to end the cycle of suffering, and to realize extinguishment.”
“Abhiññāya kho ahaṁ, uttiya, sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ desemi sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti.
“But when the worthy Gotama teaches in this way, is the whole world saved, or half, or a third?” But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent.
“Yaṁ panetaṁ bhavaṁ gotamo abhiññāya sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ desesi sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, sabbo vā tena loko nīyati upaḍḍho vā tibhāgo vā”ti? Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.
Then Venerable Ānanda thought, “The wanderer Uttiya must not get the harmful misconception: ‘When the ascetic Gotama was asked this all-important question he falters without answering. He just can’t do it!’ That would be for his lasting harm and suffering.”
Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: “mā hevaṁ kho uttiyo paribbājako pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ paṭilabhi: ‘sabbasāmukkaṁsikaṁ vata me samaṇo gotamo pañhaṁ puṭṭho saṁsādeti, no vissajjeti, na nūna visahatī’ti. Tadassa uttiyassa paribbājakassa dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyā”ti.
Then Ānanda said to the wanderer Uttiya, “Well then, Reverend Uttiya, I shall give you a simile. For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said. Suppose there was a king’s frontier citadel with fortified embankments, ramparts, and arches, and a single gate. And it has a gatekeeper who is astute, competent, and intelligent. He keeps strangers out and lets known people in. As he walks around the patrol path, he doesn’t see a hole or cleft in the wall, not even one big enough for a cat to slip out. He doesn’t know how many creatures enter or leave the citadel. But he does know that whatever sizable creatures enter or leave the citadel, all of them do so via this gate.
Atha kho āyasmā ānando uttiyaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca: “tenahāvuso uttiya, upamaṁ te karissāmi. Upamāya m’idhekacce viññū purisā bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānanti. Seyyathāpi, āvuso uttiya, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ daḷhuddhāpaṁ daḷhapākāratoraṇaṁ ekadvāraṁ. Tatrassa dovāriko paṇḍito byatto medhāvī aññātānaṁ nivāretā ñātānaṁ pavesetā. So tassa nagarassa samantā anupariyāyapathaṁ anukkamati. Anupariyāyapathaṁ anukkamamāno na passeyya pākārasandhiṁ vā pākāravivaraṁ vā, antamaso biḷāranikkhamanamattampi. No ca khvassa evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘ettakā pāṇā imaṁ nagaraṁ pavisanti vā nikkhamanti vā’ti. Atha khvassa evamettha hoti: ‘ye kho keci oḷārikā pāṇā imaṁ nagaraṁ pavisanti vā nikkhamanti vā, sabbe te iminā dvārena pavisanti vā nikkhamanti vā’ti.
In the same way, it’s not the Realized One’s concern whether the whole world is saved by this, or half, or a third. But the Realized One knows that whoever is saved from the world—whether in the past, the future, or the present—all have given up the five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. They have firmly established their mind in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. And they have truly developed the seven awakening factors. That’s how they’re saved from the world, in the past, future, or present. Uttiya, you were just asking the Buddha the same question as before in a different way. That’s why he didn’t answer.”
Evamevaṁ kho, āvuso uttiya, na tathāgatassa evaṁ ussukkaṁ hoti: ‘sabbo vā tena loko nīyati, upaḍḍho vā, tibhāgo vā’ti. Atha kho evamettha tathāgatassa hoti: ‘ye kho keci lokamhā nīyiṁsu vā nīyanti vā nīyissanti vā, sabbe te pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe, catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacittā, satta bojjhaṅge yathābhūtaṁ bhāvetvā. Evamete lokamhā nīyiṁsu vā nīyanti vā nīyissanti vā’ti. Yadeva kho tvaṁ, āvuso uttiya, bhagavantaṁ pañhaṁ apucchi tadevetaṁ pañhaṁ bhagavantaṁ aññena pariyāyena apucchi. Tasmā te taṁ bhagavā na byākāsī”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
AN 10.96 · With Kokanada
AN 10.96 · Kokanudasutta
At one time Venerable Ānanda was staying near Rājagaha in the Hot Springs Monastery. Then Ānanda rose at the crack of dawn and went to the hot springs to bathe. When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs. The wanderer Kokanada also rose at the crack of dawn and went to the hot springs to bathe.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ānando rājagahe viharati tapodārāme. Atha kho āyasmā ānando rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya yena tapodā tenupasaṅkami gattāni parisiñcituṁ. Tapodāya gattāni parisiñcitvā paccuttaritvā ekacīvaro aṭṭhāsi gattāni pubbāpayamāno. Kokanudopi kho paribbājako rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya yena tapodā tenupasaṅkami gattāni parisiñcituṁ.
He saw Ānanda coming off in the distance and said to him, “Who’s here, reverend?”
Addasā kho kokanudo paribbājako āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca: “kvettha, āvuso”ti?
“I’m a mendicant, reverend.”
“Ahamāvuso, bhikkhū”ti.
“Of which mendicants?”
“Katamesaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhūnan”ti?
“Of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan.”
“Samaṇānaṁ, āvuso, sakyaputtiyānan”ti.
“I’d like to ask the venerable about a certain point, if you’d take the time to answer.”
“Puccheyyāma mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ kiñcideva desaṁ, sace āyasmā okāsaṁ karoti pañhassa veyyākaraṇāyā”ti.
“Ask, reverend. When I’ve heard it I’ll know.”
“Pucchāvuso, sutvā vedissāmā”ti.
“Is this your view: ‘The cosmos is eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile’?”
“Kiṁ nu kho, bho, ‘sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti—evaṁdiṭṭhi bhavan”ti?
“That’s not my view, reverend.”
“Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’”ti.
“Then is this your view: ‘The cosmos is not eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile’?”
“Kiṁ pana, bho, ‘asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti—evaṁdiṭṭhi bhavan”ti?
“That’s not my view, reverend.”
“Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’”ti.
“Then is this your view: ‘The cosmos is finite …’ … ‘The cosmos is infinite …’ … ‘The soul and the body are one and the same …’ … ‘The soul is one thing, the body another …’ … ‘A realized one still exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one no longer exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one both still exists and no longer exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile’?”
“Kiṁ nu kho, bho, antavā loko …pe… anantavā loko … taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ … aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīraṁ … hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññanti—evaṁdiṭṭhi bhavan”ti?
“That’s not my view, reverend.”
“Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’”ti.
“Then, sir, do you neither know nor see?”
“Tena hi bhavaṁ na jānāti, na passatī”ti?
“That’s not so, reverend. I do know and see.”
“Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, na jānāmi na passāmi. Jānāmahaṁ, āvuso, passāmī”ti.
“When asked about all these points, you say that’s not your view.
“‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho, sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññanti— evaṁdiṭṭhi bhavan’ti, iti puṭṭho samāno: ‘na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evaṁdiṭṭhi— sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti vadesi.
‘Kiṁ pana, bho, asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññanti— evaṁdiṭṭhi bhavan’ti, iti puṭṭho samāno: ‘na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evaṁdiṭṭhi— asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti vadesi.
Kiṁ nu kho, bho, antavā loko …pe… anantavā loko … taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ … aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīraṁ … hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññanti— evaṁdiṭṭhi bhavanti, iti puṭṭho samāno: ‘na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evaṁdiṭṭhi— neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti vadesi.
Yet when asked whether you neither know nor see, you say, ‘That’s not so, reverend. I do know and see.’ How then should we see the meaning of this statement?”
‘Tena hi bhavaṁ na jānāti na passatī’ti, iti puṭṭho samāno: ‘na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, na jānāmi na passāmi. Jānāmahaṁ, āvuso, passāmī’ti vadesi. Yathā kathaṁ panāvuso, imassa bhāsitassa attho daṭṭhabbo”ti?
“‘The cosmos is eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile:’ that’s a misconception. ‘The cosmos is not eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile:’ that’s a misconception. ‘The cosmos is finite …’ … ‘The cosmos is infinite …’ … ‘The soul and the body are one and the same …’ … ‘The soul is one thing, the body another …’ … ‘A realized one still exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one no longer exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one both still exists and no longer exists after death …’ … ‘A realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death. This is the only truth, anything else is futile:’ that’s a misconception.
“‘Sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti kho, āvuso, diṭṭhigatametaṁ. ‘Asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti kho, āvuso, diṭṭhigatametaṁ. Antavā loko …pe… anantavā loko … taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ … aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīraṁ … hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā … ‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti kho, āvuso, diṭṭhigatametaṁ.
I know and see the scope of convictions, the scope of grounds for views, fixation on views, obsession with views, the origin of views, and the uprooting of views. Knowing and seeing thus, why should I say: ‘I neither know nor see?’ I do know and see.”
Yāvatā, āvuso, diṭṭhi yāvatā diṭṭhiṭṭhānaṁ diṭṭhiadhiṭṭhānaṁ diṭṭhipariyuṭṭhānaṁ diṭṭhisamuṭṭhānaṁ diṭṭhisamugghāto, tamahaṁ jānāmi tamahaṁ passāmi. Tamahaṁ jānanto tamahaṁ passanto kyāhaṁ vakkhāmi: ‘na jānāmi na passāmī’ti? Jānāmahaṁ, āvuso, passāmī”ti.
“What is the venerable’s name? And how are you known among your spiritual companions?”
“Ko nāmo āyasmā, kathañca panāyasmantaṁ sabrahmacārī jānantī”ti?
“Reverend, my name is Ānanda. And that’s how I’m known among my spiritual companions.”
“‘Ānando’ti kho me, āvuso, nāmaṁ. ‘Ānando’ti ca pana maṁ sabrahmacārī jānantī”ti.
“Goodness! I had no idea I was consulting such a great tutor as Venerable Ānanda! If I had known who you were, I wouldn’t have said so much. May Venerable Ānanda please forgive me.”
“Mahācariyena vata kira, bho, saddhiṁ mantayamānā na jānimha: ‘āyasmā ānando’ti. Sace hi mayaṁ jāneyyāma: ‘ayaṁ āyasmā ānando’ti, ettakampi no nappaṭibhāyeyya. Khamatu ca me āyasmā ānando”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
AN 10.97 · Worthy of Offerings Dedicated to the Gods
AN 10.97 · Āhuneyyasutta
“Mendicants, a mendicant with ten qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. What ten?
“Dasahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Katamehi dasahi?
It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.
They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.
Bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo. Ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.
They have good friends, companions, and associates.
Kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.
They have right view, possessing right perspective.
Sammādiṭṭhiko hoti sammādassanena samannāgato.
They wield the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying themselves and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful. They control the body as far as the realm of divinity.
Anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhoti—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti; bahudhāpi hutvā eko hoti; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ; tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamāno gacchati, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ karoti, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gacchati, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamati, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parāmasati parimajjati, yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteti.
With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, they hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far.
Dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇāti dibbe ca mānuse ca ye dūre santike ca.
They understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with their own mind. They understand mind with greed as ‘mind with greed’, and mind without greed as ‘mind without greed’. They understand mind with hate … mind without hate … mind with delusion … mind without delusion … constricted mind … scattered mind … expansive mind … unexpansive mind … mind that is not supreme … mind that is supreme … mind immersed in samādhi … mind not immersed in samādhi … freed mind … They understand unfreed mind as ‘unfreed mind’.
Parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāti. Sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘sarāgaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti; vītarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘vītarāgaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti; sadosaṁ vā cittaṁ … vītadosaṁ vā cittaṁ … samohaṁ vā cittaṁ … vītamohaṁ vā cittaṁ … saṅkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ … vikkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ … mahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ … amahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ … sauttaraṁ vā cittaṁ … anuttaraṁ vā cittaṁ … samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ … asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ … vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ … avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘avimuttaṁ cittan’ti pajānāti.
They recollect many kinds of past lives, that is, one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. They remember: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ Thus they recollect their many past lives, with features and details.
Anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattālīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhapaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhapaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti, iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.
With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.
Dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti: ‘ime vata kho bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā; ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti. Iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.
They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.
Āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.
A mendicant with these ten qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”
Imehi kho, bhikkhave, dasahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.
Sattamaṁ.
AN 10.98 · A Senior Mendicant
AN 10.98 · Therasutta
“Mendicants, a senior mendicant with ten qualities lives comfortably in whatever region they live. What ten?
“Dasahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu yassaṁ yassaṁ disāyaṁ viharati, phāsuyeva viharati. Katamehi dasahi?
They are long standing and have long gone forth.
Thero hoti rattaññū cirapabbajito,
They’re ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.
sīlavā hoti …pe…
They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.
samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu, bahussuto hoti …pe…
Both monastic codes have been passed down to them in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material.
diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdho, ubhayāni kho panassa pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso,
They’re skilled in the instigation and settlement of disciplinary issues.
adhikaraṇasamuppādavūpasamakusalo hoti,
They love the teachings and are a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training.
dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo,
They’re content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
santuṭṭho hoti itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena,
They look impressive when going out and coming back, and are well restrained when sitting in an inhabited area.
pāsādiko hoti abhikkantapaṭikkante susaṁvuto antaraghare nisajjāya,
They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.
catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī,
They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.
āsavānañca khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.
A senior mendicant with these ten qualities lives comfortably in whatever region they live.”
Imehi kho, bhikkhave, dasahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu yassaṁ yassaṁ disāyaṁ viharati, phāsuyeva viharatī”ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.