AN 3.71 · With Channa
AN 3.71 · Channasutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then the wanderer Channa went up to Venerable Ānanda and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Ānanda:
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho channo paribbājako yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho channo paribbājako āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:
“Reverend Ānanda, do you advocate giving up greed, hate, and delusion?”
“tumhepi, āvuso ānanda, rāgassa pahānaṁ paññāpetha, dosassa pahānaṁ paññāpetha, mohassa pahānaṁ paññāpethā”ti.
“We do, reverend.”
“Mayaṁ kho, āvuso, rāgassa pahānaṁ paññāpema, dosassa pahānaṁ paññāpema, mohassa pahānaṁ paññapemā”ti.
“But what drawbacks have you seen, Reverend Ānanda, that you advocate giving up greed, hate, and delusion?”
“Kiṁ pana tumhe, āvuso, rāge ādīnavaṁ disvā rāgassa pahānaṁ paññāpetha, kiṁ dose ādīnavaṁ disvā dosassa pahānaṁ paññāpetha, kiṁ mohe ādīnavaṁ disvā mohassa pahānaṁ paññāpethā”ti?
“A greedy person, overcome by greed, intends to hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. They experience mental pain and sadness. When greed has been given up, they don’t intend to hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. They don’t experience mental pain and sadness. A greedy person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When greed has been given up, they don’t do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. A greedy person doesn’t truly understand what’s for their own good, the good of another, or the good of both. When greed has been given up, they truly understand what’s for their own good, the good of another, or the good of both. Greed is a destroyer of sight, vision, and knowledge. It blocks wisdom, it’s on the side of distress, and it doesn’t lead to extinguishment.
“Ratto kho, āvuso, rāgena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto attabyābādhāyapi ceteti, parabyābādhāyapi ceteti, ubhayabyābādhāyapi ceteti, cetasikampi dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti; rāge pahīne nevattabyābādhāyapi ceteti, na parabyābādhāyapi ceteti, na ubhayabyābādhāyapi ceteti, na cetasikaṁ dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti. Ratto kho, āvuso, rāgena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati; rāge pahīne neva kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, na vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, na manasā duccaritaṁ carati. Ratto kho, āvuso, rāgena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto attatthampi yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti, paratthampi yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti, ubhayatthampi yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti; rāge pahīne attatthampi yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, paratthampi yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ubhayatthampi yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Rāgo kho, āvuso, andhakaraṇo acakkhukaraṇo aññāṇakaraṇo paññānirodhiko vighātapakkhiko anibbānasaṁvattaniko.
A hateful person, overcome by hate, intends to hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. …
Duṭṭho kho, āvuso, dosena …pe…
A deluded person, overcome by delusion, intends to hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. They experience mental pain and sadness. When delusion has been given up, they don’t intend to hurt themselves, hurt others, and hurt both. They don’t experience mental pain and sadness. A deluded person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When delusion has been given up, they don’t do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. A deluded person doesn’t truly understand what’s for their own good, the good of another, or the good of both. When delusion has been given up, they truly understand what’s for their own good, the good of another, or the good of both. Delusion is a destroyer of sight, vision, and knowledge; it blocks wisdom, it’s on the side of distress, and it doesn’t lead to extinguishment.
mūḷho kho, āvuso, mohena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto attabyābādhāyapi ceteti, parabyābādhāyapi ceteti, ubhayabyābādhāyapi ceteti, cetasikampi dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti; mohe pahīne nevattabyābādhāyapi ceteti, na parabyābādhāyapi ceteti, na ubhayabyābādhāyapi ceteti, na cetasikaṁ dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti. Mūḷho kho, āvuso, mohena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati; mohe pahīne neva kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, na vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, na manasā duccaritaṁ carati. Mūḷho kho, āvuso, mohena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto attatthampi yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti, paratthampi yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti, ubhayatthampi yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti; mohe pahīne attatthampi yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, paratthampi yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ubhayatthampi yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Moho kho, āvuso, andhakaraṇo acakkhukaraṇo aññāṇakaraṇo paññānirodhiko vighātapakkhiko anibbānasaṁvattaniko.
This is the drawback we’ve seen in greed, hate, and delusion, and this is why we advocate giving them up.”
Idaṁ kho mayaṁ, āvuso, rāge ādīnavaṁ disvā rāgassa pahānaṁ paññāpema. Idaṁ dose ādīnavaṁ disvā dosassa pahānaṁ paññāpema. Idaṁ mohe ādīnavaṁ disvā mohassa pahānaṁ paññāpemā”ti.
“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for giving up that greed, hate, and delusion?”
“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti?
“There is, reverend, a path and a practice for giving up that greed, hate, and delusion.”
“Atthāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti.
“Well, what is it?”
“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti?
“It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is the path, this is the practice for giving up that greed, hate, and delusion.”
“Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāyā”ti.
“This is a fine path, a fine practice, for giving up that greed, hate, and delusion. Just this much is enough for diligence.”
“Bhaddako kho, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā etassa rāgassa dosassa mohassa pahānāya. Alañca panāvuso ānanda, appamādāyā”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
AN 3.72 · A Disciple of the Ājīvakas
AN 3.72 · Ājīvakasutta
At one time Venerable Ānanda was staying near Kosambī in Ghosita’s monastery. Then a householder who was a disciple of the Ājīvaka ascetics went up to Venerable Ānanda, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to Ānanda:
Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ānando kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Atha kho aññataro ājīvakasāvako gahapati yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so ājīvakasāvako gahapati āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:
“Honorable Ānanda, whose teaching is well explained? Who in the world is practicing well? Who in the world has done well?”
“Kesaṁ no, bhante ānanda, dhammo svākkhāto? Ke loke suppaṭipannā? Ke loke sukatā”ti?
“Well then, householder, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, householder? Is the teaching of those who teach for giving up greed, hate, and delusion well explained or not? Or how do you see this?”
“Tena hi, gahapati, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi, yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, ye rāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, dosassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, mohassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, tesaṁ dhammo svākkhāto no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī”ti?
“The teaching of those who teach for giving up greed, hate, and delusion is well explained. That’s how I see it.”
“Ye, bhante, rāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, dosassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, mohassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, tesaṁ dhammo svākkhāto. Evaṁ me ettha hotī”ti.
“What do you think, householder? Are those who practice for giving up greed, hate, and delusion practicing well or not? Or how do you see this?”
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, ye rāgassa pahānāya paṭipannā, dosassa pahānāya paṭipannā, mohassa pahānāya paṭipannā, te loke suppaṭipannā no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī”ti?
“Those who practice for giving up greed, hate, and delusion are practicing well. That’s how I see it.”
“Ye, bhante, rāgassa pahānāya paṭipannā, dosassa pahānāya paṭipannā, mohassa pahānāya paṭipannā, te loke suppaṭipannā. Evaṁ me ettha hotī”ti.
“What do you think, householder? Have those who’ve given up greed, hate, and delusion—so they’re cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future—done well in the world, or not? Or how do you see this?”
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, yesaṁ rāgo pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, yesaṁ doso pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, yesaṁ moho pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, te loke sukatā no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī”ti?
“Those who’ve given up greed, hate, and delusion have done well in the world. That’s how I see it.”
“Yesaṁ, bhante, rāgo pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, yesaṁ doso pahīno …pe… yesaṁ moho pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, te loke sukatā. Evaṁ me ettha hotī”ti.
“So, householder, you’ve declared: ‘The teaching of those who teach for giving up greed, hate, and delusion is well explained.’ And you’ve declared: ‘Those who practice for giving up greed, hate, and delusion are practicing well.’ And you’ve declared: ‘Those who’ve given up greed, hate, and delusion have done well in the world.’”
“Iti kho, gahapati, tayāvetaṁ byākataṁ: ‘ye, bhante, rāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, dosassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, mohassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desenti, tesaṁ dhammo svākkhāto’ti. Tayāvetaṁ byākataṁ: ‘ye, bhante, rāgassa pahānāya paṭipannā, dosassa pahānāya paṭipannā, mohassa pahānāya paṭipannā, te loke suppaṭipannā’ti. Tayāvetaṁ byākataṁ: ‘yesaṁ, bhante, rāgo pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, yesaṁ doso pahīno …pe… yesaṁ moho pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, te loke sukatā’”ti.
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! There’s no acclaiming your own teaching or disrespecting someone else’s, just teaching what’s relevant in that context. The goal is spoken of, but the self is not involved. You, sir, teach Dhamma for giving up greed, hate, and delusion. Your teaching is well explained. You, sir, practice for giving up greed, hate, and delusion. You in the world are practicing well. You’ve given up greed, hate, and delusion. You in the world have done well.
“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante. Na ceva nāma sadhammukkaṁsanā bhavissati, na ca paradhammāpasādanā. Āyataneva dhammadesanā, attho ca vutto, attā ca anupanīto. Tumhe, bhante ānanda, rāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetha, dosassa …pe… mohassa pahanāya dhammaṁ desetha. Tumhākaṁ, bhante ānanda, dhammo svākkhāto. Tumhe, bhante ānanda, rāgassa pahānāya paṭipannā, dosassa …pe… mohassa pahānāya paṭipannā. Tumhe, bhante, loke suppaṭipannā. Tumhākaṁ, bhante ānanda, rāgo pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo, tumhākaṁ doso pahīno …pe… tumhākaṁ moho pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo. Tumhe loke sukatā.
Excellent, sir! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, Master Ānanda has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may Master Ānanda remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
Abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante. Seyyathāpi, bhante, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ ayyena ānandena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ, bhante ānanda, taṁ bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ ayyo ānando dhāretu, ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
Dutiyaṁ.
AN 3.73 · With Mahānāma the Sakyan
AN 3.73 · Mahānāmasakkasutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery. Now at that time the Buddha had recently recovered from an illness. Then Mahānāma the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā gilānā vuṭṭhito hoti aciravuṭṭhito gelaññā. Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“For a long time, sir, I have understood your teaching like this: ‘Knowledge is for those with immersion, not those without immersion.’ But, sir, does immersion come first, then knowledge? Or does knowledge come first, then immersion?”
“dīgharattāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā evaṁ dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi: ‘samāhitassa ñāṇaṁ, no asamāhitassā’ti. Samādhi nu kho, bhante, pubbe, pacchā ñāṇaṁ; udāhu ñāṇaṁ pubbe, pacchā samādhī”ti?
Then Venerable Ānanda thought, “The Buddha has recently recovered from an illness, and this Mahānāma asks him a question that’s too deep. Why don’t I take him off to one side and teach him the Dhamma?”
Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: “bhagavā kho gilānavuṭṭhito aciravuṭṭhito gelaññā. Ayañca mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ atigambhīraṁ pañhaṁ pucchati. Yannūnāhaṁ mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ ekamantaṁ apanetvā dhammaṁ deseyyan”ti.
Then Ānanda took Mahānāma by the arm, led him off to one side, and said to him, “Mahānāma, the Buddha has spoken of the ethics, immersion, and wisdom of a trainee; and the ethics, immersion, and wisdom of an adept. What is the ethics of a trainee? 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. This is called the ethics of a trainee.
Atha kho āyasmā ānando mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ bāhāyaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ apanetvā mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavoca: “sekhampi kho, mahānāma, sīlaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā, asekhampi sīlaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā; sekhopi samādhi vutto bhagavatā, asekhopi samādhi vutto bhagavatā; sekhāpi paññā vuttā bhagavatā, asekhāpi paññā vuttā bhagavatā. Katamañca, mahānāma, sekhaṁ sīlaṁ? Idha, mahānāma, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. Idaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, sekhaṁ sīlaṁ.
And what is the immersion of a trainee? It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. This is called the immersion of a trainee.
Katamo ca, mahānāma, sekho samādhi? Idha, mahānāma, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, sekho samādhi.
And what is the wisdom of a trainee? They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is called the wisdom of a trainee.
Katamā ca, mahānāma, sekhā paññā? Idha, mahānāma, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, sekhā paññā.
Then a noble disciple—accomplished in ethics, immersion, and wisdom—realizes 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.
Sa kho so, mahānāma, ariyasāvako evaṁ sīlasampanno evaṁ samādhisampanno evaṁ paññāsampanno āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.
In this way the Buddha has spoken of the ethics, immersion, and wisdom of both a trainee and an adept.”
Evaṁ kho, mahānāma, sekhampi sīlaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā, asekhampi sīlaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā; sekhopi samādhi vutto bhagavatā, asekhopi samādhi vutto bhagavatā; sekhāpi paññā vuttā bhagavatā, asekhāpi paññā vuttā bhagavatā”ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
AN 3.74 · Jains
AN 3.74 · Nigaṇṭhasutta
At one time Venerable Ānanda was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then the Licchavis Abhaya and Paṇḍitakumāra went up to Venerable Ānanda, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ānando vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho abhayo ca licchavi paṇḍitakumārako ca licchavi yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho abhayo licchavi āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan claims to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception, thus: ‘Knowledge and vision are constantly and continually present to me, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking.’ He advocates the elimination of past deeds by fervent mortification, and breaking the bridge by not doing any new deeds. So with the ending of deeds, suffering ends; with the ending of suffering, feeling ends; and with the ending of feeling, all suffering will have been worn away. This is how to go beyond suffering by means of this purification by wearing away in the present life. What, sir, does the Buddha say about this?”
“nigaṇṭho, bhante, nāṭaputto sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānāti: ‘carato ca me tiṭṭhato ca suttassa ca jāgarassa ca satataṁ samitaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paccupaṭṭhitan’ti. So purāṇānaṁ kammānaṁ tapasā byantībhāvaṁ paññāpeti navānaṁ kammānaṁ akaraṇā setughātaṁ. Iti kammakkhayā dukkhakkhayo, dukkhakkhayā vedanākkhayo, vedanākkhayā sabbaṁ dukkhaṁ nijjiṇṇaṁ bhavissati— evametissā sandiṭṭhikāya nijjarāya visuddhiyā samatikkamo hoti. Idha, bhante, bhagavā kimāhā”ti?
“Abhaya, these three kinds of purification by wearing away have been rightly explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment. What three?
“Tisso kho imā, abhaya, nijjarā visuddhiyo tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sammadakkhātā sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya. Katamā tisso?
It’s when, Abhaya, 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. They don’t perform any new deeds, and old deeds are eliminated by experiencing their results little by little. This wearing away is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.
Idha, abhaya, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. So navañca kammaṁ na karoti, purāṇañca kammaṁ phussa phussa byantīkaroti. Sandiṭṭhikā nijjarā akālikā ehipassikā opaneyyikā paccattaṁ veditabbā viññūhīti.
Then a mendicant accomplished in ethics, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. They don’t perform any new deeds, and old deeds are eliminated by experiencing their results little by little. This wearing away is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.
Sa kho so, abhaya, bhikkhu evaṁ sīlasampanno vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So navañca kammaṁ na karoti, purāṇañca kammaṁ phussa phussa byantīkaroti. Sandiṭṭhikā nijjarā akālikā ehipassikā opaneyyikā paccattaṁ veditabbā viññūhīti.
Then a mendicant accomplished in immersion realizes 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. They don’t perform any new deeds, and old deeds are eliminated by experiencing their results little by little. This wearing away is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.
Sa kho so, abhaya, bhikkhu evaṁ samādhisampanno āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. So navañca kammaṁ na karoti, purāṇañca kammaṁ phussa phussa byantīkaroti. Sandiṭṭhikā nijjarā akālikā ehipassikā opaneyyikā paccattaṁ veditabbā viññūhīti.
These are the three kinds of purification by wearing away that have been rightly explained by the Buddha … in order to realize extinguishment.”
Imā kho, abhaya, tisso nijjarā visuddhiyo tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sammadakkhātā sattānaṁ visuddhiyā sokaparidevānaṁ samatikkamāya dukkhadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti.
When he said this, Paṇḍitakumāra said to Abhaya, “Dear Abhaya, is there anything in what Ānanda has said so well that you would disagree with?”
Evaṁ vutte, paṇḍitakumārako licchavi abhayaṁ licchaviṁ etadavoca: “kiṁ pana tvaṁ, samma abhaya, āyasmato ānandassa subhāsitaṁ subhāsitato nābbhanumodasī”ti?
“How could I not agree with what was said so well by Ānanda? If anyone didn’t agree with him, their head would explode!”
“Kyāhaṁ, samma paṇḍitakumāraka, āyasmato ānandassa subhāsitaṁ subhāsitato nābbhanumodissāmi. Muddhāpi tassa vipateyya yo āyasmato ānandassa subhāsitaṁ subhāsitato nābbhanumodeyyā”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
AN 3.75 · Support
AN 3.75 · Nivesakasutta
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
“Ānanda, those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established in three things. What three?
“Ye, ānanda, anukampeyyātha ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā te vo, ānanda, tīsu ṭhānesu samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā. Katamesu tīsu?
Experiential confidence in the Buddha: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’
Buddhe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ, buddho bhagavā’ti,
Experiential confidence in the teaching: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’
dhamme aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti,
Experiential confidence in the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’
saṅghe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.
There might be change in the four principal states— earth, water, air, and fire—but a noble disciple with experiential confidence in the Buddha would never change. In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible.
Siyā, ānanda, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ— pathavīdhātuyā āpodhātuyā tejodhātuyā vāyodhātuyā, na tveva buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ. So vatānanda, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ vā tiracchānayoniṁ vā pettivisayaṁ vā upapajjissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.
There might be change in the four principal states— earth, water, air, and fire—but a noble disciple with experiential confidence in the teaching … or the Saṅgha would never change. In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible.
Siyā, ānanda, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ— pathavīdhātuyā āpodhātuyā tejodhātuyā vāyodhātuyā, na tveva dhamme …pe… na tveva saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ. So vatānanda, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ vā tiracchānayoniṁ vā pettivisayaṁ vā upapajjissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.
Those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in these three things.”
Ye, ānanda, anukampeyyātha ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā te vo, ānanda, imesu tīsu ṭhānesu samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
AN 3.76 · Continued Existence (1st)
AN 3.76 · Paṭhamabhavasutta
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, they speak of this thing called ‘continued existence’. How is continued existence defined?”
“bhavo, bhavoti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhavo hotī”ti?
“If, Ānanda, there were no deeds to result in the sensual realm, would continued existence in the sensual realm still come about?”
“Kāmadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho kāmabhavo paññāyethā”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So, Ānanda, deeds are the field, consciousness is the seed, and craving is the moisture. The consciousness of sentient beings—shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving—is established in a lower realm. That’s how there is regeneration into a new state of existence in the future.
“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho. Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ hīnāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. (…)
If there were no deeds to result in the realm of luminous form, would continued existence in the realm of luminous form still come about?”
Rūpadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho rūpabhavo paññāyethā”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So, Ānanda, deeds are the field, consciousness is the seed, and craving is the moisture. The consciousness of sentient beings—shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving—is established in a middle realm. That’s how there is regeneration into a new state of existence in the future.
“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho. Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ majjhimāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. (…)
If there were no deeds to result in the formless realm, would continued existence in the formless realm still come about?”
Arūpadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho arūpabhavo paññāyethā”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So, Ānanda, deeds are the field, consciousness is the seed, and craving is the moisture. The consciousness of sentient beings—shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving—is established in a higher realm. That’s how there is regeneration into a new state of existence in the future. That’s how continued existence is defined.”
“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho. Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ paṇītāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. Evaṁ kho, ānanda, bhavo hotī”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
AN 3.77 · Continued Existence (2nd)
AN 3.77 · Dutiyabhavasutta
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, they speak of this thing called ‘continued existence’. How is continued existence defined?”
“bhavo, bhavoti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhavo hotī”ti?
“If, Ānanda, there were no deeds to result in the sensual realm, would continued existence in the sensual realm still come about?”
“Kāmadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho kāmabhavo paññāyethā”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So, Ānanda, deeds are the field, consciousness is the seed, and craving is the moisture. The intention and aim of sentient beings—shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving—is established in a lower realm. That’s how there is regeneration into a new state of existence in the future.
“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho. Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ hīnāya dhātuyā cetanā patiṭṭhitā patthanā patiṭṭhitā evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti.
If there were no deeds to result in the realm of luminous form, would continued existence in the realm of luminous form still come about?”
Rūpadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho rūpabhavo paññāyethā”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So, Ānanda, deeds are the field, consciousness is the seed, and craving is the moisture. The intention and aim of sentient beings—shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving—is established in a middle realm. That’s how there is regeneration into a new state of existence in the future.
“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho. Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ majjhimāya dhātuyā cetanā patiṭṭhitā patthanā patiṭṭhitā evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti.
If there were no deeds to result in the formless realm, would continued existence in the formless realm still come about?”
Arūpadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho arūpabhavo paññāyethā”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So, deeds are the field, consciousness is the seed, and craving is the moisture. The intention and aim of sentient beings—shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving—is established in a higher realm. That’s how there is regeneration into a new state of existence in the future. That’s how continued existence is defined.”
“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho. Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ paṇītāya dhātuyā cetanā patiṭṭhitā patthanā patiṭṭhitā evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. Evaṁ kho, ānanda, bhavo hotī”ti.
Sattamaṁ.
AN 3.78 · Precepts and Observances
AN 3.78 · Sīlabbatasutta
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “Ānanda, are all precepts and observances, lifestyles, and spiritual paths fruitful when taken as the essence?”
Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “sabbaṁ nu kho, ānanda, sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ saphalan”ti?
“This matter is not categorical, sir.”
“Na khvettha, bhante, ekaṁsenā”ti.
“Well then, Ānanda, break it down.”
“Tena hānanda, vibhajassū”ti.
“Take the case of someone who cultivates precepts and observances, a lifestyle, and a spiritual path, taking this as the essence. If unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline, that’s not fruitful. However, if unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow, that is fruitful.”
“Yañhissa, bhante, sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ aphalaṁ. Yañca khvāssa, bhante, sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ saphalan”ti.
That is what Venerable Ānanda said, and the Teacher concurred.
Idamavoca āyasmā ānando. Samanuñño satthā ahosi.
Then Ānanda, knowing that the Teacher concurred, got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. Then, not long after Ānanda had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, Ānanda is a trainee, but it’s not easy to find his equal in wisdom.”
Atha kho āyasmā ānando “samanuñño me satthā”ti, uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi. Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante āyasmante ānande bhikkhū āmantesi: “sekho, bhikkhave, ānando; na ca panassa sulabharūpo samasamo paññāyā”ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.
AN 3.79 · Fragrances
AN 3.79 · Gandhajātasutta
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, there are these three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it. What three? The fragrance of roots, heartwood, and flowers. These are the three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it. Is there a kind of fragrance that spreads with the wind, and against it, and both ways?”
“Tīṇimāni, bhante, gandhajātāni, yesaṁ anuvātaṁyeva gandho gacchati, no paṭivātaṁ. Katamāni tīṇi? Mūlagandho, sāragandho, pupphagandho— imāni kho, bhante, tīṇi gandhajātāni, yesaṁ anuvātaṁyeva gandho gacchati, no paṭivātaṁ. Atthi nu kho, bhante, kiñci gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti?
“There is, Ānanda, such a kind of fragrance.”
“Atthānanda, kiñci gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti.
“So what, sir, is that kind of fragrance?”
“Katamañca pana, bhante, gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatī”ti?
“It’s when, Ānanda, in some village or town, a woman or man has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character. They live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.
“Idhānanda, yasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato.
Ascetics and brahmins everywhere praise them for these good qualities; even the deities praise them. This is the kind of fragrance that spreads with the wind, and against it, and both.
Tassa disāsu samaṇabrāhmaṇā vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti: ‘amukasmiṁ nāma gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti. Devatāpissa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti: ‘amukasmiṁ nāma gāme vā nigame vā itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, sīlavā hoti kalyāṇadhammo, vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti. Idaṁ kho taṁ, ānanda, gandhajātaṁ yassa anuvātampi gandho gacchati, paṭivātampi gandho gacchati, anuvātapaṭivātampi gandho gacchatīti.
The fragrance of flowers <j>doesn’t spread against the wind,nor sandalwood, pinwheel flowers, or jasmine;but the fragrance of the good <j>spreads against the wind;a true person’s virtue spreads in every direction.”
Na pupphagandho paṭivātameti,Na candanaṁ tagaramallikā vā;Satañca gandho paṭivātameti,Sabbā disā sappuriso pavāyatī”ti.
Navamaṁ.
AN 3.80 · Lesser
AN 3.80 · Cūḷanikāsutta
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Ānanda, the Buddha Sikhī had a disciple named Abhibhū. Standing in the realm of divinity, he could make his voice heard throughout the thousandfold galaxy.’ I wonder how far a Blessed One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha can make their voice heard?”
“sammukhā metaṁ, bhante, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ: ‘bhagavato, ānanda, sikhissa abhibhū nāma sāvako brahmaloke ṭhito sahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpesī’ti. Bhagavā pana, bhante, arahaṁ sammāsambuddho kīvatakaṁ pahoti sarena viññāpetun”ti?
“He was a disciple, Ānanda. Realized Ones are immeasurable.”
“Sāvako so, ānanda, appameyyā tathāgatā”ti.
For a second time …
Dutiyampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sammukhā metaṁ, bhante, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ: ‘bhagavato, ānanda, sikhissa abhibhū nāma sāvako brahmaloke ṭhito sahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpesī’ti. Bhagavā pana, bhante, arahaṁ sammāsambuddho kīvatakaṁ pahoti sarena viññāpetun”ti? “Sāvako so, ānanda, appameyyā tathāgatā”ti.
For a third time, Ānanda said to the Buddha: “… I wonder how far a Blessed One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha can make their voice heard?”
Tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sammukhā metaṁ, bhante, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ: ‘bhagavato, ānanda, sikhissa abhibhū nāma sāvako brahmaloke ṭhito sahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpesī’ti. Bhagavā pana, bhante, arahaṁ sammāsambuddho kīvatakaṁ pahoti sarena viññāpetun”ti?
“Ānanda, have you heard of a thousandfold lesser world system, a galaxy?”
“Sutā te, ānanda, sahassī cūḷanikā lokadhātū”ti?
“Now is the time, Blessed One! Now is the time, Holy One! Let the Buddha speak. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”
“Etassa, bhagavā, kālo; etassa, sugata, kālo, yaṁ bhagavā bhāseyya. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.
“Well then, Ānanda, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”
“Tenahānanda, suṇāhi sādhukaṁ manasi karohi, bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied. The Buddha said this:
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Ānanda, a galaxy extends a thousand times as far as the moon and sun revolve and the dazzling ones light up the quarters. In that galaxy there are a thousand moons, a thousand suns, a thousand Sinerus king of mountains, a thousand Black Plum Tree Lands, a thousand lands west of Godāvarī, a thousand lands north of Kuru, a thousand lands east of Videha, four thousand oceans, four thousand great kings, a thousand realms of the gods of the four great kings, a thousand realms of the gods of the thirty-three, of the gods of Yama, of the joyful gods, of the gods who love to create, of the gods who control what is created by others, and a thousand realms of divinity. This is called a thousandfold lesser world system, a ‘galaxy’.
“Yāvatā, ānanda, candimasūriyā pariharanti, disā bhanti virocanā, tāva sahassadhā loko. Tasmiṁ sahassadhā loke sahassaṁ candānaṁ, sahassaṁ sūriyānaṁ, sahassaṁ sinerupabbatarājānaṁ, sahassaṁ jambudīpānaṁ, sahassaṁ aparagoyānānaṁ, sahassaṁ uttarakurūnaṁ, sahassaṁ pubbavidehānaṁ, cattāri mahāsamuddasahassāni, cattāri mahārājasahassāni, sahassaṁ cātumahārājikānaṁ, sahassaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ, sahassaṁ yāmānaṁ, sahassaṁ tusitānaṁ, sahassaṁ nimmānaratīnaṁ, sahassaṁ paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ, sahassaṁ brahmalokānaṁ— ayaṁ vuccatānanda, sahassī cūḷanikā lokadhātu.
A world system that extends for a thousand galaxies is called a millionfold middling world system, a ‘galactic cluster’.
Yāvatānanda, sahassī cūḷanikā lokadhātu tāva sahassadhā loko. Ayaṁ vuccatānanda, dvisahassī majjhimikā lokadhātu.
A world system that extends for a thousand galactic clusters is called a billionfold great world system, a ‘galactic supercluster’.
Yāvatānanda, dvisahassī majjhimikā lokadhātu tāva sahassadhā loko. Ayaṁ vuccatānanda, tisahassī mahāsahassī lokadhātu.
If he wished, Ānanda, a Realized One could make his voice heard throughout a galactic supercluster, or as far as he wants.”
Ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato tisahassimahāsahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpeyya, yāvatā pana ākaṅkheyyā”ti.
“But how would the Buddha make his voice heard so far?”
“Yathā kathaṁ pana, bhante, bhagavā tisahassimahāsahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpeyya, yāvatā pana ākaṅkheyyā”ti?
“First, Ānanda, a Realized One would fill the galactic supercluster with light. When sentient beings saw the light, the Realized One would project his call so that they’d hear the sound. That’s how a Realized One could make his voice heard throughout a galactic supercluster, or as far as he wants.”
“Idhānanda, tathāgato tisahassimahāsahassilokadhātuṁ obhāsena phareyya. Yadā te sattā taṁ ālokaṁ sañjāneyyuṁ, atha tathāgato ghosaṁ kareyya saddamanussāveyya. Evaṁ kho, ānanda, tathāgato tisahassimahāsahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpeyya, yāvatā pana ākaṅkheyyā”ti.
When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said, “I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate, to have a teacher with such power and might!”
Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca: “lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me satthā evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo”ti.
When he said this, Venerable Udāyī said to Venerable Ānanda, “What is it to you, Reverend Ānanda, if your teacher has such power and might?”
Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā udāyī āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca: “kiṁ tuyhettha, āvuso ānanda, yadi te satthā evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo”ti?
When he said this, the Buddha said to Venerable Udāyī, “Not so, Udāyī, not so! If Ānanda were to die while still not free of greed, he would rule as king of the gods for seven lifetimes, or as king of the Black Plum Tree Land for seven lifetimes, because of the confidence of his heart. However, Ānanda will be fully extinguished in this very life.”
Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca: “mā hevaṁ, udāyi, mā hevaṁ, udāyi. Sace, udāyi, ānando avītarāgo kālaṁ kareyya, tena cittappasādena sattakkhattuṁ devesu devarajjaṁ kāreyya, sattakkhattuṁ imasmiṁyeva jambudīpe mahārajjaṁ kāreyya. Api ca, udāyi, ānando diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyissatī”ti.
Dasamaṁ.
Ānandavaggo tatiyo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Channo ājīvako sakko,nigaṇṭho ca nivesako;Duve bhavā sīlabbataṁ,gandhajātañca cūḷanīti.