Furthermore, a mortifier never behaves in an underhand manner. When asked whether something is acceptable to them, they say it isn’t when it isn’t. Or they say it is when it is. Thus they don’t tell a deliberate lie. So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī na kiñcideva paṭicchannaṁ sevati, so: ‘khamati te idan’ti puṭṭho samāno akkhamamānaṁ āha: ‘nakkhamatī’ti. Khamamānaṁ āha: ‘khamatī’ti. Iti so sampajānamusā na bhāsitā hoti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier agrees with the way that the Realized One or their disciple teaches Dhamma when they make a valid point. So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tathāgatassa vā tathāgatasāvakassa vā dhammaṁ desentassa santaṁyeva pariyāyaṁ anuññeyyaṁ anujānāti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier is not irritable and acrimonious … offensive and contemptuous … jealous and stingy … devious and deceitful … obstinate and arrogant … they don’t have corrupt wishes … and wrong view … they’re not attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go. So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī akkodhano hoti anupanāhī. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī akkodhano hoti anupanāhī evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti. Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī amakkhī hoti apaḷāsī …pe… anissukī hoti amaccharī … asaṭho hoti amāyāvī … atthaddho hoti anatimānī … na pāpiccho hoti na pāpikānaṁ icchānaṁ vasaṁ gato … na micchādiṭṭhiko hoti na antaggāhikāya diṭṭhiyā samannāgato … na sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī hoti na ādhānaggāhī suppaṭinissaggī. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī na sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī hoti na ādhānaggāhī suppaṭinissaggī. Evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
What do you think, Nigrodha? If this is so, is the fervent mortification in disgust of sin purified or not?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nigrodha, yadi evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā vā hoti aparisuddhā vā”ti?
“Clearly, sir, it is purified. It has reached the peak and the pith.”
“Addhā kho, bhante, evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā hoti no aparisuddhā, aggappattā ca sārappattā cā”ti.
“No, Nigrodha, at this point the fervent mortification in disgust of sin has not yet reached the peak and the pith. Rather, it has only reached the shoots.”
“Na kho, nigrodha, ettāvatā tapojigucchā aggappattā ca hoti sārappattā ca; api ca kho papaṭikappattā hotī”ti.
2.3. On Reaching the Bark
2.3. Parisuddhatacappattakathā
“But at what point, sir, does the fervent mortification in disgust of sin reach the peak and the pith? Please help me reach the peak and the pith!”
“Kittāvatā pana, bhante, tapojigucchā aggappattā ca hoti sārappattā ca? Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tapojigucchāya aggaññeva pāpetu, sāraññeva pāpetū”ti.
“Nigrodha, take a mortifier who is restrained in the fourfold constraint. And how is a mortifier restrained in the fourfold constraint? It’s when a mortifier doesn’t kill living creatures, doesn’t get others to kill, and doesn’t approve of killing. They don’t steal, get others to steal, or approve of stealing. They don’t lie, get others to lie, or approve of lying. They don’t expect rewards from their practice, they don’t lead others to expect rewards, and they don’t approve of expecting rewards. That’s how a mortifier is restrained in the fourfold constraint.
“Idha, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti. Kathañca, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti? Idha, nigrodha, tapassī na pāṇaṁ atipāteti, na pāṇaṁ atipātayati, na pāṇamatipātayato samanuñño hoti. Na adinnaṁ ādiyati, na adinnaṁ ādiyāpeti, na adinnaṁ ādiyato samanuñño hoti. Na musā bhaṇati, na musā bhaṇāpeti, na musā bhaṇato samanuñño hoti. Na bhāvitamāsīsati, na bhāvitamāsīsāpeti, na bhāvitamāsīsato samanuñño hoti. Evaṁ kho, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti.
When a mortifier is restrained in the fourfold constraint, that is their mortification. They step forward, not falling back. They frequent a secluded lodging—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw. After the meal, they return from almsround, sit down cross-legged, set their body straight, and bring mindfulness to the present. Giving up covetousness for the world, they meditate with a heart rid of covetousness, cleansing the mind of covetousness. Giving up ill will and malevolence, they meditate with a mind rid of ill will, full of sympathy for all living beings, cleansing the mind of ill will. Giving up dullness and drowsiness, they meditate with a mind rid of dullness and drowsiness, perceiving light, mindful and aware, cleansing the mind of dullness and drowsiness. Giving up restlessness and remorse, they meditate without restlessness, their mind settled internally, cleansing the mind of restlessness and remorse. Giving up doubt, they meditate having gone beyond doubt, not undecided about skillful qualities, cleansing the mind of doubt.
Yato kho, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti, aduṁ cassa hoti tapassitāya. So abhiharati no hīnāyāvattati. So vivittaṁ senāsanaṁ bhajati araññaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ pabbataṁ kandaraṁ giriguhaṁ susānaṁ vanapatthaṁ abbhokāsaṁ palālapuñjaṁ. So pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. So abhijjhaṁ loke pahāya vigatābhijjhena cetasā viharati, abhijjhāya cittaṁ parisodheti. Byāpādappadosaṁ pahāya abyāpannacitto viharati sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī, byāpādappadosā cittaṁ parisodheti. Thinamiddhaṁ pahāya vigatathinamiddho viharati ālokasaññī sato sampajāno, thinamiddhā cittaṁ parisodheti. Uddhaccakukkuccaṁ pahāya anuddhato viharati ajjhattaṁ vūpasantacitto, uddhaccakukkuccā cittaṁ parisodheti. Vicikicchaṁ pahāya tiṇṇavicikiccho viharati akathaṅkathī kusalesu dhammesu, vicikicchāya cittaṁ parisodheti.
They give up these five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. Then they meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion … They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing … They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.
So ime pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati. Tathā dutiyaṁ. Tathā tatiyaṁ. Tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. Karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe… muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe… upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati. Tathā dutiyaṁ. Tathā tatiyaṁ. Tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.
What do you think, Nigrodha? If this is so, is the fervent mortification in disgust of sin purified or not?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nigrodha. Yadi evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā vā hoti aparisuddhā vā”ti?
“Clearly, sir, it is purified. It has reached the peak and the pith.”
“Addhā kho, bhante, evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā hoti no aparisuddhā, aggappattā ca sārappattā cā”ti.
“No, Nigrodha, at this point the fervent mortification in disgust of sin has not yet reached the peak and the pith. Rather, it has only reached the bark.”
“Na kho, nigrodha, ettāvatā tapojigucchā aggappattā ca hoti sārappattā ca; api ca kho tacappattā hotī”ti.
2.4. On Reaching the Softwood
2.4. Parisuddhaphegguppattakathā
“But at what point, sir, does the fervent mortification in disgust of sin reach the peak and the pith? Please help me reach the peak and the pith!”
“Kittāvatā pana, bhante, tapojigucchā aggappattā ca hoti sārappattā ca? Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tapojigucchāya aggaññeva pāpetu, sāraññeva pāpetū”ti.
“Nigrodha, take a mortifier who is restrained in the fourfold constraint. They give up these five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. Then they meditate spreading a heart full of love … compassion … rejoicing … equanimity.
“Idha, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti. Kathañca, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti …pe… yato kho, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti, aduṁ cassa hoti tapassitāya. So abhiharati no hīnāyāvattati. So vivittaṁ senāsanaṁ bhajati …pe… so ime pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe mettāsahagatena cetasā …pe… karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe… muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe… upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.
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.’ And so they recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details.
So 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 evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ, tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.
What do you think, Nigrodha? If this is so, is the fervent mortification in disgust of sin purified or not?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nigrodha, yadi evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā vā hoti aparisuddhā vā”ti?
“Clearly, sir, it is purified. It has reached the peak and the pith.”
“Addhā kho, bhante, evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā hoti, no aparisuddhā, aggappattā ca sārappattā cā”ti.
“No, Nigrodha, at this point the fervent mortification in disgust of sin has not yet reached the peak and the pith. Rather, it has only reached the softwood.”
“Na kho, nigrodha, ettāvatā tapojigucchā aggappattā ca hoti sārappattā ca; api ca kho phegguppattā hotī”ti.
3. On Reaching the Heartwood
3. Parisuddhaaggappattasārappattakathā
“But at what point, sir, does the fervent mortification in disgust of sin reach the peak and the pith? Please help me reach the peak and the pith!”
“Kittāvatā pana, bhante, tapojigucchā aggappattā ca hoti sārappattā ca? Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tapojigucchāya aggaññeva pāpetu, sāraññeva pāpetū”ti.
“Nigrodha, take a mortifier who is restrained in the fourfold constraint. They give up these five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. Then they meditate spreading a heart full of love … equanimity … They recollect many kinds of past lives, with features and details.
“Idha, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti. Kathañca, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti …pe… yato kho, nigrodha, tapassī cātuyāmasaṁvarasaṁvuto hoti, aduṁ cassa hoti tapassitāya. So abhiharati no hīnāyāvattati. So vivittaṁ senāsanaṁ bhajati …pe… so ime pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe mettāsahagatena cetasā …pe… upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. So anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. Seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo …pe… 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.
So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate, yathākammūpage satte pajānāti: ‘ime vata 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.
What do you think, Nigrodha? If this is so, is the fervent mortification in disgust of sin purified or not?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nigrodha, yadi evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā vā hoti aparisuddhā vā”ti?
“Clearly, sir, it is purified. It has reached the peak and the pith.”
“Addhā kho, bhante, evaṁ sante tapojigucchā parisuddhā hoti no aparisuddhā, aggappattā ca sārappattā cā”ti.
“Nigrodha, at this point the fervent mortification in disgust of sin has reached the peak and the pith. Nigrodha, remember you said this to me: ‘Sir, what teaching do you use to guide your disciples, through which they claim solace in the fundamental goal of the spiritual life?’ Well, there is something better and finer than this. That’s what I use to guide my disciples, through which they claim solace in the fundamental goal of the spiritual life.”
“Ettāvatā kho, nigrodha, tapojigucchā aggappattā ca hoti sārappattā ca. Iti kho, nigrodha, yaṁ maṁ tvaṁ avacāsi: ‘ko nāma so, bhante, bhagavato dhammo, yena bhagavā sāvake vineti, yena bhagavatā sāvakā vinītā assāsappattā paṭijānanti ajjhāsayaṁ ādibrahmacariyan’ti. Iti kho taṁ, nigrodha, ṭhānaṁ uttaritarañca paṇītatarañca, yenāhaṁ sāvake vinemi, yena mayā sāvakā vinītā assāsappattā paṭijānanti ajjhāsayaṁ ādibrahmacariyan”ti.
When he said this, those wanderers made an uproar, “In that case, we’re lost, and so is our denomination! We don’t know anything better or finer than that!”
Evaṁ vutte, te paribbājakā unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā ahesuṁ: “ettha mayaṁ anassāma sācariyakā, na mayaṁ ito bhiyyo uttaritaraṁ pajānāmā”ti.
4. Nigrodha Feels Depressed
4. Nigrodhassapajjhāyana
Then the householder Sandhāna realized, “Obviously, now these wanderers want to listen to what the Buddha says. They’re actively listening and trying to understand!”
Yadā aññāsi sandhāno gahapati: “aññadatthu kho dānime aññatitthiyā paribbājakā bhagavato bhāsitaṁ sussūsanti, sotaṁ odahanti, aññācittaṁ upaṭṭhāpentī”ti.
So he said to the wanderer Nigrodha, “Honorable Nigrodha, remember you said this to me: ‘Surely, householder, you should know better! With whom does the ascetic Gotama converse? With whom does he engage in discussion? With whom does he achieve lucidity of wisdom? Staying in empty huts has destroyed the ascetic Gotama’s wisdom. Not frequenting assemblies, he is unable to hold a discussion. He just lurks on the periphery. He’s just like a one-eyed cow, circling around and lurking on the periphery. Please, householder, let the ascetic Gotama come to this assembly. I’ll sink him with just one question! I’ll roll him over and wrap him up like a hollow pot!’ Now the Blessed One, perfected and fully awakened, has arrived here. Why don’t you send him out of the assembly to the periphery like a one-eyed cow? Why don’t you sink him with just one question? Why don’t you roll him over and wrap him up like a hollow pot?” When he said this, Nigrodha sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.
Atha nigrodhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca: “iti kho, bhante nigrodha, yaṁ maṁ tvaṁ avacāsi: ‘yagghe, gahapati, jāneyyāsi, kena samaṇo gotamo saddhiṁ sallapati, kena sākacchaṁ samāpajjati, kena paññāveyyattiyaṁ samāpajjati, suññāgārahatā samaṇassa gotamassa paññā, aparisāvacaro samaṇo gotamo nālaṁ sallāpāya, so antamantāneva sevati; seyyathāpi nāma gokāṇā pariyantacārinī antamantāneva sevati. Evameva suññāgārahatā samaṇassa gotamassa paññā, aparisāvacaro samaṇo gotamo nālaṁ sallāpāya; so antamantāneva sevati; iṅgha, gahapati, samaṇo gotamo imaṁ parisaṁ āgaccheyya, ekapañheneva naṁ saṁsādeyyāma, tucchakumbhīva naṁ maññe orodheyyāmā’ti. Ayaṁ kho so, bhante, bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho idhānuppatto, aparisāvacaraṁ pana naṁ karotha, gokāṇaṁ pariyantacāriniṁ karotha, ekapañheneva naṁ saṁsādetha, tucchakumbhīva naṁ orodhethā”ti. Evaṁ vutte, nigrodho paribbājako tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdi.
Knowing this, the Buddha said to him, “Is it really true, Nigrodha—are those your words?”
Atha kho bhagavā nigrodhaṁ paribbājakaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ maṅkubhūtaṁ pattakkhandhaṁ adhomukhaṁ pajjhāyantaṁ appaṭibhānaṁ viditvā nigrodhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca: “saccaṁ kira, nigrodha, bhāsitā te esā vācā”ti?
“It’s true, sir, those are my words. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me.”
“Saccaṁ, bhante, bhāsitā me esā vācā, yathābālena yathāmūḷhena yathāakusalenā”ti.
“What do you think, Nigrodha? Have you heard that wanderers of the past who were elderly and senior, the tutors of tutors, said that when the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas of the past came together, they made an uproar, a colossal racket as they sat and talked about all kinds of low topics, like you do in your denomination these days? Or did they say that the Buddhas frequented remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest that are quiet and still, far from the madding crowd, remote from human settlements, and fit for retreat, like I do these days?”
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nigrodha. Kinti te sutaṁ paribbājakānaṁ vuḍḍhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ: ‘ye te ahesuṁ atītamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, evaṁ su te bhagavanto saṅgamma samāgamma unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ anuyuttā viharanti. Seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ …pe… itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā. Seyyathāpi tvaṁ etarahi sācariyako. Udāhu, evaṁ su te bhagavanto araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppāni, seyyathāpāhaṁ etarahī’”ti.
“I have heard that wanderers of the past who were elderly and senior, said that when the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas of the past came together, they didn’t make an uproar, like I do in my denomination these days. They said that the Buddhas of the past frequented remote lodgings in the wilderness, like the Buddha does these days.”
“Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante. Paribbājakānaṁ vuḍḍhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ: ‘ye te ahesuṁ atītamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, na evaṁ su te bhagavanto saṅgamma samāgamma unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ anuyuttā viharanti. Seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ …pe… itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā, seyyathāpāhaṁ etarahi sācariyako. Evaṁ su te bhagavanto araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppāni, seyyathāpi bhagavā etarahī’”ti.
“Nigrodha, you are a sensible and mature man. Did it not occur to you: ‘The Blessed One is awakened, tamed, serene, crossed over, and quenched. And he teaches Dhamma for awakening, taming, serenity, crossing over, and extinguishment’?”
“Tassa te, nigrodha, viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi: ‘buddho so bhagavā bodhāya dhammaṁ deseti, danto so bhagavā damathāya dhammaṁ deseti, santo so bhagavā samathāya dhammaṁ deseti, tiṇṇo so bhagavā taraṇāya dhammaṁ deseti, parinibbuto so bhagavā parinibbānāya dhammaṁ desetī’”ti?
5. The Culmination of the Spiritual Path
5. Brahmacariyapariyosānasacchikiriyā
Nigrodha said, “I made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to speak in that way. Please, sir, accept my mistake for what it is, so I will restrain myself in future.”
Evaṁ vutte, nigrodho paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yvāhaṁ evaṁ bhagavantaṁ avacāsiṁ. Tassa me, bhante, bhagavā accayaṁ accayato paṭiggaṇhātu āyatiṁ saṁvarāyā”ti.
“Indeed, Nigrodha, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to speak in that way. But since you have recognized your mistake for what it is, and have dealt with it properly, I accept it. For it is growth in the training of the Noble One to recognize a mistake for what it is, deal with it properly, and commit to restraint in the future. Nigrodha, this is what I say:
“Taggha tvaṁ, nigrodha, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo maṁ tvaṁ evaṁ avacāsi. Yato ca kho tvaṁ, nigrodha, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikarosi, taṁ te mayaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma. Vuddhi hesā, nigrodha, ariyassa vinaye, yo accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikaroti āyatiṁ saṁvaraṁ āpajjati. Ahaṁ kho pana, nigrodha, evaṁ vadāmi:
Let a sensible person come—neither devious nor deceitful, a person of integrity. I teach and instruct them. By practicing as instructed they will realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life, in seven years. They will live having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. Let alone seven years. Let a sensible person come—neither devious nor deceitful, a person of integrity. I teach and instruct them. By practicing as instructed they will realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life, in six years … five years … four years … three years … two years … one year … seven months … six months … five months … four months … three months … two months … one month … a fortnight. Let alone a fortnight. Let a sensible person come—neither devious nor deceitful, a person of integrity. I teach and instruct them. By practicing as instructed they will realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life, in seven days.
‘Etu viññū puriso asaṭho amāyāvī ujujātiko, ahamanusāsāmi ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissati sattavassāni. Tiṭṭhantu, nigrodha, satta vassāni. Etu viññū puriso asaṭho amāyāvī ujujātiko, ahamanusāsāmi ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissati cha vassāni. Pañca vassāni … cattāri vassāni … tīṇi vassāni … dve vassāni … ekaṁ vassaṁ. Tiṭṭhatu, nigrodha, ekaṁ vassaṁ. Etu viññū puriso asaṭho amāyāvī ujujātiko ahamanusāsāmi ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissati satta māsāni. Tiṭṭhantu, nigrodha, satta māsāni … cha māsāni … pañca māsāni … cattāri māsāni … tīṇi māsāni … dve māsāni … ekaṁ māsaṁ … aḍḍhamāsaṁ. Tiṭṭhatu, nigrodha, aḍḍhamāso. Etu viññū puriso asaṭho amāyāvī ujujātiko, ahamanusāsāmi ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissati sattāhaṁ’.
6. The Wanderers Feel Depressed
6. Paribbājakānaṁpajjhāyana
Nigrodha, you might think, ‘The ascetic Gotama speaks like this because he wants pupils.’ But you should not see it like this. Let your tutor remain your tutor.
Siyā kho pana te, nigrodha, evamassa: ‘antevāsikamyatā no samaṇo gotamo evamāhā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, nigrodha, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yo eva vo ācariyo, so eva vo ācariyo hotu.
You might think, ‘The ascetic Gotama speaks like this because he wants us to give up our recitation.’ But you should not see it like this. Let your recitation remain as it is.
Siyā kho pana te, nigrodha, evamassa: ‘uddesā no cāvetukāmo samaṇo gotamo evamāhā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, nigrodha, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yo eva vo uddeso so eva vo uddeso hotu.
You might think, ‘The ascetic Gotama speaks like this because he wants us to give up our livelihood.’ But you should not see it like this. Let your livelihood remain as it is.
Siyā kho pana te, nigrodha, evamassa: ‘ājīvā no cāvetukāmo samaṇo gotamo evamāhā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, nigrodha, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yo eva vo ājīvo, so eva vo ājīvo hotu.
You might think, ‘The ascetic Gotama speaks like this because he wants us to start doing things that are unskillful and considered unskillful in our denomination.’ But you should not see it like this. Let those things that are unskillful and considered unskillful in your denomination remain as they are.
Siyā kho pana te, nigrodha, evamassa: ‘ye no dhammā akusalā akusalasaṅkhātā sācariyakānaṁ, tesu patiṭṭhāpetukāmo samaṇo gotamo evamāhā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, nigrodha, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Akusalā ceva vo te dhammā hontu akusalasaṅkhātā ca sācariyakānaṁ.
You might think, ‘The ascetic Gotama speaks like this because he wants us to stop doing things that are skillful and considered skillful in our denomination.’ But you should not see it like this. Let those things that are skillful and considered skillful in your denomination remain as they are.
Siyā kho pana te, nigrodha, evamassa: ‘ye no dhammā kusalā kusalasaṅkhātā sācariyakānaṁ, tehi vivecetukāmo samaṇo gotamo evamāhā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, nigrodha, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Kusalā ceva vo te dhammā hontu kusalasaṅkhātā ca sācariyakānaṁ.
I do not speak for any of these reasons. Nigrodha, there are things that are unskillful, corrupting, leading to future lives, hurtful, resulting in suffering and future rebirth, old age, and death. I teach Dhamma so that those things may be given up. When you practice accordingly, corrupting qualities will be given up in you and cleansing qualities will grow. You’ll enter and remain in the fullness and abundance of wisdom, having realized it with your own insight in this very life.”
Iti khvāhaṁ, nigrodha, neva antevāsikamyatā evaṁ vadāmi, napi uddesā cāvetukāmo evaṁ vadāmi, napi ājīvā cāvetukāmo evaṁ vadāmi, napi ye vo dhammā akusalā akusalasaṅkhātā sācariyakānaṁ, tesu patiṭṭhāpetukāmo evaṁ vadāmi, napi ye vo dhammā kusalā kusalasaṅkhātā sācariyakānaṁ, tehi vivecetukāmo evaṁ vadāmi. Santi ca kho, nigrodha, akusalā dhammā appahīnā saṅkilesikā ponobbhavikā sadarā dukkhavipākā āyatiṁ jātijarāmaraṇiyā, yesāhaṁ pahānāya dhammaṁ desemi. Yathāpaṭipannānaṁ vo saṅkilesikā dhammā pahīyissanti, vodānīyā dhammā abhivaḍḍhissanti, paññāpāripūriṁ vepullattañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā”ti.
When this was said, those wanderers sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, as if their minds were possessed by Māra. Then it occurred to the Buddha, “All these silly people have been touched by the Wicked One! For not even a single one thinks, ‘Come, let us lead the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama for the sake of enlightenment—for what do seven days matter?’”
Evaṁ vutte, te paribbājakā tuṇhībhūtā maṅkubhūtā pattakkhandhā adhomukhā pajjhāyantā appaṭibhānā nisīdiṁsu yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacittā. Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “sabbepime moghapurisā phuṭṭhā pāpimatā. Yatra hi nāma ekassapi na evaṁ bhavissati: ‘handa mayaṁ aññāṇatthampi samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ carāma, kiṁ karissati sattāho’”ti?
Then the Buddha, having roared his lion’s roar in the lady Udumbarikā’s monastery for wanderers, rose into the air and landed on Vulture’s Peak. Meanwhile, the householder Sandhāna went right back to Rājagaha.
Atha kho bhagavā udumbarikāya paribbājakārāme sīhanādaṁ naditvā vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā gijjhakūṭe pabbate paccupaṭṭhāsi. Sandhāno pana gahapati tāvadeva rājagahaṁ pāvisīti.
Udumbarikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dutiyaṁ.