---
title: "Middle Discourses · Majjhima Nikāya"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 146 of 165
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/146/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Middle Discourses · Majjhima Nikāya, section 146. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/146/"
---

# Middle Discourses · Majjhima Nikāya

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

The 152 middle-length discourses: the simile of the saw, the snake and the raft, mindfulness of breathing, Aṅgulimāla, and the Buddha’s own account of his awakening.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 146. MN 133 · Mahākaccāna and One Fine Night

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/146/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-majjhima-nikaya/146/#p-N

[¶0] MN 133 · Mahākaccāna and One Fine Night

> Pali: MN 133 · Mahākaccānabhaddekarattasutta

[¶1] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Hot Springs Monastery.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati tapodārāme.

[¶2] Then Venerable Samiddhi 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.

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya yena tapodo tenupasaṅkami gattāni parisiñcituṁ. Tapode gattāni parisiñcitvā paccuttaritvā ekacīvaro aṭṭhāsi gattāni pubbāpayamāno.

[¶3] Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire hot springs, went up to Samiddhi, stood to one side, and said to Samiddhi:

> Pali: Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ tapodaṁ obhāsetvā yenāyasmā samiddhi tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā āyasmantaṁ samiddhiṁ etadavoca:

[¶4] “Mendicant, do you remember the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night?”

> Pali: “dhāresi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā”ti?

[¶5] “No, reverend, I do not. Do you?”

> Pali: “Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca. Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā”ti?

[¶6] “I also do not. But do you remember just the verses on the one who has one fine night?”

> Pali: “Ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca. Dhāresi pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattiyo gāthā”ti?

[¶7] “I do not. Do you?”

> Pali: “Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthāti. Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā”ti?

[¶8] “I also do not. Learn the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night, mendicant, memorize it, and remember it. It is beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.”

> Pali: “Ahampi kho, bhikkhu na dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthāti. Uggaṇhāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca; pariyāpuṇāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca; dhārehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca. Atthasaṁhito, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddeso ca vibhaṅgo ca ādibrahmacariyako”ti.

[¶9] That is what that deity said, before vanishing right there.

> Pali: Idamavoca sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

[¶10] Then, when the night had passed, Samiddhi went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then he added:

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā samiddhi tassā rattiyā accayena yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā samiddhi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶11] > Pali: “Idhāhaṁ, bhante, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya yena tapodo tenupasaṅkamiṁ gattāni parisiñcituṁ. Tapode gattāni parisiñcitvā paccuttaritvā ekacīvaro aṭṭhāsiṁ gattāni pubbāpayamāno. Atha kho bhante, aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ tapodaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘dhāresi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā’ti?

[¶12] > Pali: Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, taṁ devataṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca. Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā’ti? ‘Ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca. Dhāresi pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattiyo gāthā’ti? ‘Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthāti. Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā’ti? ‘Ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthāti. Uggaṇhāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca; pariyāpuṇāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca; dhārehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca. Atthasaṁhito, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddeso ca vibhaṅgo ca ādibrahmacariyako’ti.

[¶13] “Sir, please teach me the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night.”

> Pali: Idamavoca, bhante, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi. Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca desetū”ti.

[¶14] “Well then, mendicant, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

> Pali: “Tena hi, bhikkhu, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

[¶15] “Yes, sir,” Samiddhi replied. The Buddha said this:

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā samiddhi bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:

[¶16] “Don’t run back to the past,
don’t anticipate the future.
What’s past is left behind,
the future has not arrived;

> Pali: “Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ;
Yadatītaṁ pahīnaṁ taṁ,
appattañca anāgataṁ.

[¶17] and any present phenomenon
you clearly discern in every case.
The unfaltering, the unshakable:
having known that, foster it.

> Pali: Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṁ,
tattha tattha vipassati;
Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ,
taṁ vidvā manubrūhaye.

[¶18] Today’s the day to keenly work—
who knows, tomorrow may bring death!
For there is no bargain to be struck
with Death and his mighty horde.

> Pali: Ajjeva kiccamātappaṁ,
ko jaññā maraṇaṁ suve;
Na hi no saṅgaraṁ tena,
mahāsenena maccunā.

[¶19] One who keenly meditates like this,
tireless all night and day:
that’s who has one fine night—
so declares the peaceful sage.”

> Pali: Evaṁvihāriṁ ātāpiṁ,
ahorattamatanditaṁ;
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī”ti.

[¶20] That is what the Buddha said. When he had spoken, the Holy One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā; idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

[¶21] Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered, “The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. …

> Pali: Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ, acirapakkantassa bhagavato, etadahosi: “idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

[¶22] > Pali: ‘Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ;
Yadatītaṁ pahīnaṁ taṁ,
appattañca anāgataṁ.

[¶23] > Pali: Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṁ,
tattha tattha vipassati;
Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ,
taṁ vidvā manubrūhaye.

[¶24] > Pali: Ajjeva kiccamātappaṁ,
ko jaññā maraṇaṁ suve;
Na hi no saṅgaraṁ tena,
mahāsenena maccunā.

[¶25] > Pali: Evaṁvihāriṁ ātāpiṁ,
ahorattamatanditaṁ;
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī’ti.

[¶26] Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha?”

> Pali: Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?

[¶27] Then those mendicants thought:

> Pali: Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi:

[¶28] “This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”

> Pali: “ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ; pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā”ti.

[¶29] Then those mendicants went to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said:

> Pali: Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahākaccānena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idaṁ kho no, āvuso kaccāna, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

[¶30] > Pali: ‘Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
…pe…
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī’ti.

[¶31] > Pali: Tesaṁ no, āvuso kaccāna, amhākaṁ, acirapakkantassa bhagavato, etadahosi— idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

[¶32] > Pali: ‘Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
…pe…
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī’ti.

[¶33] “May Venerable Mahākaccāna please explain this.”

> Pali: Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyāti? Tesaṁ no, āvuso kaccāna, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti. Vibhajatāyasmā mahākaccāno”ti.

[¶34] “Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves. Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you bypassed him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter. For he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

> Pali: “Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva mūlaṁ atikkamma khandhaṁ sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya; evaṁsampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha. So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati, cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

[¶35] “Certainly he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer. Still, Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”

> Pali: “Addhāvuso kaccāna, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati, cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma; yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma. Api cāyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ; pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Vibhajatāyasmā mahākaccāno agaruṁ karitvā”ti.

[¶36] “Well then, reverends, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

> Pali: “Tena hāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

[¶37] “Yes, reverend,” they replied. Venerable Mahākaccāna said this:

> Pali: “Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā mahākaccāno etadavoca:

[¶38] “Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:

> Pali: “Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

[¶39] ‘Don’t run back to the past …
that’s who has one fine night—
so declares the peaceful sage.’

> Pali: ‘Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
…pe…
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī’ti.

[¶40] And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital.

> Pali: Imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi—

[¶41] And how do you run back to the past? Consciousness gets tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such eyes and such sights.’ So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you run back to the past.

> Pali: Kathañca, āvuso, atītaṁ anvāgameti? Iti me cakkhu ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti rūpāti— tattha chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa tadabhinandati, tadabhinandanto atītaṁ anvāgameti.

[¶42] Consciousness gets tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such ears and such sounds … such a nose and such smells … such a tongue and such tastes … such a body and such touches … such a mind and such ideas.’ So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you run back to the past. That’s how you run back to the past.

> Pali: Iti me sotaṁ ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti saddāti …pe… iti me ghānaṁ ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti gandhāti … iti me jivhā ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti rasāti … iti me kāyo ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti phoṭṭhabbāti … iti me mano ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti dhammāti— tattha chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa tadabhinandati, tadabhinandanto atītaṁ anvāgameti— evaṁ kho, āvuso, atītaṁ anvāgameti.

[¶43] And how do you not run back to the past? Consciousness doesn’t get tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such eyes and such sights.’ So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer run back to the past.

> Pali: Kathañca, āvuso, atītaṁ nānvāgameti? Iti me cakkhu ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti rūpāti— tattha na chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, na chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa na tadabhinandati, na tadabhinandanto atītaṁ nānvāgameti.

[¶44] Consciousness doesn’t get tied up there with desire and lust, thinking: ‘In the past I had such ears and such sounds … such a nose and such smells … such a tongue and such tastes … such a body and such touches … such a mind and such ideas.’ So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer run back to the past. That’s how you don’t run back to the past.

> Pali: Iti me sotaṁ ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti saddāti …pe… iti me ghānaṁ ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti gandhāti … iti me jivhā ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti rasāti … iti me kāyo ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti phoṭṭhabbāti … iti me mano ahosi atītamaddhānaṁ iti dhammāti— tattha na chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, na chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa, na tadabhinandati, na tadabhinandanto atītaṁ nānvāgameti— evaṁ kho, āvuso, atītaṁ nānvāgameti.

[¶45] And how do you anticipate the future? The heart is set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such eyes and such sights in the future.’ So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you anticipate the future. The heart is set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such ears and such sounds … such a nose and such smells … such a tongue and such tastes … such a body and such touches … such a mind and such ideas in the future.’ So you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you anticipate the future. That’s how you anticipate the future.

> Pali: Kathañca, āvuso, anāgataṁ paṭikaṅkhati? Iti me cakkhu siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti rūpāti— appaṭiladdhassa paṭilābhāya cittaṁ paṇidahati, cetaso paṇidhānapaccayā tadabhinandati, tadabhinandanto anāgataṁ paṭikaṅkhati. Iti me sotaṁ siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti saddāti …pe… iti me ghānaṁ siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti gandhāti … iti me jivhā siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti rasāti … iti me kāyo siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti phoṭṭhabbāti … iti me mano siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti dhammāti— appaṭiladdhassa paṭilābhāya cittaṁ paṇidahati, cetaso paṇidhānapaccayā tadabhinandati, tadabhinandanto anāgataṁ paṭikaṅkhati— evaṁ kho, āvuso, anāgataṁ paṭikaṅkhati.

[¶46] And how do you not anticipate the future? The heart is not set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such eyes and such sights in the future.’ So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer anticipate the future. The heart is not set on getting what it does not have, thinking: ‘May I have such ears and such sounds … such a nose and such smells … such a tongue and such tastes … such a body and such touches … such a mind and such ideas in the future.’ So you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer anticipate the future. That’s how you don’t anticipate the future.

> Pali: Kathañca, āvuso, anāgataṁ nappaṭikaṅkhati? Iti me cakkhu siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti rūpāti— appaṭiladdhassa paṭilābhāya cittaṁ nappaṇidahati, cetaso appaṇidhānapaccayā na tadabhinandati, na tadabhinandanto anāgataṁ nappaṭikaṅkhati. Iti me sotaṁ siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti saddāti …pe… iti me ghānaṁ siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti gandhāti … iti me jivhā siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti rasāti … iti me kāyo siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti phoṭṭhabbāti … iti me mano siyā anāgatamaddhānaṁ iti dhammāti— appaṭiladdhassa paṭilābhāya cittaṁ nappaṇidahati, cetaso appaṇidhānapaccayā na tadabhinandati, na tadabhinandanto anāgataṁ nappaṭikaṅkhati— evaṁ kho, āvuso, anāgataṁ nappaṭikaṅkhati.

[¶47] And how do you falter amid presently arisen phenomena? Both the eye and sights are presently arisen. If consciousness gets tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you falter amid presently arisen phenomena. Both the ear and sounds … nose and smells … tongue and tastes … body and touches … mind and ideas are presently arisen. If consciousness gets tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you falter amid presently arisen phenomena. That’s how you falter amid presently arisen phenomena.

> Pali: Kathañca, āvuso, paccuppannesu dhammesu saṁhīrati? Yañcāvuso, cakkhu ye ca rūpā— ubhayametaṁ paccuppannaṁ. Tasmiñce paccuppanne chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa tadabhinandati, tadabhinandanto paccuppannesu dhammesu saṁhīrati. Yañcāvuso, sotaṁ ye ca saddā …pe… yañcāvuso, ghānaṁ ye ca gandhā … yā cāvuso, jivhā ye ca rasā … yo cāvuso, kāyo ye ca phoṭṭhabbā … yo cāvuso, mano ye ca dhammā— ubhayametaṁ paccuppannaṁ. Tasmiñce paccuppanne chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa tadabhinandati, tadabhinandanto paccuppannesu dhammesu saṁhīrati— evaṁ kho, āvuso, paccuppannesu dhammesu saṁhīrati.

[¶48] And how do you not falter amid presently arisen phenomena? Both the eye and sights are presently arisen. If consciousness doesn’t get tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer falter amid presently arisen phenomena. Both the ear and sounds … nose and smells … tongue and tastes … body and touches … mind and ideas are presently arisen. If consciousness doesn’t get tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer falter amid presently arisen phenomena. That’s how you don’t falter amid presently arisen phenomena.

> Pali: Kathañca, āvuso, paccuppannesu dhammesu na saṁhīrati? Yañcāvuso, cakkhu ye ca rūpā— ubhayametaṁ paccuppannaṁ. Tasmiñce paccuppanne na chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, na chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa na tadabhinandati, na tadabhinandanto paccuppannesu dhammesu na saṁhīrati. Yañcāvuso, sotaṁ ye ca saddā …pe… yañcāvuso, ghānaṁ ye ca gandhā … yā cāvuso, jivhā ye ca rasā … yo cāvuso, kāyo ye ca phoṭṭhabbā … yo cāvuso, mano ye ca dhammā— ubhayametaṁ paccuppannaṁ. Tasmiñce paccuppanne na chandarāgappaṭibaddhaṁ hoti viññāṇaṁ, na chandarāgappaṭibaddhattā viññāṇassa na tadabhinandati, na tadabhinandanto paccuppannesu dhammesu na saṁhīrati— evaṁ kho, āvuso, paccuppannesu dhammesu na saṁhīrati.

[¶49] This is how I understand the detailed meaning of that brief summary recital given by the Buddha.

> Pali: Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

[¶50] > Pali: ‘Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
…pe…
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī’ti.

[¶51] If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this. You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

> Pali: Imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe āyasmanto bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

[¶52] Then those mendicants, approving and agreeing with what Mahākaccāna said, rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding:

> Pali: Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

[¶53] > Pali: ‘Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
…pe…
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī’ti.

[¶54] > Pali: Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ, acirapakkantassa bhagavato, etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

[¶55] > Pali: “Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,
nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ;
Yadatītaṁ pahīnaṁ taṁ,
appattañca anāgataṁ.

[¶56] > Pali: Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṁ,
tattha tattha vipassati;
Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ,
taṁ vidvā manubrūhaye.

[¶57] > Pali: Ajjeva kiccamātappaṁ,
ko jaññā maraṇaṁ suve;
Na hi no saṅgaraṁ tena,
mahāsenena maccunā.

[¶58] > Pali: Evaṁvihāriṁ ātāpiṁ,
ahorattamatanditaṁ;
Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,
santo ācikkhate munī”ti.

[¶59] “Mahākaccāna clearly explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”

> Pali: Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti? Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti. Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamimha; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipucchimha. Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā mahākaccānena imehi ākārehi imehi padehi imehi byañjanehi attho vibhatto”ti.

[¶60] “Mahākaccāna is astute, mendicants, he has great wisdom. If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Mahākaccāna. That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”

> Pali: “Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, mahākaccāno; mahāpañño, bhikkhave mahākaccāno. Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi taṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ mahākaccānena byākataṁ. Eso cevetassa attho. Evañca naṁ dhārethā”ti.

[¶61] That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

[¶62] > Pali: Mahākaccānabhaddekarattasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.