MN 77 · The Longer Discourse with Sakuludāyī
MN 77 · Mahāsakuludāyisutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
Now at that time several very well-known wanderers were residing in their monastery in the peacocks’ feeding ground. They included Annabhāra, Varadhara, Sakuludāyī, and other very well-known wanderers.
Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā paribbājakā moranivāpe paribbājakārāme paṭivasanti, seyyathidaṁ— annabhāro varadharo sakuludāyī ca paribbājako aññe ca abhiññātā abhiññātā paribbājakā.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. Then it occurred to him, “It’s too early to wander for alms in Rājagaha. Why don’t I visit the wanderer Sakuludāyī at the monastery for the wanderers in the peacocks’ feeding ground?”
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “atippago kho tāva rājagahe piṇḍāya carituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ yena moranivāpo paribbājakārāmo yena sakuludāyī paribbājako tenupasaṅkameyyan”ti.
So the Buddha went to the monastery for the wanderers.
Atha kho bhagavā yena moranivāpo paribbājakārāmo tenupasaṅkami.
Now at that time, Sakuludāyī was sitting together with a large assembly of wanderers making an uproar, a colossal racket. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; talk at the street market and the place for water pots; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that place.
Tena kho pana samayena sakuludāyī paribbājako mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ nisinno hoti unnādiniyā uccāsaddamahāsaddāya anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentiyā, seyyathidaṁ— rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ mahāmattakathaṁ senākathaṁ bhayakathaṁ yuddhakathaṁ annakathaṁ pānakathaṁ vatthakathaṁ sayanakathaṁ mālākathaṁ gandhakathaṁ ñātikathaṁ yānakathaṁ gāmakathaṁ nigamakathaṁ nagarakathaṁ janapadakathaṁ itthikathaṁ sūrakathaṁ visikhākathaṁ kumbhaṭṭhānakathaṁ pubbapetakathaṁ nānattakathaṁ lokakkhāyikaṁ samuddakkhāyikaṁ itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā.
Sakuludāyī saw the Buddha coming off in the distance, and hushed his own assembly, “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. Here comes the ascetic Gotama. The venerable likes quiet and praises quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.” Then those wanderers fell silent.
Addasā kho sakuludāyī paribbājako bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna sakaṁ parisaṁ saṇṭhāpeti: “appasaddā bhonto hontu; mā bhonto saddamakattha. Ayaṁ samaṇo gotamo āgacchati; appasaddakāmo kho pana so āyasmā appasaddassa vaṇṇavādī. Appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti. Atha kho te paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.
Then the Buddha approached Sakuludāyī, who said to him, “Let the Blessed One come, sir! Welcome to the Blessed One, sir! It’s been a long time since you took the opportunity to come here. Please, sir, sit down, this seat is ready.” The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out, while Sakuludāyī took a low seat and sat to one side.
Atha kho bhagavā yena sakuludāyī paribbājako tenupasaṅkami. Atha kho sakuludāyī paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “etu kho, bhante, bhagavā. Svāgataṁ, bhante, bhagavato. Cirassaṁ kho, bhante, bhagavā imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāya. Nisīdatu, bhante, bhagavā; idamāsanaṁ paññattan”ti. Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Sakuludāyīpi kho paribbājako aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
The Buddha said to him, “Udāyī, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”
Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho sakuludāyiṁ paribbājakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “Kāya nuttha, udāyi, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā, kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā”ti?
“Sir, leave aside what we were sitting talking about just now. It won’t be hard for you to hear about that later.
“Tiṭṭhatesā, bhante, kathā yāya mayaṁ etarahi kathāya sannisinnā. Nesā, bhante, kathā bhagavato dullabhā bhavissati pacchāpi savanāya.
Sir, a few days ago several ascetics and brahmins who follow various other religions were sitting together at the debating hall, and this discussion came up among them: ‘The people of Aṅga and Magadha are so fortunate, so very fortunate! For there are these ascetics and brahmins who lead an order and a community, and tutor a community. They’re well-known and famous religious founders, deemed holy by many people. And they have come down for the rainy season residence at Rājagaha. They include Pūraṇa Kassapa, the bamboo-staffed ascetic Gosāla, Ajita of the hair blanket, Pakudha Kaccāyana, Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta, and the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan. This ascetic Gotama also leads an order and a community, and tutors a community. He’s a well-known and famous religious founder, deemed holy by many people. And he too has come down for the rains residence at Rājagaha. Which of these ascetics and brahmins is honored, respected, revered, and venerated by their disciples? And how do their disciples, honoring and respecting them, remain loyal?’
Purimāni, bhante, divasāni purimatarāni nānātitthiyānaṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ kutūhalasālāyaṁ sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi: ‘lābhā vata, bho, aṅgamagadhānaṁ, suladdhalābhā vata, bho, aṅgamagadhānaṁ. Tatrime samaṇabrāhmaṇā saṅghino gaṇino gaṇācariyā ñātā yasassino titthakarā sādhusammatā bahujanassa rājagahaṁ vassāvāsaṁ osaṭā. Ayampi kho pūraṇo kassapo saṅghī ceva gaṇī ca gaṇācariyo ca ñāto yasassī titthakaro sādhusammato bahujanassa; sopi rājagahaṁ vassāvāsaṁ osaṭo. Ayampi kho makkhali gosālo …pe… ajito kesakambalo … pakudho kaccāyano … sañjayo belaṭṭhaputto … nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto saṅghī ceva gaṇī ca gaṇācariyo ca ñāto yasassī titthakaro sādhusammato bahujanassa; sopi rājagahaṁ vassāvāsaṁ osaṭo. Ayampi kho samaṇo gotamo saṅghī ceva gaṇī ca gaṇācariyo ca ñāto yasassī titthakaro sādhusammato bahujanassa; sopi rājagahaṁ vassāvāsaṁ osaṭo. Ko nu kho imesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saṅghīnaṁ gaṇīnaṁ gaṇācariyānaṁ ñātānaṁ yasassinaṁ titthakarānaṁ sādhusammatānaṁ bahujanassa sāvakānaṁ sakkato garukato mānito pūjito, kañca pana sāvakā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharantī’ti?
Some of them said: ‘This Pūraṇa Kassapa leads an order and a community, and tutors a community. He’s a well-known and famous religious founder, deemed holy by many people. But he’s not honored, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples. And his disciples, not honoring and respecting him, don’t remain loyal to him. Once it so happened that he was teaching an assembly of many hundreds. Then one of his disciples made a noise, “My good fellows, don’t ask Pūraṇa Kassapa about that. He doesn’t know that. I know it. Ask me about it, and I’ll answer you.” Once it so happened that Pūraṇa Kassapa didn’t get his way, though he called out with raised arms, “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. They’re not asking you, they’re asking me! I’ll answer you!” Indeed, many of his disciples have left him after refuting his doctrine: “You don’t understand this teaching and training. I understand this teaching and training. What, you understand this teaching and training? You’re practicing wrong. I’m practicing right. I stay on topic, you don’t. You said last what you should have said first. You said first what you should have said last. What you’ve thought so much about has been disproved. Your doctrine is refuted. Go on, save your doctrine! You’re trapped; get yourself out of this—if you can!” That’s how Pūraṇa Kassapa is not honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by his disciples. On the contrary, his disciples, not honoring and respecting him, don’t remain loyal to him. Rather, he’s reviled, and rightly so.’
Tatrekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘ayaṁ kho pūraṇo kassapo saṅghī ceva gaṇī ca gaṇācariyo ca ñāto yasassī titthakaro sādhusammato bahujanassa; so ca kho sāvakānaṁ na sakkato na garukato na mānito na pūjito, na ca pana pūraṇaṁ kassapaṁ sāvakā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti. Bhūtapubbaṁ pūraṇo kassapo anekasatāya parisāya dhammaṁ deseti. Tatraññataro pūraṇassa kassapassa sāvako saddamakāsi: “mā bhonto pūraṇaṁ kassapaṁ etamatthaṁ pucchittha; neso etaṁ jānāti; mayametaṁ jānāma, amhe etamatthaṁ pucchatha; mayametaṁ bhavantānaṁ byākarissāmā”ti. Bhūtapubbaṁ pūraṇo kassapo bāhā paggayha kandanto na labhati: “appasaddā bhonto hontu, mā bhonto saddamakattha. Nete, bhavante, pucchanti, amhe ete pucchanti; mayametesaṁ byākarissāmā”ti. Bahū kho pana pūraṇassa kassapassa sāvakā vādaṁ āropetvā apakkantā: “na tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāsi, ahaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāmi, kiṁ tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānissasi? Micchāpaṭipanno tvamasi, ahamasmi sammāpaṭipanno, sahitaṁ me, asahitaṁ te, purevacanīyaṁ pacchā avaca, pacchāvacanīyaṁ pure avaca, adhiciṇṇaṁ te viparāvattaṁ, āropito te vādo, niggahitosi, cara vādappamokkhāya, nibbeṭhehi vā sace pahosī”ti. Iti pūraṇo kassapo sāvakānaṁ na sakkato na garukato na mānito na pūjito, na ca pana pūraṇaṁ kassapaṁ sāvakā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti. Akkuṭṭho ca pana pūraṇo kassapo dhammakkosenā’ti.
Others said: ‘This bamboo-staffed ascetic Gosāla … Ajita of the hair blanket … Pakudha Kaccāyana … Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta … This Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan leads an order and a community, and tutors a community. He’s a well-known and famous religious founder, deemed holy by many people. But he’s not honored, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples. And his disciples, not honoring and respecting him, don’t remain loyal to him. Once it so happened that he was teaching an assembly of many hundreds. Then one of his disciples made a noise, “My good fellows, don’t ask the Jain Ñātika about that. He doesn’t know that. I know it. Ask me about it, and I’ll answer you.” Once it so happened that the Jain Ñātika didn’t get his way, though he called out with raised arms, “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. They’re not asking you, they’re asking me! I’ll answer you!” Indeed, many of his disciples have left him after refuting his doctrine: “You don’t understand this teaching and training. I understand this teaching and training. What, you understand this teaching and training? You’re practicing wrong. I’m practicing right. I stay on topic, you don’t. You said last what you should have said first. You said first what you should have said last. What you’ve thought so much about has been disproved. Your doctrine is refuted. Go on, save your doctrine! You’re trapped; get yourself out of this—if you can!” That’s how the Jain Ñātika is not honored, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples. On the contrary, his disciples, not honoring and respecting him, don’t remain loyal to him. Rather, he’s reviled, and rightly so.’
Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘ayampi kho makkhali gosālo …pe… ajito kesakambalo … pakudho kaccāyano … sañjayo belaṭṭhaputto … nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto saṅghī ceva gaṇī ca gaṇācariyo ca ñāto yasassī titthakaro sādhusammato bahujanassa; so ca kho sāvakānaṁ na sakkato na garukato na mānito na pūjito, na ca pana nigaṇṭhaṁ nāṭaputtaṁ sāvakā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti. Bhūtapubbaṁ nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto anekasatāya parisāya dhammaṁ deseti. Tatraññataro nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa sāvako saddamakāsi: “mā bhonto nigaṇṭhaṁ nāṭaputtaṁ etamatthaṁ pucchittha; neso etaṁ jānāti; mayametaṁ jānāma, amhe etamatthaṁ pucchatha; mayametaṁ bhavantānaṁ byākarissāmā”ti. Bhūtapubbaṁ nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto bāhā paggayha kandanto na labhati: “appasaddā bhonto hontu, mā bhonto saddamakattha. Nete bhavante pucchanti, amhe ete pucchanti; mayametesaṁ byākarissāmā”ti. Bahū kho pana nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa sāvakā vādaṁ āropetvā apakkantā: “na tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāsi, ahaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāmi. Kiṁ tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānissasi? Micchāpaṭipanno tvamasi. Ahamasmi sammāpaṭipanno. Sahitaṁ me asahitaṁ te, purevacanīyaṁ pacchā avaca, pacchāvacanīyaṁ pure avaca, adhiciṇṇaṁ te viparāvattaṁ, āropito te vādo, niggahitosi, cara vādappamokkhāya, nibbeṭhehi vā sace pahosī”ti. Iti nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sāvakānaṁ na sakkato na garukato na mānito na pūjito, na ca pana nigaṇṭhaṁ nāṭaputtaṁ sāvakā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti. Akkuṭṭho ca pana nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto dhammakkosenā’ti.
Others said: ‘This ascetic Gotama leads an order and a community, and tutors a community. He’s a well-known and famous religious founder, deemed holy by many people. He’s honored, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples. And his disciples, honoring and respecting him, remain loyal to him. Once it so happened that he was teaching an assembly of many hundreds. Then one of his disciples cleared their throat. And one of their spiritual companions nudged them with their knee, to indicate, “Hush, venerable, don’t make sound! Our teacher, the Blessed One, is teaching!” While the ascetic Gotama is teaching an assembly of many hundreds, there is no sound of his disciples coughing or clearing their throats. That large crowd is poised expectantly at the ready, thinking, “Whatever the Buddha teaches, we shall listen to it.” It’s like when there’s a person at the crossroads pressing out pure dwarf-bee honey, and a large crowd is poised expectantly at the ready. In the same way, while the ascetic Gotama is teaching an assembly of many hundreds, there is no sound of his disciples coughing or clearing their throats. That large crowd is poised expectantly at the ready, thinking, “Whatever the Buddha teaches, we shall listen to it.” Even when disciples of the ascetic Gotama, having clashed with their spiritual companions, resign the training and return to a lesser life, they speak only praise of the Teacher, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They blame only themselves, not others: “We were unlucky, we had little merit. For even after going forth in such a well explained teaching and training we weren’t able to practice for life the perfectly full and pure spiritual life.” They become monastery workers or lay followers, and they proceed having undertaken the five precepts. That’s how the ascetic Gotama is honored, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples. And that’s how his disciples, honoring and respecting him, remain loyal to him.’”
Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘ayampi kho samaṇo gotamo saṅghī ceva gaṇī ca gaṇācariyo ca ñāto yasassī titthakaro sādhusammato bahujanassa; so ca kho sāvakānaṁ sakkato garukato mānito pūjito, samaṇañca pana gotamaṁ sāvakā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti. Bhūtapubbaṁ samaṇo gotamo anekasatāya parisāya dhammaṁ desesi. Tatraññataro samaṇassa gotamassa sāvako ukkāsi. Tamenāññataro sabrahmacārī jaṇṇukena ghaṭṭesi: “appasaddo āyasmā hotu, māyasmā saddamakāsi, satthā no bhagavā dhammaṁ desesī”ti. Yasmiṁ samaye samaṇo gotamo anekasatāya parisāya dhammaṁ deseti, neva tasmiṁ samaye samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakānaṁ khipitasaddo vā hoti ukkāsitasaddo vā. Tamenaṁ mahājanakāyo paccāsīsamānarūpo paccupaṭṭhito hoti: “yaṁ no bhagavā dhammaṁ bhāsissati taṁ no sossāmā”ti. Seyyathāpi nāma puriso cātummahāpathe khuddamadhuṁ anelakaṁ pīḷeyya. Tamenaṁ mahājanakāyo paccāsīsamānarūpo paccupaṭṭhito assa. Evameva yasmiṁ samaye samaṇo gotamo anekasatāya parisāya dhammaṁ deseti, neva tasmiṁ samaye samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakānaṁ khipitasaddo vā hoti ukkāsitasaddo vā. Tamenaṁ mahājanakāyo paccāsīsamānarūpo paccupaṭṭhito hoti: “yaṁ no bhagavā dhammaṁ bhāsissati taṁ no sossāmā”ti. Yepi samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakā sabrahmacārīhi sampayojetvā sikkhaṁ paccakkhāya hīnāyāvattanti tepi satthu ceva vaṇṇavādino honti, dhammassa ca vaṇṇavādino honti, saṅghassa ca vaṇṇavādino honti, attagarahinoyeva honti anaññagarahino, “mayamevamhā alakkhikā mayaṁ appapuññā te mayaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajitvā nāsakkhimhā yāvajīvaṁ paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ caritun”ti. Te ārāmikabhūtā vā upāsakabhūtā vā pañcasikkhāpade samādāya vattanti. Iti samaṇo gotamo sāvakānaṁ sakkato garukato mānito pūjito, samaṇañca pana gotamaṁ sāvakā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharantī’”ti.
“But Udāyī, how many qualities do you see in me, because of which my disciples honor, respect, revere, and venerate me; and honoring and respecting me, they remain loyal to me?”
“Kati pana tvaṁ, udāyi, mayi dhamme samanupassasi, yehi mamaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharantī”ti?
“Sir, I see five such qualities in the Buddha. What five?
“Pañca kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati dhamme samanupassāmi yehi bhagavantaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti. Katame pañca?
The Buddha eats little and praises eating little. This is the first such quality I see in the Buddha.
Bhagavā hi, bhante, appāhāro, appāhāratāya ca vaṇṇavādī. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā appāhāro, appāhāratāya ca vaṇṇavādī imaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ samanupassāmi yena bhagavantaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, the Buddha is content with any kind of robe, and praises such contentment. This is the second such quality I see in the Buddha.
Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, imaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati dutiyaṁ dhammaṁ samanupassāmi yena bhagavantaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, the Buddha is content with any kind of almsfood, and praises such contentment. This is the third such quality I see in the Buddha.
Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, imaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati tatiyaṁ dhammaṁ samanupassāmi yena bhagavantaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, the Buddha is content with any kind of lodging, and praises such contentment. This is the fourth such quality I see in the Buddha.
Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, imaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati catutthaṁ dhammaṁ samanupassāmi yena bhagavantaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, the Buddha is secluded, and praises seclusion. This is the fifth such quality I see in the Buddha.
Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā pavivitto, pavivekassa ca vaṇṇavādī. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā pavivitto, pavivekassa ca vaṇṇavādī, imaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati pañcamaṁ dhammaṁ samanupassāmi yena bhagavantaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
These are the five qualities I see in the Buddha, because of which his disciples honor, respect, revere, and venerate him; and honoring and respecting him, they remain loyal to him.”
Ime kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati pañca dhamme samanupassāmi yehi bhagavantaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharantī”ti.
“Suppose, Udāyī, my disciples were loyal to me because I eat little. Well, there are disciples of mine who eat a tumbler of food, or half a tumbler; they eat a wood-apple, or half a wood-apple. But sometimes I even eat this bowl full to the brim, or even more. So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I eat little, then those disciples who eat even less would not be loyal to me.
“‘Appāhāro samaṇo gotamo, appāhāratāya ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, santi kho pana me, udāyi, sāvakā kosakāhārāpi aḍḍhakosakāhārāpi beluvāhārāpi aḍḍhabeluvāhārāpi. Ahaṁ kho pana, udāyi, appekadā iminā pattena samatittikampi bhuñjāmi bhiyyopi bhuñjāmi. ‘Appāhāro samaṇo gotamo, appāhāratāya ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, ye te, udāyi, mama sāvakā kosakāhārāpi aḍḍhakosakāhārāpi beluvāhārāpi aḍḍhabeluvāhārāpi na maṁ te iminā dhammena sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ.
Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of robe. Well, there are disciples of mine who have rag robes, wearing shabby robes. They gather scraps from charnel grounds, rubbish dumps, and shops, make them into a patchwork robe and wear it. But sometimes I wear robes offered by householders that are strong, yet next to which bottle-gourd down is coarse. So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of robe, then those disciples who wear rag robes would not be loyal to me.
‘Santuṭṭho samaṇo gotamo itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, santi kho pana me, udāyi, sāvakā paṁsukūlikā lūkhacīvaradharā te susānā vā saṅkārakūṭā vā pāpaṇikā vā nantakāni uccinitvā saṅghāṭiṁ karitvā dhārenti. Ahaṁ kho panudāyi, appekadā gahapaticīvarāni dhāremi daḷhāni satthalūkhāni alābulomasāni. ‘Santuṭṭho samaṇo gotamo itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, ye te, udāyi, mama sāvakā paṁsukūlikā lūkhacīvaradharā te susānā vā saṅkārakūṭā vā pāpaṇikā vā nantakāni uccinitvā saṅghāṭiṁ karitvā dhārenti, na maṁ te iminā dhammena sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ.
Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of almsfood. Well, there are disciples of mine who eat only almsfood, wander indiscriminately for almsfood, happy to eat whatever they glean. When they’ve entered an inhabited area, they don’t consent when invited to sit down. But sometimes I even eat by invitation boiled fine rice with the dark grains picked out, served with many soups and sauces. So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of almsfood, then those disciples who eat only almsfood would not be loyal to me.
‘Santuṭṭho samaṇo gotamo itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, santi kho pana me, udāyi, sāvakā piṇḍapātikā sapadānacārino uñchāsake vate ratā, te antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhā samānā āsanenapi nimantiyamānā na sādiyanti. Ahaṁ kho panudāyi, appekadā nimantanepi bhuñjāmi sālīnaṁ odanaṁ vicitakāḷakaṁ anekasūpaṁ anekabyañjanaṁ. ‘Santuṭṭho samaṇo gotamo itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, ye te, udāyi, mama sāvakā piṇḍapātikā sapadānacārino uñchāsake vate ratā te antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhā samānā āsanenapi nimantiyamānā na sādiyanti, na maṁ te iminā dhammena sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ.
Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of lodging. Well, there are disciples of mine who stay at the root of a tree, in the open air. For eight months they don’t go under a roof. But sometimes I even stay in bungalows, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with doors fastened and windows shuttered. So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m content with any kind of lodging, then those disciples who stay at the root of a tree would not be loyal to me.
‘Santuṭṭho samaṇo gotamo itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, santi kho pana me, udāyi, sāvakā rukkhamūlikā abbhokāsikā, te aṭṭhamāse channaṁ na upenti. Ahaṁ kho panudāyi, appekadā kūṭāgāresupi viharāmi ullittāvalittesu nivātesu phusitaggaḷesu pihitavātapānesu. ‘Santuṭṭho samaṇo gotamo itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, ye te, udāyi, mama sāvakā rukkhamūlikā abbhokāsikā te aṭṭhamāse channaṁ na upenti, na maṁ te iminā dhammena sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ.
Suppose my disciples were loyal to me because I’m secluded and I praise seclusion. Well, there are disciples of mine who live in the wilderness, in remote lodgings. Having ventured deep into remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest, they live there, coming down to the midst of the Saṅgha each fortnight for the recitation of the monastic code. But sometimes I live crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their chief ministers, and monastics of other religions and their disciples. So if it were the case that my disciples are loyal to me because I’m secluded and praise seclusion, then those disciples who live in the wilderness would not be loyal to me.
‘Pavivitto samaṇo gotamo, pavivekassa ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ, santi kho pana me, udāyi, sāvakā āraññikā pantasenāsanā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni ajjhogāhetvā viharanti, te anvaddhamāsaṁ saṅghamajjhe osaranti pātimokkhuddesāya. Ahaṁ kho panudāyi, appekadā ākiṇṇo viharāmi bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi raññā rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi. ‘Pavivitto samaṇo gotamo, pavivekassa ca vaṇṇavādī’ti, iti ce maṁ, udāyi, sāvakā sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ. Ye te, udāyi, mama sāvakā āraññakā pantasenāsanā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni ajjhogāhetvā viharanti te anvaddhamāsaṁ saṅghamajjhe osaranti pātimokkhuddesāya, na maṁ te iminā dhammena sakkareyyuṁ garuṁ kareyyuṁ māneyyuṁ pūjeyyuṁ, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyuṁ.
So, Udāyī, it’s not because of these five qualities that my disciples honor, respect, revere, and venerate me; and honoring and respecting me, they remain loyal to me.
Iti kho, udāyi, na mamaṁ sāvakā imehi pañcahi dhammehi sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
There are five other qualities because of which my disciples honor, respect, revere, and venerate me; and honoring and respecting me, they remain loyal to me. What five?
Atthi kho, udāyi, aññe ca pañca dhammā yehi pañcahi dhammehi mamaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti. Katame pañca?
Firstly, my disciples esteem me for the higher ethics: ‘The ascetic Gotama is ethical. He possesses the entire spectrum of ethical conduct to the highest degree.’ Since this is so, this is the first quality because of which my disciples are loyal to me.
Idhudāyi, mamaṁ sāvakā adhisīle sambhāventi: ‘sīlavā samaṇo gotamo paramena sīlakkhandhena samannāgato’ti. Yampudāyi, mamaṁ sāvakā adhisīle sambhāventi: ‘sīlavā samaṇo gotamo paramena sīlakkhandhena samannāgato’ti, ayaṁ kho, udāyi, paṭhamo dhammo yena mamaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, my disciples esteem me for my excellent knowledge and vision: ‘The ascetic Gotama only claims to know when he does in fact know. He only claims to see when he really does see. He teaches based on direct knowledge, not without direct knowledge. He teaches based on reason, not without reason. He teaches with a demonstrable basis, not without it.’ Since this is so, this is the second quality because of which my disciples are loyal to me.
Puna caparaṁ, udāyi, mamaṁ sāvakā abhikkante ñāṇadassane sambhāventi: ‘jānaṁyevāha samaṇo gotamo—jānāmīti, passaṁyevāha samaṇo gotamo—passāmīti; abhiññāya samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ deseti no anabhiññāya; sanidānaṁ samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ deseti no anidānaṁ; sappāṭihāriyaṁ samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ deseti no appāṭihāriyan’ti. Yampudāyi, mamaṁ sāvakā abhikkante ñāṇadassane sambhāventi: ‘jānaṁyevāha samaṇo gotamo—jānāmīti, passaṁyevāha samaṇo gotamo—passāmīti; abhiññāya samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ deseti no anabhiññāya; sanidānaṁ samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ deseti no anidānaṁ; sappāṭihāriyaṁ samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ deseti no appāṭihāriyan’ti, ayaṁ kho, udāyi, dutiyo dhammo yena mamaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, my disciples esteem me for my higher wisdom: ‘The ascetic Gotama is wise. He possesses the entire spectrum of wisdom to the highest degree. It’s not possible that he would fail to foresee grounds for future criticism, or to legitimately and completely refute the doctrines of others that come up.’ What do you think, Udāyī? Would my disciples, knowing and seeing this, break in and interrupt me?”
Puna caparaṁ, udāyi, mamaṁ sāvakā adhipaññāya sambhāventi: ‘paññavā samaṇo gotamo paramena paññākkhandhena samannāgato; taṁ vata anāgataṁ vādapathaṁ na dakkhati, uppannaṁ vā parappavādaṁ na sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggaṇhissatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati’. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, api nu me sāvakā evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā antarantarā kathaṁ opāteyyun”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“That’s because I don’t expect to be instructed by my disciples. Invariably, my disciples expect instruction from me.
“Na kho panāhaṁ, udāyi, sāvakesu anusāsaniṁ paccāsīsāmi; aññadatthu mamayeva sāvakā anusāsaniṁ paccāsīsanti.
Since this is so, this is the third quality because of which my disciples are loyal to me.
Yampudāyi, mamaṁ sāvakā adhipaññāya sambhāventi: ‘paññavā samaṇo gotamo paramena paññākkhandhena samannāgato; taṁ vata anāgataṁ vādapathaṁ na dakkhati, uppannaṁ vā parappavādaṁ na sahadhammena niggahitaṁ niggaṇhissatīti— netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati’. Ayaṁ kho, udāyi, tatiyo dhammo yena mamaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, my disciples come to me and ask how the noble truth of suffering applies to the suffering in which they are swamped and mired. And I provide them with a satisfying answer to their question. They ask how the noble truths of the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering apply to the suffering in which they are swamped and mired. And I provide them with satisfying answers to their questions. Since this is so, this is the fourth quality because of which my disciples are loyal to me.
Puna caparaṁ, udāyi, mama sāvakā yena dukkhena dukkhotiṇṇā dukkhaparetā te maṁ upasaṅkamitvā dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pucchanti, tesāhaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ puṭṭho byākaromi, tesāhaṁ cittaṁ ārādhemi pañhassa veyyākaraṇena; te maṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ … dukkhanirodhaṁ … dukkhanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pucchanti, tesāhaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ ariyasaccaṁ puṭṭho byākaromi, tesāhaṁ cittaṁ ārādhemi pañhassa veyyākaraṇena. Yampudāyi, mama sāvakā yena dukkhena dukkhotiṇṇā dukkhaparetā te maṁ upasaṅkamitvā dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pucchanti, tesāhaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ puṭṭho byākaromi, tesāhaṁ cittaṁ ārādhemi pañhassa veyyākaraṇena. Te maṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ … dukkhanirodhaṁ … dukkhanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pucchanti. Tesāhaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ ariyasaccaṁ puṭṭho byākaromi. Tesāhaṁ cittaṁ ārādhemi pañhassa veyyākaraṇena. Ayaṁ kho, udāyi, catuttho dhammo yena mamaṁ sāvakā sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanti.
Furthermore, I have explained to my disciples a practice that they use to develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. And many of my disciples meditate on that having attained perfection and consummation of insight.
Puna caparaṁ, udāyi, akkhātā mayā sāvakānaṁ paṭipadā, yathāpaṭipannā me sāvakā cattāro satipaṭṭhāne bhāventi. Idhudāyi, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati … citte cittānupassī viharati … dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Tatra ca pana me sāvakā bahū abhiññāvosānapāramippattā viharanti.
Furthermore, I have explained to my disciples a practice that they use to develop the four right efforts. It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed. And many of my disciples meditate on that having attained perfection and consummation of insight.
Puna caparaṁ, udāyi, akkhātā mayā sāvakānaṁ paṭipadā, yathāpaṭipannā me sāvakā cattāro sammappadhāne bhāventi. Idhudāyi, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, vīriyaṁ ārabhati, cittaṁ paggaṇhāti, padahati; uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, vīriyaṁ ārabhati, cittaṁ paggaṇhāti, padahati; anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, vīriyaṁ ārabhati, cittaṁ paggaṇhāti, padahati; uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, vīriyaṁ ārabhati, cittaṁ paggaṇhāti, padahati. Tatra ca pana me sāvakā bahū abhiññāvosānapāramippattā viharanti.
Furthermore, I have explained to my disciples a practice that they use to develop the four bases of psychic power. It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort. And many of my disciples meditate on that having attained perfection and consummation of insight.
Puna caparaṁ, udāyi, akkhātā mayā sāvakānaṁ paṭipadā, yathāpaṭipannā me sāvakā cattāro iddhipāde bhāventi. Idhudāyi, bhikkhu chandasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīriyasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, cittasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, vīmaṁsāsamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. Tatra ca pana me sāvakā bahū abhiññāvosānapāramippattā viharanti.