---
title: "Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 35 of 35
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/35/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga, section 35. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/35/"
---

# Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

Dependent origination and the chain of causes, the elements, the endless round of rebirth, and the great disciples.

> 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.

## 35. Monks · SN 21.1–21.12

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/35/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/35/#p-N

[¶0] SN 21.1 · With Kolita

> Pali: SN 21.1 · Kolitasutta

[¶1] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, mendicants!”

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhikkhū āmantesi: “āvuso bhikkhave”ti.

[¶2] “Reverend,” they replied.

> Pali: “Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa paccassosuṁ.

[¶3] Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:

> Pali: Āyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca:

[¶4] “Just now, reverends, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: ‘They speak of this thing called “noble silence”. What then is this noble silence?’

> Pali: “idha mayhaṁ, āvuso, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘ariyo tuṇhībhāvo, ariyo tuṇhībhāvoti vuccati. Katamo nu kho ariyo tuṇhībhāvo’ti?

[¶5] It occurred to me: ‘As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is called noble silence.’

> Pali: Tassa mayhaṁ āvuso, etadahosi: ‘idha bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati ariyo tuṇhībhāvo’ti.

[¶6] And so, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected were stilled, I was entering and remaining in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

> Pali: So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihariṁ.

[¶7] While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by placing the mind beset me.

> Pali: Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato vitakkasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti.

[¶8] Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said, ‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna! Don’t neglect noble silence, brahmin! Settle your mind in noble silence; unify your mind and bring it to immersion in noble silence.’

> Pali: Atha kho maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca: ‘moggallāna moggallāna, mā, brāhmaṇa, ariyaṁ tuṇhībhāvaṁ pamādo, ariye tuṇhībhāve cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, ariye tuṇhībhāve cittaṁ ekodibhāvaṁ karohi, ariye tuṇhībhāve cittaṁ samādahā’ti.

[¶9] And so, after some time, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected were stilled, I entered and remained in the second absorption …

> Pali: So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

[¶10] So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”

> Pali: Yañhi taṁ, āvuso, sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘satthārā anuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’ti, mamaṁ taṁ sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘satthārā anuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’”ti.

[¶11] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ.

[¶12] SN 21.2 · With Upatissa

> Pali: SN 21.2 · Upatissasutta

[¶13] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

[¶14] There Sāriputta addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, mendicants!”

> Pali: Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi: “āvuso bhikkhave”ti.

[¶15] “Reverend,” they replied. Sāriputta said this:

> Pali: “Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:

[¶16] “Just now, reverends, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: ‘Is there anything in the world whose decay and perishing would give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress in me?’ It occurred to me: ‘There is nothing in the world whose decay and perishing would give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress in me.’”

> Pali: “Idha mayhaṁ, āvuso, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘atthi nu kho taṁ kiñci lokasmiṁ yassa me vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā’ti? Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi: ‘natthi kho taṁ kiñci lokasmiṁ yassa me vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā’”ti.

[¶17] When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to him, “Even if the Teacher were to decay and perish? Wouldn’t that give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress in you?”

> Pali: Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca: “satthupi kho te, āvuso sāriputta, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti?

[¶18] “Even if the Teacher were to decay and perish, that wouldn’t give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress in me. Still, I would think: ‘Oh lord, the illustrious Teacher, so mighty and powerful, has vanished! If the Buddha was to remain for a long time, that would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.’”

> Pali: “Satthupi kho me, āvuso, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā, api ca me evamassa: ‘mahesakkho vata bho satthā antarahito mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo. Sace hi bhagavā ciraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ tiṭṭheyya tadassa bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan’ti.

[¶19] “That must be because Venerable Sāriputta has long ago totally eradicated I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit. So even if the Teacher were to decay and perish, it wouldn’t give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress in him.”

> Pali: Tathā hi panāyasmato sāriputtassa dīgharattaṁ ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā susamūhatā. Tasmā āyasmato sāriputtassa satthupi vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā”ti.

[¶20] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ.

[¶21] SN 21.3 · A Mound of Salt

> Pali: SN 21.3 · Ghaṭasutta

[¶22] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

[¶23] At that time the venerables Sāriputta and Moggallāna were staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Sāriputta came out of retreat, went to Venerable Moggallāna, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, Sāriputta sat down to one side, and said to Mahāmoggallāna:

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahāmoggallāno rājagahe viharanti veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe ekavihāre. Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahāmoggallānena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca:

[¶24] “Reverend Moggallāna, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright. Have you spent the day in a peaceful meditation?”

> Pali: “Vippasannāni kho te, āvuso moggallāna, indriyāni; parisuddho mukhavaṇṇo pariyodāto santena nūnāyasmā mahāmoggallāno ajja vihārena vihāsī”ti.

[¶25] “Reverend, I’ve spent the day in a coarse meditation. But I have had some Dhamma talk.”

> Pali: “Oḷārikena khvāhaṁ, āvuso, ajja vihārena vihāsiṁ. Api ca me ahosi dhammī kathā”ti.

[¶26] “Who did you have a Dhamma talk with?”

> Pali: “Kena saddhiṁ panāyasmato mahāmoggallānassa ahosi dhammī kathā”ti?

[¶27] “With the Buddha.”

> Pali: “Bhagavatā kho me, āvuso, saddhiṁ ahosi dhammī kathā”ti.

[¶28] “But Reverend, the Buddha is far away. He’s staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Did you go to him with your psychic power, or did he come to you?”

> Pali: “Dūre kho, āvuso, bhagavā etarahi sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Kiṁ nu kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavantaṁ iddhiyā upasaṅkami; udāhu bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ iddhiyā upasaṅkamī”ti?

[¶29] “No reverend, I didn’t go to him with my psychic power, nor did he come to me. Rather, the Buddha cleared his clairvoyance and clairaudience toward me, and I cleared my clairvoyance and clairaudience toward him.”

> Pali: “Na khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavantaṁ iddhiyā upasaṅkamiṁ; napi maṁ bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkami. Api ca me yāvatā bhagavā ettāvatā dibbacakkhu visujjhi dibbā ca sotadhātu. Bhagavatopi yāvatāhaṁ ettāvatā dibbacakkhu visujjhi dibbā ca sotadhātū”ti.

[¶30] “But what manner of Dhamma talk did you have together?”

> Pali: “Yathākathaṁ panāyasmato mahāmoggallānassa bhagavatā saddhiṁ ahosi dhammī kathā”ti?

[¶31] “Well, reverend, I said to the Buddha, ‘Sir, they speak of one who is energetic. How is an energetic person defined?’

> Pali: “Idhāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavantaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘āraddhavīriyo āraddhavīriyoti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, āraddhavīriyo hotī’ti?

[¶32] When I said this, the Buddha said, ‘Moggallāna, it’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up: “Gladly, let only skin, sinews, and bones remain! Let the flesh and blood waste away in my body! I will not stop trying until I have achieved what is possible by human strength, energy, and vigor.” That’s how an individual is energetic.’

> Pali: Evaṁ vutte, maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā etadavoca: ‘idha, moggallāna, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati— kāmaṁ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu, sarīre upassussatu maṁsalohitaṁ, yaṁ taṁ purisathāmena purisavīriyena purisaparakkamena pattabbaṁ na taṁ apāpuṇitvā vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṁ bhavissatīti. Evaṁ kho, moggallāna, āraddhavīriyo hotī’ti.

[¶33] That’s the Dhamma talk I had together with the Buddha.”

> Pali: Evaṁ kho me, āvuso, bhagavatā saddhiṁ ahosi dhammī kathā”ti.

[¶34] “Reverend, next to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna I’m like a few pieces of gravel next to the Himalayas, the king of mountains. Venerable Mahāmoggallāna is so mighty and powerful he could, if he wished, live on for the proper lifespan.”

> Pali: “Seyyathāpi, āvuso, himavato pabbatarājassa parittā pāsāṇasakkharā yāvadeva upanikkhepanamattāya; evameva kho mayaṁ āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa yāvadeva upanikkhepanamattāya. Āyasmā hi mahāmoggallāno mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo ākaṅkhamāno kappaṁ tiṭṭheyyā”ti.

[¶35] “Reverend, next to Venerable Sāriputta I’m like a few grains of salt next to a mound of salt. Venerable Sāriputta has been commended, complimented, and praised by the Buddha:

> Pali: “Seyyathāpi, āvuso, mahatiyā loṇaghaṭāya parittā loṇasakkharāya yāvadeva upanikkhepanamattāya; evameva kho mayaṁ āyasmato sāriputtassa yāvadeva upanikkhepanamattāya. Āyasmā hi sāriputto bhagavatā anekapariyāyena thomito vaṇṇito pasattho:

[¶36] ‘Sāriputta is full of wisdom,
ethics, and peace.
Even a mendicant who has crossed over
might at best equal him.’”

> Pali: ‘Sāriputtova paññāya,
sīlena upasamena ca;
Yopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu,
etāvaparamo siyā’”ti.

[¶37] And so these two spiritual giants agreed with each other’s fine words.

> Pali: Itiha te ubho mahānāgā aññamaññassa subhāsitaṁ sulapitaṁ samanumodiṁsūti.

[¶38] > Pali: Tatiyaṁ.

[¶39] SN 21.4 · A Junior Mendicant

> Pali: SN 21.4 · Navasutta

[¶40] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

[¶41] Now at that time a certain junior monk, after his meal, on his return from almsround, entered his dwelling, where he adhered to passivity and silence. And he didn’t help the mendicants out when it was time to sew robes. Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena aññataro navo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto vihāraṁ pavisitvā appossukko tuṇhībhūto saṅkasāyati, na bhikkhūnaṁ veyyāvaccaṁ karoti cīvarakārasamaye. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha, bhante, aññataro navo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto vihāraṁ pavisitvā appossukko tuṇhībhūto saṅkasāyati, na bhikkhūnaṁ veyyāvaccaṁ karoti cīvarakārasamaye”ti.

[¶42] So the Buddha addressed one of the monks, “Please, monk, in my name tell that monk that the Teacher summons him.”

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi: “ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena taṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantehi ‘satthā taṁ, āvuso, āmantetī’”ti.

[¶43] “Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to that monk and said to him, “Reverend, the Teacher summons you.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca: “satthā taṁ, āvuso, āmantetī”ti.

[¶44] “Yes, reverend,” that monk replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

> Pali: “Evamāvuso”ti kho so bhikkhu tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ bhikkhuṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

[¶45] “Is it really true, monk, that after your meal, on your return from almsround, you entered your dwelling, where you adhered to passivity and silence, and you didn’t help the mendicants out when it was time to sew robes?”

> Pali: “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, bhikkhu, pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto vihāraṁ pavisitvā appossukko tuṇhībhūto saṅkasāyasi, na bhikkhūnaṁ veyyāvaccaṁ karosi cīvarakārasamaye”ti?

[¶46] “Sir, I am doing my own work.”

> Pali: “Ahampi kho, bhante, sakaṁ kiccaṁ karomī”ti.

[¶47] Then the Buddha, knowing that monk’s train of thought, addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, don’t complain about this monk. This monk gets the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when he wants, without trouble or difficulty. He has realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life, and lives having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā tassa bhikkhuno cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya bhikkhū āmantesi: “mā kho tumhe, bhikkhave, etassa bhikkhuno ujjhāyittha. Eso kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

[¶48] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

[¶49] “Not by being slack,
or with little strength
may this be realized—extinguishment,
the release from all suffering.

> Pali: “Nayidaṁ sithilamārabbha,
nayidaṁ appena thāmasā;
Nibbānaṁ adhigantabbaṁ,
sabbadukkhappamocanaṁ.

[¶50] This young monk,
this best of men,
bears his final body,
having vanquished Māra with his legions.”

> Pali: Ayañca daharo bhikkhu,
ayamuttamapuriso;
Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

[¶51] > Pali: Catutthaṁ.

[¶52] SN 21.5 · With Sujāta

> Pali: SN 21.5 · Sujātasutta

[¶53] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

[¶54] Then Venerable Sujāta went to the Buddha.

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā sujāto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

[¶55] The Buddha saw him coming off in the distance, and addressed the mendicants: “This gentleman shines in both ways. He’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. And he has realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lives having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

> Pali: Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sujātaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “ubhayenevāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputto sobhati— yañca abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

[¶56] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

[¶57] “This mendicant truly shines.
His heart is upright,
he’s unfettered, detached,
quenched by not grasping.
He bears his final body,
having vanquished Māra with his legions.”

> Pali: “Sobhati vatāyaṁ bhikkhu,
ujubhūtena cetasā;
Vippayutto visaṁyutto,
anupādāya nibbuto;
Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

[¶58] > Pali: Pañcamaṁ.

[¶59] SN 21.6 · With Bhaddiya the Dwarf

> Pali: SN 21.6 · Lakuṇḍakabhaddiyasutta

[¶60] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

[¶61] Then Venerable Bhaddiya the Dwarf went to the Buddha.

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā lakuṇḍakabhaddiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

[¶62] The Buddha saw him coming off in the distance, and addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, do you see this monk coming—ugly, unsightly, deformed, and despised by the mendicants?”

> Pali: Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ lakuṇḍakabhaddiyaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ bhikkhuṁ āgacchantaṁ dubbaṇṇaṁ duddasikaṁ okoṭimakaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paribhūtarūpan”ti?

[¶63] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶64] “That mendicant is very mighty and powerful. It’s not easy to find an attainment that he has not already attained. And he has realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lives having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

> Pali: “Eso kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo, na ca sā samāpatti sulabharūpā yā tena bhikkhunā asamāpannapubbā. Yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

[¶65] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

[¶66] “Geese, herons, and peacocks,
elephants and spotted deer—
though their bodies are not equal,
they all fear the lion.

> Pali: “Haṁsā koñcā mayūrā ca,
hatthayo pasadā migā;
Sabbe sīhassa bhāyanti,
natthi kāyasmiṁ tulyatā.

[¶67] So it is for humans—
if a little person is wise,
they’re the truly great one,
not the fool with a good body.”

> Pali: Evameva manussesu,
daharo cepi paññavā;
So hi tattha mahā hoti,
neva bālo sarīravā”ti.

[¶68] > Pali: Chaṭṭhaṁ.

[¶69] SN 21.7 · With Visākha, Pañcāli’s Son

> Pali: SN 21.7 · Visākhasutta

[¶70] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

[¶71] Now at that time Venerable Visākha, Pañcāli’s son, was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk. His words were polished, clear, articulate, expressing the meaning, comprehensive, and independent.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā visākho pañcālaputto upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti, poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāya.

[¶72] Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the assembly hall. He sat down on the seat spread out, and addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, who was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk?”

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena upaṭṭhānasālā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “ko nu kho, bhikkhave, upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā”ti?

[¶73] “Sir, it was Venerable Visākha, Pañcāli’s son.”

> Pali: “Āyasmā, bhante, visākho pañcālaputto upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti, poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā”ti.

[¶74] Then the Buddha said to Visākha:

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ visākhaṁ pañcālaputtaṁ āmantesi:

[¶75] “Good, good, Visākha! It’s good that you educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire the mendicants in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk, with words that are polished, clear, articulate, expressing the meaning, comprehensive, and independent.”

> Pali: “sādhu sādhu, visākha, sādhu kho tvaṁ, visākha, bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi …pe… atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā”ti.

[¶76] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

[¶77] “Though an astute person is mixed up with fools,
they don’t know unless he speaks.
But when he speaks they know,
he’s teaching the state free of death.

> Pali: “Nābhāsamānaṁ jānanti,
missaṁ bālehi paṇḍitaṁ;
Bhāsamānañca jānanti,
desentaṁ amataṁ padaṁ.

[¶78] He should speak and illustrate the teaching,
holding up the banner of the seers.
Words well spoken are the seers’ banner,
for the teaching is the banner of the seers.”

> Pali: Bhāsaye jotaye dhammaṁ,
paggaṇhe isinaṁ dhajaṁ;
Subhāsitadhajā isayo,
dhammo hi isinaṁ dhajo”ti.

[¶79] > Pali: Sattamaṁ.

[¶80] SN 21.8 · With Nanda

> Pali: SN 21.8 · Nandasutta

[¶81] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

[¶82] Then Venerable Nanda—the Buddha’s cousin on his mother’s side—dressed in nicely pressed and ironed robes, applied eyeshadow, and took a glazed bowl. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā nando bhagavato mātucchāputto ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupitvā akkhīni añjetvā acchaṁ pattaṁ gahetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ nandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

[¶83] “Nanda, as a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, it’s not appropriate for you to dress in nicely pressed and ironed robes, apply eyeshadow, and carry a glazed bowl. It’s appropriate for you to stay in the wilderness, eat only almsfood, wear rag robes, and live without concern for sensual pleasures.”

> Pali: “na kho te taṁ, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ ākoṭitapaccākoṭitāni cīvarāni pārupeyyāsi, akkhīni ca añjeyyāsi, acchañca pattaṁ dhāreyyāsi. Etaṁ kho te, nanda, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ āraññiko ca assasi, piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihareyyāsī”ti.

[¶84] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

[¶85] “When will I see Nanda
in the wilderness, wearing rag robes,
feeding on scraps offered by strangers,
unconcerned for sensual pleasures?”

> Pali: “Kadāhaṁ nandaṁ passeyyaṁ,
āraññaṁ paṁsukūlikaṁ;
Aññātuñchena yāpentaṁ,
kāmesu anapekkhinan”ti.

[¶86] Then some time later Venerable Nanda stayed in the wilderness, ate only almsfood, wore rag robes, and lived without concern for sensual pleasures.

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā nando aparena samayena āraññiko ca piṇḍapātiko ca paṁsukūliko ca kāmesu ca anapekkho vihāsīti.

[¶87] > Pali: Aṭṭhamaṁ.

[¶88] SN 21.9 · With Tissa

> Pali: SN 21.9 · Tissasutta

[¶89] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

[¶90] Then Venerable Tissa—the Buddha’s cousin on his father’s side—went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. He was miserable and sad, with tears flowing. Then the Buddha said to him:

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā tisso bhagavato pitucchāputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi dukkhī dummano assūni pavattayamāno. Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ tissaṁ etadavoca:

[¶91] “Tissa, why are you sitting there so miserable and sad, with tears flowing?”

> Pali: “kiṁ nu kho tvaṁ, tissa, ekamantaṁ nisinno dukkhī dummano assūni pavattayamāno”ti?

[¶92] “Sir, it’s because the mendicants beset me on all sides with sneering and jeering.”

> Pali: “Tathā hi pana maṁ, bhante, bhikkhū samantā vācāyasannitodakena sañjambharimakaṁsū”ti.

[¶93] “That’s because you admonish others, but don’t accept admonition yourself. As a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, it’s not appropriate for you to admonish others without accepting admonition yourself. It’s appropriate for you to admonish others and accept admonition yourself.”

> Pali: “Tathāhi pana tvaṁ, tissa, vattā no ca vacanakkhamo; na kho te taṁ, tissa, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ vattā no ca vacanakkhamo. Etaṁ kho te, tissa, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa: ‘yaṁ tvaṁ vattā ca assa vacanakkhamo cā’”ti.

[¶94] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

[¶95] “Why are you angry? Don’t be angry!
It’s better to not be angry, Tissa.
For this spiritual life is lived
in order to remove anger, conceit, and denigration.”

> Pali: “Kiṁ nu kujjhasi mā kujjhi,
Akkodho tissa te varaṁ;
Kodhamānamakkhavinayatthañhi,
Tissa brahmacariyaṁ vussatī”ti.

[¶96] > Pali: Navamaṁ.

[¶97] SN 21.10 · Senior In Name Only

> Pali: SN 21.10 · Theranāmakasutta

[¶98] At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

> Pali: Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

[¶99] Now at that time there was a certain mendicant who was Senior in name only. He lived alone and praised living alone. He entered the village for alms alone, returned alone, sat in private alone, and focussed on walking mindfully alone.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ceva hoti ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī. So eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisati eko paṭikkamati eko raho nisīdati eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāti.

[¶100] Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, there’s a certain mendicant who is Senior in name only. He lives alone and praises living alone.”

> Pali: Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha, bhante, aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

[¶101] So the Buddha addressed one of the monks, “Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Senior that the Teacher summons him.”

> Pali: Atha kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi: “ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena theraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantehi: ‘satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī’”ti.

[¶102] “Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Venerable Senior and said to him, “Reverend Senior, the Teacher summons you.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā thero tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca: “satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī”ti.

[¶103] “Yes, reverend,” that monk replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

> Pali: “Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā thero tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ theraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

[¶104] “Is it really true, Senior, that you live alone and praise living alone?”

> Pali: “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

[¶105] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶106] “But in what way do you live alone and praise living alone?”

> Pali: “Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

[¶107] “Well, sir, I enter the village for alms alone, return alone, sit in private alone, and focus on walking mindfully alone. That’s how I live alone and praise living alone.”

> Pali: “Idhāhaṁ, bhante, eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisāmi eko paṭikkamāmi eko raho nisīdāmi eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāmi. Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

[¶108] “That is a kind of living alone, I don’t deny it. But as to how living alone is fulfilled in detail, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

> Pali: “Attheso, thera, ekavihāro neso natthīti vadāmi. Api ca, thera, yathā ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

[¶109] “Yes, sir,” he replied.

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho …pe….

[¶110] “And how, Senior, is living alone fulfilled in detail? It’s when what’s in the past is given up, what’s in the future is relinquished, and desire and greed for present incarnations is eliminated. That’s how living alone is fulfilled in detail.”

> Pali: “Kathañca, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti. Idha, thera, yaṁ atītaṁ taṁ pahīnaṁ, yaṁ anāgataṁ taṁ paṭinissaṭṭhaṁ, paccuppannesu ca attabhāvapaṭilābhesu chandarāgo suppaṭivinīto. Evaṁ kho, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hotī”ti.

[¶111] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

[¶112] “The vanquisher of all, knower of all, so very intelligent,
is unsullied in the midst of all things.
He’s given up all, freed in the ending of craving:
I declare that man to be one who lives alone.”

> Pali: “Sabbābhibhuṁ sabbaviduṁ sumedhaṁ,
Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalittaṁ;
Sabbañjahaṁ taṇhākkhaye vimuttaṁ,
Tamahaṁ naraṁ ekavihārīti brūmī”ti.

[¶113] > Pali: Dasamaṁ.

[¶114] SN 21.11 · With Mahākappina

> Pali: SN 21.11 · Mahākappinasutta

[¶115] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

[¶116] Then Venerable Mahākappina went to the Buddha.

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā mahākappino yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

[¶117] The Buddha saw him coming off in the distance, and addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, do you see that monk coming—white, thin, with a pointy nose?”

> Pali: Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahākappinaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ bhikkhuṁ āgacchantaṁ odātakaṁ tanukaṁ tuṅganāsikan”ti?

[¶118] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶119] “That mendicant is very mighty and powerful. It’s not easy to find an attainment that he has not already attained. And he has realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lives having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

> Pali: “Eso kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo. Na ca sā samāpatti sulabharūpā yā tena bhikkhunā asamāpannapubbā. Yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

[¶120] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

[¶121] “The aristocrat is best among people
who take clan as the standard.
But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct
is best among gods and humans.

> Pali: “Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,
ye gottapaṭisārino;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
so seṭṭho devamānuse.

[¶122] The sun blazes by day,
the moon radiates at night,
the aristocrat shines in armor,
and the brahmin shines in absorption.
But all day and all night,
the Buddha blazes with glory.”

> Pali: Divā tapati ādicco,
rattimābhāti candimā;
Sannaddho khattiyo tapati,
jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo;
Atha sabbamahorattiṁ,
buddho tapati tejasā”ti.

[¶123] > Pali: Ekādasamaṁ.

[¶124] SN 21.12 · Companions

> Pali: SN 21.12 · Sahāyakasutta

[¶125] At Sāvatthī.

> Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

[¶126] Then two mendicants who were companions, protégés of Venerable Mahākappina, went to the Buddha.

> Pali: Atha kho dve bhikkhū sahāyakā āyasmato mahākappinassa saddhivihārino yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.

[¶127] The Buddha saw them coming off in the distance, and addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, do you see those monks coming who are companions, protégés of Venerable Mahākappina?”

> Pali: Addasā kho bhagavā te bhikkhū dūratova āgacchante. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, ete bhikkhū sahāyake āgacchante kappinassa saddhivihārino”ti?

[¶128] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶129] “Those mendicants are very mighty and powerful. It’s not easy to find an attainment that they have not already attained. And they’ve realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. They live having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

> Pali: “Ete kho te bhikkhū mahiddhikā mahānubhāvā. Na ca sā samāpatti sulabharūpā, yā tehi bhikkhūhi asamāpannapubbā. Yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

[¶130] That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

> Pali: Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

[¶131] “These companion mendicants
have been together for a long time.
The true teaching has brought them together,
the teaching proclaimed by the Buddha.

> Pali: “Sahāyāvatime bhikkhū,
cirarattaṁ sametikā;
Sameti nesaṁ saddhammo,
dhamme buddhappavedite.

[¶132] They’ve been well trained by Kappina
in the teaching proclaimed by the Noble One.
They bear their final body,
having vanquished Māra with his legions.”

> Pali: Suvinītā kappinena,
dhamme ariyappavedite;
Dhārenti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

[¶133] > Pali: Dvādasamaṁ.

[¶134] > Pali: Bhikkhuvaggo paṭhamo.

[¶135] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ

[¶136] > Pali: Kolito upatisso ca,
ghaṭo cāpi pavuccati;
Navo sujāto bhaddi ca,
visākho nando tisso ca;
Theranāmo ca kappino,
sahāyena ca dvādasāti.

[¶137] The Linked Discourses on monks are complete.

> Pali: Bhikkhusaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

[¶138] > Pali: Nidānavaggo dutiyo.

[¶139] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ

[¶140] > Pali: Nidānābhisamayadhātu,
anamataggena kassapaṁ;
Sakkārarāhulalakkhaṇo,
opammabhikkhunā vaggo.
Dutiyo tena pavuccatīti.

[¶141] The Book of Causality is finished.

> Pali: Nidānavaggasaṁyuttapāḷi niṭṭhitā.