SN 22.87 · With Vakkali
SN 22.87 · Vakkalisutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
Now at that time Venerable Vakkali was staying in a potter’s shed, and he was sick, suffering, gravely ill.
Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā vakkali kumbhakāranivesane viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.
Then he addressed his carers, “Please, reverends, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him: ‘Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’ And then say: ‘Sir, please go to the mendicant Vakkali out of sympathy.’”
Atha kho āyasmā vakkali upaṭṭhāke āmantesi: “etha tumhe, āvuso, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamatha; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha: ‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno, so bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti. Evañca vadetha: ‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.
“Yes, reverend,” those monks replied. They did as he asked. The Buddha consented with silence.
“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno, so bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati; evañca pana vadeti: ‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.
Then the Buddha robed up and, taking his bowl and robes, went to Venerable Vakkali. Venerable Vakkali saw the Buddha coming off in the distance and stirred in his cot.
Atha kho bhagavā nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yenāyasmā vakkali tenupasaṅkami. Addasā kho āyasmā vakkali bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna mañcake samadhosi.
But the Buddha said to him, “It’s all right, Vakkali, don’t get up. There are some seats spread out, I will sit there.”
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavoca: “alaṁ, vakkali, mā tvaṁ mañcake samadhosi. Santimāni āsanāni paññattāni; tatthāhaṁ nisīdissāmī”ti.
He sat down on the seat spread out and said to Vakkali, “I hope you’re keeping well, Vakkali; I hope you’re all right. I hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.”
Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavoca: “kacci te, vakkali, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ, kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti, no abhikkamanti; paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no abhikkamo”ti?
“Sir, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.”
“Na me, bhante, khamanīyaṁ, na yāpanīyaṁ; bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti, no paṭikkamanti; abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no paṭikkamo”ti.
“I hope you don’t have any remorse or regret?”
“Kacci te, vakkali, na kiñci kukkuccaṁ, na koci vippaṭisāro”ti?
“Indeed, sir, I have no little remorse and regret.”
“Taggha me, bhante, anappakaṁ kukkuccaṁ, anappako vippaṭisāro”ti.
“I hope you have no reason to blame yourself when it comes to ethical conduct?”
“Kacci pana taṁ, vakkali, attā sīlato na upavadatī”ti?
“No sir, I have no reason to blame myself when it comes to ethical conduct.”
“Na kho maṁ, bhante, attā sīlato upavadatī”ti.
“In that case, Vakkali, why do you have remorse and regret?”
“No ce kira taṁ, vakkali, attā sīlato upavadati; atha kiñca te kukkuccaṁ ko ca vippaṭisāro”ti?
“For a long time I’ve wanted to go and see the Buddha, but I was physically too weak.”
“Cirapaṭikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitukāmo, natthi ca me kāyasmiṁ tāvatikā balamattā, yāvatāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkameyyan”ti.
“Enough, Vakkali! Why would you want to see this rotting body? One who sees the teaching sees me. One who sees me sees the teaching. Seeing the teaching, you see me. Seeing me, you see the teaching.
“Alaṁ, vakkali, kiṁ te iminā pūtikāyena diṭṭhena? Yo kho, vakkali, dhammaṁ passati so maṁ passati; yo maṁ passati so dhammaṁ passati. Dhammañhi, vakkali, passanto maṁ passati; maṁ passanto dhammaṁ passati.
What do you think, Vakkali? Is form permanent or impermanent?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vakkali, rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Impermanent, sir.”
“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Is feeling … perception … choices … consciousness permanent or impermanent?”
“Vedanā … saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Impermanent, sir.” …
“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe… eso me attāti? “No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So you should truly see … Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”
“Tasmātiha …pe… evaṁ passaṁ …pe… nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.
And then, after giving Venerable Vakkali this advice, the Buddha rose from his seat and went to the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ iminā ovādena ovaditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena gijjhakūṭo pabbato tena pakkāmi.
Then Venerable Vakkali addressed his carers, “Come on, reverends, lift my cot and take me to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili. For how on earth could one such as I imagine dying in an inhabited area!”
Atha kho āyasmā vakkali acirapakkantassa bhagavato upaṭṭhāke āmantesi: “etha maṁ, āvuso, mañcakaṁ āropetvā yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamatha. Kathañhi nāma mādiso antaraghare kālaṁ kattabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti?
“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants, and did as he asked. Meanwhile, the Buddha spent the rest of that night and day on Vulture’s Peak Mountain.
“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ mañcakaṁ āropetvā yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. Atha kho bhagavā tañca rattiṁ tañca divāvasesaṁ gijjhakūṭe pabbate vihāsi.
Then, late at night, two glorious deities, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.
Atha kho dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe… ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.
One deity said to him, “Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is intent on liberation!”
Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetī”ti.
And another deity said to him, “He’ll definitely be well freed!”
Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatī”ti.
This is what those deities said. Then they bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right side, before vanishing right there.
Idamavocuṁ tā devatāyo. Idaṁ vatvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsu.
Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:
“Come, mendicants, go to the mendicant Vakkali and tell him:
“etha tumhe, bhikkhave, yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatha; upasaṅkamitvā vakkaliṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadetha:
‘Vakkali, hear the word of the Buddha and two deities.
‘Suṇāvuso tvaṁ, vakkali, bhagavato vacanaṁ dvinnañca devatānaṁ.
Late last night, two glorious deities, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.
Imaṁ, āvuso, rattiṁ dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.
One deity said to him, “Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is intent on liberation!”
Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, āvuso, ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca— vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetīti.
The other deity said to him, “He’ll definitely be well freed!”
Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca— so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatīti.
And the Buddha said, “Do not fear, Vakkali, do not fear! Your death will not be a bad one; your passing will not be a bad one.”’”
Bhagavā ca taṁ, āvuso vakkali, evamāha— mā bhāyi, vakkali; mā bhāyi, vakkali. Apāpakaṁ te maraṇaṁ bhavissati, apāpikā kālakiriyā’”ti.
“Yes, sir,” those monks replied. They went to Vakkali and said to him:
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā vakkali tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavocuṁ:
“Vakkali, hear the word of the Buddha and two deities.”
“suṇāvuso vakkali, bhagavato vacanaṁ dvinnañca devatānan”ti.
Then Vakkali addressed his carers, “Please, reverends, help me off my cot. For how on earth could one such as I presume to listen to the Buddha’s instructions sitting on a high seat?”
Atha kho āyasmā vakkali upaṭṭhāke āmantesi: “etha maṁ, āvuso, mañcakā oropetha. Kathañhi nāma mādiso ucce āsane nisīditvā tassa bhagavato sāsanaṁ sotabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti.
“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants, and helped him off his cot. They repeated what the Buddha had said.
“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ mañcakā oropesuṁ. “Imaṁ, āvuso, rattiṁ dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā …pe… ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, āvuso, ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetī’ti. Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ‘so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatī’ti. Bhagavā ca taṁ, āvuso vakkali, evamāha: ‘mā bhāyi, vakkali; mā bhāyi, vakkali. Apāpakaṁ te maraṇaṁ bhavissati, apāpikā kālakiriyā’”ti.
Vakkali said, “Well then, reverends, in my name bow with your head to the Buddha’s feet. Say to him: ‘Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’ And then say: ‘Form is impermanent. I have no doubt of that. I’m certain that what is impermanent is suffering. And I’m certain that I have no desire or greed or fondness for what is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.
“Tena hāvuso, mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha: ‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. So bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti. Evañca vadetha: ‘rūpaṁ aniccaṁ. Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.
Feeling is impermanent …
Vedanā aniccā. Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.
Perception is impermanent …
Saññā …
Choices are impermanent …
saṅkhārā aniccā. Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.
Consciousness is impermanent. I have no doubt of that. I’m certain that what is impermanent is suffering. And I’m certain that I have no desire or greed or fondness for what is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.’”
Viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ. Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmī’”ti.
“Yes, reverend,” those monks replied, and left. And then, not long after those mendicants had left, Venerable Vakkali committed suicide.
“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā pakkamiṁsu. Atha kho āyasmā vakkali acirapakkantesu tesu bhikkhūsu satthaṁ āharesi.
Then those mendicants went up to the Buddha and told him Vakkali’s message.
Atha kho te bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno; so bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati; evañca vadeti: ‘rūpaṁ aniccaṁ. Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi. Vedanā … saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ. Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmī’”ti.
Then the Buddha said to the mendicants, “Come, mendicants, let’s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili, where Vakkali, the gentleman, committed suicide.”
Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “āyāma, bhikkhave, yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamissāma; yattha vakkalinā kulaputtena satthamāharitan”ti.
“Yes, sir,” they replied.
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili. The Buddha saw Vakkali off in the distance on his cot, lying with aggregates cast off.
Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkami. Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ dūratova mañcake vivattakkhandhaṁ semānaṁ.
Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.
Tena kho pana samayena dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ disaṁ, gacchati adho disaṁ, gacchati anudisaṁ.
The Buddha said to the mendicants, “Mendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”
Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ …pe… gacchati anudisan”ti.
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Vakkali’s consciousness, wondering: ‘Where is Vakkali’s consciousness established?’ But since his consciousness is not established, Vakkali is quenched.”
“Eso kho, bhikkhave, māro pāpimā vakkalissa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ samanvesati: ‘kattha vakkalissa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitan’ti? Appatiṭṭhitena ca, bhikkhave, viññāṇena vakkali kulaputto parinibbuto”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
SN 22.88 · With Assaji
SN 22.88 · Assajisutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time Venerable Assaji was staying in a monastery built by a Kassapa, and he was sick, suffering, gravely ill. Then he addressed his carers:
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā assaji kassapakārāme viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. Atha kho āyasmā assaji upaṭṭhāke āmantesi:
“Please, reverends, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him: ‘Sir, the mendicant Assaji is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’ And then say: ‘Sir, please go to the mendicant Assaji out of sympathy.’”
“etha tumhe, āvuso, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamatha; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha: ‘assaji, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. So bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti. Evañca vadetha: ‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena assaji bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.
“Yes, reverend,” those monks replied. They did as he asked. The Buddha consented with silence.
“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato assajissa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “assaji, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko …pe… sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena assaji bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.
Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to Venerable Assaji. Venerable Assaji saw the Buddha coming off in the distance, and stirred in his cot.
Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā assaji tenupasaṅkami. Addasā kho āyasmā assaji bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna mañcake samadhosi.
But the Buddha said to him, “It’s all right, Assaji, don’t get up. There are some seats spread out, I will sit there.”
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ assajiṁ etadavoca: “alaṁ, assaji, mā tvaṁ mañcake samadhosi. Santimāni āsanāni paññattāni, tatthāhaṁ nisīdissāmī”ti.
He sat down on the seat spread out and said, “I hope you’re keeping well, Assaji; I hope you’re all right. I hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.”
Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ assajiṁ etadavoca: “kacci te, assaji, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ …pe… paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no abhikkamo”ti?
“Sir, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.”
“Na me, bhante, khamanīyaṁ …pe… abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no paṭikkamo”ti.
“I hope you don’t have any remorse or regret?”
“Kacci te, assaji, na kiñci kukkuccaṁ na koci vippaṭisāro”ti?
“Indeed, sir, I have no little remorse and regret.”
“Taggha me, bhante, anappakaṁ kukkuccaṁ anappako vippaṭisāro”ti.
“I hope you have no reason to blame yourself when it comes to ethical conduct?”
“Kacci pana taṁ, assaji, attā sīlato na upavadatī”ti?
“No sir, I have no reason to blame myself when it comes to ethical conduct.”
“Na kho maṁ, bhante, attā sīlato upavadatī”ti.
“In that case, Assaji, why do you have remorse and regret?”
“No ce kira taṁ, assaji, attā sīlato upavadati, atha kiñca te kukkuccaṁ ko ca vippaṭisāro”ti?
“Sir, before my time of illness I meditated having completely stilled the physical process. But now I can’t get immersion. Since I can’t get immersion, I think: ‘May I not decline!’”
“Pubbe khvāhaṁ, bhante, gelaññe passambhetvā passambhetvā kāyasaṅkhāre viharāmi, sohaṁ samādhiṁ nappaṭilabhāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, taṁ samādhiṁ appaṭilabhato evaṁ hoti: ‘no cassāhaṁ parihāyāmī’”ti.
“There are, Assaji, ascetics and brahmins for whom samādhi is the essence, equating immersion with the ascetic life. They think: ‘May we not decline!’
“Ye te, assaji, samaṇabrāhmaṇā samādhisārakā samādhisāmaññā tesaṁ taṁ samādhiṁ appaṭilabhataṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘no cassu mayaṁ parihāyāmā’ti.
What do you think, Assaji? Is form permanent or impermanent?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, assaji, rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Impermanent, sir.” …
“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…
“Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?” …
viññāṇaṁ …pe…
“So you should truly see … Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’
“tasmātiha …pe… evaṁ passaṁ …pe… nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātīti.
If they feel a pleasant feeling, they understand that it’s impermanent, that they’re not attached to it, and that they don’t relish it. If they feel a painful feeling, they understand that it’s impermanent, that they’re not attached to it, and that they don’t relish it. If they feel a neutral feeling, they understand that it’s impermanent, that they’re not attached to it, and that they don’t relish it. If they feel a pleasant feeling, they feel it detached. If they feel a painful feeling, they feel it detached. If they feel a neutral feeling, they feel it detached. Feeling the end of the body draw close, they understand: ‘I feel the end of the body draw close.’ Feeling the end of life draw close, they understand: ‘I feel the end of life draw close.’ They understand: ‘When my body breaks up and my life is over, everything that’s felt, being no longer relished, will become cool right here.’
So sukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, sā ‘aniccā’ti pajānāti. ‘Anajjhositā’ti pajānāti. ‘Anabhinanditā’ti pajānāti. Dukkhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, sā ‘aniccā’ti pajānāti. ‘Anajjhositā’ti pajānāti. ‘Anabhinanditā’ti pajānāti. Adukkhamasukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, sā ‘aniccā’ti pajānāti …pe… ‘anabhinanditā’ti pajānāti. So sukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, visaṁyutto naṁ vedayati; dukkhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, visaṁyutto naṁ vedayati; adukkhamasukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, visaṁyutto naṁ vedayati. So kāyapariyantikañce vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘kāyapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti. Jīvitapariyantikañce vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘jīvitapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti. ‘Kāyassa bhedā uddhaṁ jīvitapariyādānā idheva sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sītībhavissantī’ti pajānāti.
Suppose an oil lamp depended on oil and a wick to burn. As the oil and the wick are used up, it would be extinguished due to not being fed.
Seyyathāpi, assaji, telañca paṭicca, vaṭṭiñca paṭicca, telappadīpo jhāyeyya; tasseva telassa ca vaṭṭiyā ca pariyādānā anāhāro nibbāyeyya.
In the same way, feeling the end of the body draw close, they understand: ‘I feel the end of the body draw close.’ Feeling the end of life draw close, they understand: ‘I feel the end of life draw close.’ They understand: ‘When my body breaks up and my life is over, everything that’s felt, being no longer relished, will become cool right here.’”
Evameva kho, assaji, bhikkhu kāyapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘kāyapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti. Jīvitapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘jīvitapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti. ‘Kāyassa bhedā uddhaṁ jīvitapariyādānā idheva sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sītībhavissantī’ti pajānātī”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
SN 22.89 · With Khemaka
SN 22.89 · Khemakasutta
At one time several senior mendicants were staying near Kosambī in Ghosita’s monastery. Now at that time Venerable Khemaka was staying in the Jujube Tree Monastery, and he was sick, suffering, gravely ill.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā therā bhikkhū kosambiyaṁ viharanti ghositārāme. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā khemako badarikārāme viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.
In the late afternoon those senior mendicants came out of retreat and addressed Venerable Dāsaka, “Please, Reverend Dāsaka, go to the mendicant Khemaka and say to him: ‘Reverend Khemaka, the seniors hope you’re keeping well; they hope you’re all right. They hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.’”
Atha kho therā bhikkhū sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhitā āyasmantaṁ dāsakaṁ āmantesuṁ: “ehi tvaṁ, āvuso dāsaka, yena khemako bhikkhu tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā khemakaṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadehi: ‘therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu— kacci te, āvuso, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ, kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti no abhikkamanti, paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no abhikkamo’”ti?
“Yes, reverends,” replied Dāsaka. He went to Khemaka and said to him:
“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā dāsako therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paṭissutvā yenāyasmā khemako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ khemakaṁ etadavoca:
“Reverend Khemaka, the seniors hope you’re keeping well; they hope you’re all right. They hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.”
“therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu: ‘kacci te, āvuso, khamanīyaṁ …pe… no abhikkamo’”ti?
“Reverend, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.”
“Na me, āvuso, khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ …pe… abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no paṭikkamo”ti.
Then Dāsaka went to those senior mendicants and told them what had happened. They said,
Atha kho āyasmā dāsako yena therā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā there bhikkhū etadavoca: “khemako, āvuso, bhikkhu evamāha: ‘na me, āvuso, khamanīyaṁ …pe… abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no paṭikkamo’”ti.
“Please, Reverend Dāsaka, go to the mendicant Khemaka and say to him: ‘Reverend Khemaka, the seniors say that these five grasping aggregates have been taught by the Buddha, that is: the grasping aggregates of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Do you regard anything among these five grasping aggregates as self or as belonging to self?’”
“Ehi tvaṁ, āvuso dāsaka, yena khemako bhikkhu tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā khemakaṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadehi: ‘therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu— pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Imesu āyasmā khemako pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassatī’”ti?
“Yes, reverends,” replied Dāsaka. He relayed the message to Khemaka, who replied:
“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā dāsako therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paṭissutvā yenāyasmā khemako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā …pe… therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu: “pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Imesu āyasmā khemako pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassatī”ti?
“These five grasping aggregates have been taught by the Buddha, that is: the grasping aggregates of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. I do not regard anything among these five grasping aggregates as self or as belonging to self.”
“Pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Imesu khvāhaṁ, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu na kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassāmī”ti.
Then Dāsaka went to those senior mendicants and told them what had happened. They said:
Atha kho āyasmā dāsako yena therā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā there bhikkhū etadavoca: “khemako, āvuso, bhikkhu evamāha: ‘pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Imesu khvāhaṁ, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu na kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassāmī’”ti.
“Please, Reverend Dāsaka, go to the mendicant Khemaka and say to him: ‘Reverend Khemaka, the seniors say that these five grasping aggregates have been taught by the Buddha, that is: the grasping aggregates of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. If, as it seems, Venerable Khemaka does not regard anything among these five grasping aggregates as self or as belonging to self, then he is a perfected one, with defilements ended.’”
“Ehi tvaṁ, āvuso dāsaka, yena khemako bhikkhu tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā khemakaṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadehi: ‘therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu— pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. No ce kirāyasmā khemako imesu pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassati. Tenahāyasmā khemako arahaṁ khīṇāsavo’”ti.
“Yes, reverends,” replied Dāsaka. He relayed the message to Khemaka, who replied:
“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā dāsako therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paṭissutvā yenāyasmā khemako …pe… therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu: “pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho; no ce kirāyasmā khemako imesu pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassati, tenahāyasmā khemako arahaṁ khīṇāsavo”ti.
“These five grasping aggregates have been taught by the Buddha, that is: the grasping aggregates of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. I do not regard anything among these five grasping aggregates as self or as belonging to self, yet I am not a perfected one, with defilements ended. For when it comes to the five grasping aggregates I’m not rid of the conceit ‘I am’. But I don’t regard anything as ‘I am this’.”
“Pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Imesu khvāhaṁ, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu na kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassāmi, na camhi arahaṁ khīṇāsavo; api ca me, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu ‘asmī’ti adhigataṁ, ‘ayamahamasmī’ti na ca samanupassāmī”ti.
Then Dāsaka went to those senior mendicants and told them what had happened. They said:
Atha kho āyasmā dāsako yena therā bhikkhū …pe… there bhikkhū etadavoca: “khemako, āvuso, bhikkhu evamāha— pañcime, āvuso, upādānakkhandhā vuttā bhagavatā, seyyathidaṁ— rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Imesu khvāhaṁ, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu na kiñci attaṁ vā attaniyaṁ vā samanupassāmi, na camhi arahaṁ khīṇāsavo; api ca me, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu ‘asmī’ti adhigataṁ, ‘ayamahamasmī’ti na ca samanupassāmī”ti.
“Please, Reverend Dāsaka, go to the mendicant Khemaka and say to him: ‘Reverend Khemaka, the seniors ask, when you say “I am”, what is it that you’re talking about? Is it form or apart from form? Is it feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, or apart from consciousness? When you say “I am”, what is it that you’re talking about?”
“Ehi tvaṁ, āvuso dāsaka, yena khemako bhikkhu tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā khemakaṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadehi: ‘therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu— yametaṁ, āvuso khemaka, asmīti vadesi, kimetaṁ asmīti vadesi? Rūpaṁ asmīti vadesi, aññatra rūpā asmīti vadesi, vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ asmīti vadesi, aññatra viññāṇā asmīti vadesi. Yametaṁ, āvuso khemaka, asmīti vadesi. Kimetaṁ asmīti vadesī’”ti?
“Yes, reverends,” replied Dāsaka. He relayed the message to Khemaka, who replied:
“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā dāsako therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paṭissutvā yenāyasmā khemako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ khemakaṁ etadavoca— therā taṁ, āvuso khemaka, evamāhaṁsu: “yametaṁ, āvuso khemaka, ‘asmī’ti vadesi, kimetaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesi? Rūpaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesi aññatra rūpā ‘asmī’ti vadesi? Vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesi aññatra viññāṇā ‘asmī’ti vadesi? Yametaṁ, āvuso khemaka, ‘asmī’ti vadesi, kimetaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesī”ti?
“Enough, Reverend Dāsaka! What’s the point in running back and forth? Bring my staff, I’ll go to see the senior mendicants myself.”
“Alaṁ, āvuso dāsaka, kiṁ imāya sandhāvanikāya. Āharāvuso, daṇḍaṁ; ahameva yena therā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamissāmī”ti.
Then Venerable Khemaka, leaning on a staff, went to those senior mendicants and exchanged greetings with them. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. They said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā khemako daṇḍamolubbha yena therā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā therehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ khemakaṁ therā bhikkhū etadavocuṁ:
“Reverend Khemaka, when you say ‘I am’, what is it that you’re talking about? Is it form or apart from form? Is it feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, or apart from consciousness? When you say ‘I am’, what is it that you’re talking about?”
“yametaṁ, āvuso khemaka, ‘asmī’ti vadesi, kimetaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesi? Rūpaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesi, aññatra rūpā ‘asmī’ti vadesi? Vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesi, aññatra viññāṇā ‘asmī’ti vadesi? Yametaṁ, āvuso khemaka, ‘asmī’ti vadesi, kimetaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadesī”ti?
“Reverends, I don’t say ‘I am’ with reference to form, or apart from form. I don’t say ‘I am’ with reference to feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, or apart from consciousness. For when it comes to the five grasping aggregates I’m not rid of the conceit ‘I am’. But I don’t regard anything as ‘I am this’.
“Na khvāhaṁ, āvuso, rūpaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadāmi; napi aññatra rūpā ‘asmī’ti vadāmi. Na vedanaṁ … na saññaṁ … na saṅkhāre … na viññāṇaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadāmi; napi aññatra viññāṇā ‘asmī’ti vadāmi. Api ca me, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu ‘asmī’ti adhigataṁ ‘ayamahamasmī’ti na ca samanupassāmi.
It’s like the scent of a blue water lily, or a pink or white lotus. Would it be right to say that the scent belongs to the petals or the stalk or the pistil?”
Seyyathāpi, āvuso, uppalassa vā padumassa vā puṇḍarīkassa vā gandho. Yo nu kho evaṁ vadeyya: ‘pattassa gandho’ti vā ‘vaṇṇassa gandho’ti vā ‘kiñjakkhassa gandho’ti vā sammā nu kho so vadamāno vadeyyā”ti?
“No, reverend.”
“No hetaṁ, āvuso”.
“Then, reverends, how should it be said?”
“Yathā kathaṁ, panāvuso, sammā byākaramāno byākareyyā”ti?
“It would be right to say that the scent belongs to the flower.”
“‘Pupphassa gandho’ti kho, āvuso, sammā byākaramāno byākareyyā”ti.
“In the same way, reverends, I don’t say ‘I am’ with reference to form, or apart from form. I don’t say ‘I am’ with reference to feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, or apart from consciousness. For when it comes to the five grasping aggregates I’m not rid of the conceit ‘I am’. But I don’t regard anything as ‘I am this’.
“Evameva khvāhaṁ, āvuso, na rūpaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadāmi, napi aññatra rūpā ‘asmī’ti vadāmi. Na vedanaṁ … na saññaṁ … na saṅkhāre … na viññāṇaṁ ‘asmī’ti vadāmi, napi aññatra viññāṇā ‘asmī’ti vadāmi. Api ca me, āvuso, pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu ‘asmī’ti adhigataṁ ‘ayamahamasmī’ti na ca samanupassāmi.
Although a noble disciple has given up the five lower fetters, they still have a lingering residue of the conceit ‘I am’, the desire ‘I am’, and the underlying tendency ‘I am’ which has not been eradicated. After some time they meditate observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates. ‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form. Such is feeling … Such is perception … Such are choices … Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’ As they do so, that lingering residue is eradicated.
Kiñcāpi, āvuso, ariyasāvakassa pañcorambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni pahīnāni bhavanti, atha khvassa hoti: ‘yo ca pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu anusahagato asmīti māno, asmīti chando, asmīti anusayo asamūhato. So aparena samayena pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassī viharati— iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo; iti vedanā … iti saññā … iti saṅkhārā … iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti. Tassimesu pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassino viharato yopissa hoti pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu anusahagato ‘asmī’ti, māno ‘asmī’ti, chando ‘asmī’ti anusayo asamūhato, sopi samugghātaṁ gacchati.
Suppose there was a cloth that was dirty and soiled, so the owners give it to a launderer. The launderer kneads it thoroughly with salt, lye, and cow dung, and rinses it in clear water. Although that cloth is clean and bright, it still has a lingering scent of salt, lye, or cow dung that had not been eradicated. The launderer returns it to its owners, who store it in a fragrant casket. And that lingering scent would be eradicated.
Seyyathāpi, āvuso, vatthaṁ saṅkiliṭṭhaṁ malaggahitaṁ. Tamenaṁ sāmikā rajakassa anupadajjuṁ. Tamenaṁ rajako ūse vā khāre vā gomaye vā sammadditvā acche udake vikkhāleti. Kiñcāpi taṁ hoti vatthaṁ parisuddhaṁ pariyodātaṁ, atha khvassa hoti yeva anusahagato ūsagandho vā khāragandho vā gomayagandho vā asamūhato. Tamenaṁ rajako sāmikānaṁ deti. Tamenaṁ sāmikā gandhaparibhāvite karaṇḍake nikkhipanti. Yopissa hoti anusahagato ūsagandho vā khāragandho vā gomayagandho vā asamūhato, sopi samugghātaṁ gacchati.
In the same way, although a noble disciple has given up the five lower fetters, they still have a lingering residue of the conceit ‘I am’, the desire ‘I am’, and the underlying tendency ‘I am’ which has not been eradicated. After some time they meditate observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates. ‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form. Such is feeling … Such is perception … Such are choices … Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’ As they do so, that lingering residue is eradicated.”
Evameva kho, āvuso, kiñcāpi ariyasāvakassa pañcorambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni pahīnāni bhavanti, atha khvassa hoti yeva pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu anusahagato ‘asmī’ti, māno ‘asmī’ti, chando ‘asmī’ti anusayo asamūhato. So aparena samayena pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassī viharati. ‘Iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo; iti vedanā … iti saññā … iti saṅkhārā … iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti. Tassa imesu pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassino viharato yopissa hoti pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu anusahagato ‘asmī’ti, māno ‘asmī’ti, chando ‘asmī’ti anusayo asamūhato, sopi samugghātaṁ gacchatī”ti.
When he said this, the senior mendicants said to Venerable Khemaka, “We didn’t want to trouble Venerable Khemaka with our questions. But you’re capable of explaining, teaching, asserting, establishing, clarifying, analyzing, and revealing the Buddha’s instructions in detail. And that’s just what you’ve done.”
Evaṁ vutte, therā bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ khemakaṁ etadavocuṁ: “na kho mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ khemakaṁ vihesāpekhā pucchimha, api cāyasmā khemako pahosi tassa bhagavato sāsanaṁ vitthārena ācikkhituṁ desetuṁ paññāpetuṁ paṭṭhapetuṁ vivarituṁ vibhajituṁ uttānīkātuṁ. Tayidaṁ āyasmatā khemakena tassa bhagavato sāsanaṁ vitthārena ācikkhitaṁ desitaṁ paññāpitaṁ paṭṭhapitaṁ vivaritaṁ vibhajitaṁ uttānīkatan”ti.
That is what Venerable Khemaka said. Satisfied, the senior mendicants approved what Khemaka said. And while this discourse was being spoken, the minds of sixty senior mendicants and of Venerable Khemaka were freed from defilements by not grasping.
Idamavoca āyasmā khemako. Attamanā therā bhikkhū āyasmato khemakassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanduṁ. Imasmiñca pana veyyākaraṇasmiṁ bhaññamāne saṭṭhimattānaṁ therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ anupādāya āsavehi cittāni vimucciṁsu, āyasmato khemakassa cāti.
Sattamaṁ.