SN 41.8 · The Jain Ascetic of the Ñātika Clan
SN 41.8 · Nigaṇṭhanāṭaputtasutta
Now at that time the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan had arrived at Macchikāsaṇḍa together with a large assembly of Jain ascetics.
Tena kho pana samayena nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto macchikāsaṇḍaṁ anuppatto hoti mahatiyā nigaṇṭhaparisāya saddhiṁ.
Citta the householder heard that they had arrived. Together with several lay followers, he went up to the Jain Ñātika and exchanged greetings with him.
Assosi kho citto gahapati: “nigaṇṭho kira nāṭaputto macchikāsaṇḍaṁ anuppatto mahatiyā nigaṇṭhaparisāya saddhin”ti. Atha kho citto gahapati sambahulehi upāsakehi saddhiṁ yena nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā nigaṇṭhena nāṭaputtena saddhiṁ sammodi.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The Jain Ñātika said to him, “Householder, do you have faith in the ascetic Gotama’s claim that there is a state of immersion without placing the mind and keeping it connected; that there is the cessation of placing the mind and keeping it connected?”
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho cittaṁ gahapatiṁ nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto etadavoca: “saddahasi tvaṁ, gahapati, samaṇassa gotamassa— atthi avitakko avicāro samādhi, atthi vitakkavicārānaṁ nirodho”ti?
“Sir, in this case I don’t rely on faith in the Buddha’s claim that there is a state of immersion without placing the mind and keeping it connected; that there is the cessation of placing the mind and keeping it connected.”
“Na khvāhaṁ ettha, bhante, bhagavato saddhāya gacchāmi. Atthi avitakko avicāro samādhi, atthi vitakkavicārānaṁ nirodho”ti.
When he said this, the Jain Ñātika looked up at his assembly and said, “See, good sirs, how straightforward this householder Citta is! He’s not devious or deceitful at all. To imagine that you can stop placing the mind and keeping it connected would be like imagining that you can catch the wind in a net, or dam the Ganges River with your own hand.”
Evaṁ vutte, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto ulloketvā etadavoca: “idaṁ bhavanto passantu, yāva ujuko cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva asaṭho cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva amāyāvī cāyaṁ citto gahapati, vātaṁ vā so jālena bādhetabbaṁ maññeyya, yo vitakkavicāre nirodhetabbaṁ maññeyya, sakamuṭṭhinā vā so gaṅgāya sotaṁ āvāretabbaṁ maññeyya, yo vitakkavicāre nirodhetabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti.
“What do you think, sir? Which is better—knowledge or faith?”
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, bhante, katamaṁ nu kho paṇītataraṁ—ñāṇaṁ vā saddhā vā”ti?
“Knowledge is definitely better than faith, householder.”
“Saddhāya kho, gahapati, ñāṇaṁyeva paṇītataran”ti.
“Well sir, whenever I want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. And whenever I want, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled … I enter and remain in the second absorption. And whenever I want, with the fading away of rapture … I enter and remain in the third absorption. And whenever I want, giving up pleasure and pain … I enter and remain in the fourth absorption.
“Ahaṁ kho, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Ahaṁ kho, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Ahaṁ kho, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Ahaṁ kho, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.
And so, sir, since I know and see like this, why should I rely on faith in another ascetic or brahmin who claims that there is a state of immersion without placing the mind and keeping it connected; that there is the cessation of placing the mind and keeping it connected?”
Na so khvāhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto kassa aññassa samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā saddhāya gamissāmi? Atthi avitakko avicāro samādhi, atthi vitakkavicārānaṁ nirodho”ti.
When he said this, the Jain Ñātika looked askance at his own assembly and said, “See, good fellows, how crooked this householder Citta is! He’s so devious and deceitful!”
Evaṁ vutte, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sakaṁ parisaṁ apaloketvā etadavoca: “idaṁ bhavanto passantu, yāva anujuko cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva saṭho cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva māyāvī cāyaṁ citto gahapatī”ti.
“Sir, just now I understood you to say: ‘See, good fellows, how straightforward this householder Citta is! He’s not devious or deceitful at all.’ But then I understood you to say: ‘See, good fellows, how crooked this householder Citta is! He’s so devious and deceitful!’ If your first statement is true, the second is wrong. If your first statement is wrong, the second is true.
“Idāneva kho te mayaṁ, bhante, bhāsitaṁ: ‘evaṁ ājānāma idaṁ bhavanto passantu, yāva ujuko cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva asaṭho cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva amāyāvī cāyaṁ citto gahapatī’ti. Idāneva ca pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhāsitaṁ: ‘evaṁ ājānāma idaṁ bhavanto passantu, yāva anujuko cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva saṭho cāyaṁ citto gahapati, yāva māyāvī cāyaṁ citto gahapatī’ti. Sace te, bhante, purimaṁ saccaṁ, pacchimaṁ te micchā. Sace pana te, bhante, purimaṁ micchā, pacchimaṁ te saccaṁ.
And also, sir, these ten legitimate questions are relevant. When you understand what they mean, then, together with your assembly of Jain ascetics, you can rebut me. ‘One thing: question, summary, and answer. Two … Three … Four … Five … Six … Seven … Eight … Nine … Ten things: question, summary, and answer.’”
Ime kho pana, bhante, dasa sahadhammikā pañhā āgacchanti. Yadā nesaṁ atthaṁ ājāneyyāsi, atha maṁ paṭihareyyāsi saddhiṁ nigaṇṭhaparisāya. Eko pañho, eko uddeso, ekaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ. Dve pañhā, dve uddesā, dve veyyākaraṇāni. Tayo pañhā, tayo uddesā, tīṇi veyyākaraṇāni. Cattāro pañhā, cattāro uddesā, cattāri veyyākaraṇāni. Pañca pañhā, pañca uddesā, pañca veyyākaraṇāni. Cha pañhā, cha uddesā, cha veyyākaraṇāni. Satta pañhā, satta uddesā, satta veyyākaraṇāni. Aṭṭha pañhā, aṭṭha uddesā, aṭṭha veyyākaraṇāni. Nava pañhā, nava uddesā, nava veyyākaraṇāni. Dasa pañhā, dasa uddesā, dasa veyyākaraṇānī”ti.
Then Citta rose from his seat and left without asking the Jain Ñātika these ten legitimate questions.
Atha kho citto gahapati nigaṇṭhaṁ nāṭaputtaṁ ime dasa sahadhammike pañhe āpucchitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmīti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.
SN 41.9 · With Kassapa, the Naked Ascetic
SN 41.9 · Acelakassapasutta
Now at that time the naked ascetic Kassapa, an old friend of Citta in the lay life, had arrived at Macchikāsaṇḍa.
Tena kho pana samayena acelo kassapo macchikāsaṇḍaṁ anuppatto hoti cittassa gahapatino purāṇagihisahāyo.
Citta the householder heard that he had arrived. So he went up to him, and they exchanged greetings.
Assosi kho citto gahapati: “acelo kira kassapo macchikāsaṇḍaṁ anuppatto amhākaṁ purāṇagihisahāyo”ti. Atha kho citto gahapati yena acelo kassapo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā acelena kassapena saddhiṁ sammodi.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the naked ascetic Kassapa, “Honorable Kassapa, how long has it been since you went forth?”
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho citto gahapati acelaṁ kassapaṁ etadavoca: “kīvaciraṁ pabbajitassa, bhante kassapā”ti?
“It’s been thirty years, householder.”
“Tiṁsamattāni kho me, gahapati, vassāni pabbajitassā”ti.
“But sir, in these thirty years have you achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, a comfortable meditation?”
“Imehi pana te, bhante, tiṁsamattehi vassehi atthi koci uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanaviseso adhigato phāsuvihāro”ti?
“I have no such achievement, householder, only nudity, baldness, and pokes in the buttocks.”
“Imehi kho me, gahapati, tiṁsamattehi vassehi pabbajitassa natthi koci uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanaviseso adhigato phāsuvihāro, aññatra naggeyyā ca muṇḍeyyā ca pāvaḷanipphoṭanāya cā”ti.
Citta said to him, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing, how well explained the teaching is. For in thirty years you have achieved no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, no comfortable meditation, only nudity, baldness, and pokes in the buttocks.”
Evaṁ vutte, citto gahapati acelaṁ kassapaṁ etadavoca: “acchariyaṁ vata, bho, abbhutaṁ vata, bho. Dhammassa svākkhātatā yatra hi nāma tiṁsamattehi vassehi na koci uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanaviseso adhigato abhavissa phāsuvihāro, aññatra naggeyyā ca muṇḍeyyā ca pāvaḷanipphoṭanāya cā”ti.
“But householder, how long have you been a lay follower?”
“Tuyhaṁ pana, gahapati, kīvaciraṁ upāsakattaṁ upagatassā”ti?
“It’s been thirty years, sir.”
“Mayhampi kho pana, bhante, tiṁsamattāni vassāni upāsakattaṁ upagatassā”ti.
“But householder, in these thirty years have you achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, a comfortable meditation?”
“Imehi pana te, gahapati, tiṁsamattehi vassehi atthi koci uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanaviseso adhigato phāsuvihāro”ti?
“How, sir, could I not? For whenever I want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. And whenever I want, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled … I enter and remain in the second absorption. And whenever I want, with the fading away of rapture … I enter and remain in the third absorption. And whenever I want, giving up pleasure and pain … I enter and remain in the fourth absorption.
“Gihinopi siyā, bhante. Ahañhi, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Ahañhi, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā … dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Ahañhi, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Ahañhi, bhante, yāvadeva ākaṅkhāmi, sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.
If I pass away before the Buddha, it would be no wonder if the Buddha declares of me: ‘The householder Citta is bound by no fetter that might return him to this world.’”
Sace kho panāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato paṭhamataraṁ kālaṁ kareyyaṁ, anacchariyaṁ kho panetaṁ yaṁ maṁ bhagavā evaṁ byākareyya: ‘natthi taṁ saṁyojanaṁ yena saṁyojanena saṁyutto citto gahapati puna imaṁ lokaṁ āgaccheyyā’”ti.
When this was said, Kassapa said to Citta, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing, how well explained the teaching is. For a white-clothed layperson can achieve such a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, a comfortable meditation. Householder, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training?”
Evaṁ vutte, acelo kassapo cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: “acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Dhammassa svākkhātatā, yatra hi nāma gihī odātavasano evarūpaṁ uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ adhigamissati phāsuvihāraṁ. Labheyyāhaṁ, gahapati, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye pabbajjaṁ, labheyyaṁ upasampadan”ti.
Then Citta the householder took the naked ascetic Kassapa to see the senior mendicants, and said to them:
Atha kho citto gahapati acelaṁ kassapaṁ ādāya yena therā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā there bhikkhū etadavoca:
“Sirs, this is the naked ascetic Kassapa, who in lay life was an old friend of mine. May the senior monks give him the going forth, the ordination. I’ll make sure that he’s provided with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.”
“ayaṁ, bhante, acelo kassapo amhākaṁ purāṇagihisahāyo. Imaṁ therā pabbājentu upasampādentu. Ahamassa ussukkaṁ karissāmi cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan”ti.
And the naked ascetic Kassapa received the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training. Not long after his ordination, Venerable Kassapa, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.
Alattha kho acelo kassapo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ. Acirūpasampanno ca panāyasmā kassapo eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.
He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.” And Venerable Kassapa became one of the perfected.
“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi. Aññataro ca panāyasmā kassapo arahataṁ ahosīti.
Navamaṁ.
SN 41.10 · Seeing the Sick
SN 41.10 · Gilānadassanasutta
Now at that time the householder Citta was sick, suffering, gravely ill.
Tena kho pana samayena citto gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.
Then several deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees came together and said to Citta, “Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!”
Atha kho sambahulā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā saṅgamma samāgamma cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī”ti.
When they said this, Citta said to them, “That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!”
Evaṁ vutte, citto gahapati tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā etadavoca: “tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan”ti.
When he said this, his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin said, “Be mindful, master! Don’t babble.”
Evaṁ vutte, cittassa gahapatino mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī”ti.
“What have I said that makes you say that?”
“Kiṁ tāhaṁ vadāmi yaṁ maṁ tumhe evaṁ vadetha: ‘satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī’”ti?
“It’s because you said: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”
“Evaṁ kho tvaṁ, ayyaputta, vadesi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.
“Oh, well, that’s because the deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees said to me: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ So I said to them: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”
“Tathā hi pana maṁ ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ …pe… tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.
“But what reason do they see for saying that to you?”
“Kiṁ pana tā, ayyaputta, ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’”ti?
“They think: ‘This householder Citta is ethical, of good character. If he makes a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future, his heart’s wish will succeed because of the purity of his ethics. And then as a proper, principled king he will provide proper spirit-offerings.’ That’s the reason they see for saying to me: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ So I said to them: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”
“Tāsaṁ kho ārāmadevatānaṁ vanadevatānaṁ rukkhadevatānaṁ osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthānaṁ devatānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘ayaṁ kho citto gahapati, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo. Sace paṇidahissati— anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti, ‘tassa kho ayaṁ ijjhissati, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā dhammiko dhammikaṁ phalaṁ anupassatī’ti. Imaṁ kho tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.
“Then, master, advise us!”
“Tena hi, ayyaputta, amhepi ovadāhī”ti.
“So you should train like this:
“Tasmā hi vo evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ—
We will have experiential confidence in the Buddha: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’
buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.
We will have experiential confidence in the teaching: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’
Dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.
We will have experiential confidence in the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’
Saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.
And we will share without reservation all the gifts available to give in our family with those who are ethical and of good character.”
Yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ bhavissati sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehīti evañhi vo sikkhitabban”ti.
Then, after Citta had encouraged his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin in the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and generosity, he passed away.
Atha kho citto gahapati mittāmacce ñātisālohite buddhe ca dhamme ca saṅghe ca cāge ca samādapetvā kālamakāsīti.
Dasamaṁ.
Cittavaggo paṭhamo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Saṁyojanaṁ dve isidattā,Mahako kāmabhūpi ca;Godatto ca nigaṇṭho ca,Acelena gilānadassananti.
The Linked Discourses on Citta the Householder are complete.
Cittasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.