SN 55.1 · A Wheel-Turning Monarch
SN 55.1 · Cakkavattirājasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
There the Buddha … said:
Tatra kho bhagavā …pe… etadavoca:
“Mendicants, suppose a wheel-turning monarch were to rule as sovereign lord over these four continents. And when his body breaks up, after death, he’s reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three. There he amuses himself in the Garden of Delight, escorted by a band of nymphs, and supplied and provided with the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation. Still, as he’s lacking four things, he’s not exempt from hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm. He’s not exempt from places of loss, bad places, the underworld.
“kiñcāpi, bhikkhave, rājā cakkavattī catunnaṁ dīpānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāretvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ, so tattha nandane vane accharāsaṅghaparivuto dibbehi ca pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgībhūto paricāreti, so catūhi dhammehi asamannāgato, atha kho so aparimuttova nirayā aparimutto tiracchānayoniyā aparimutto pettivisayā aparimutto apāyaduggativinipātā.
Now suppose a noble disciple wears rags and feeds on scraps of almsfood. Still, as they have four things, they’re exempt from hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm. They’re exempt from places of loss, bad places, the underworld.
Kiñcāpi, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako piṇḍiyālopena yāpeti, nantakāni ca dhāreti, so catūhi dhammehi samannāgato, atha kho so parimutto nirayā parimutto tiracchānayoniyā parimutto pettivisayā parimutto apāyaduggativinipātā.
What four? It’s when a noble disciple has 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.’
Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.
They 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 samannāgato hoti: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.
They 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 samannāgato hoti: ‘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.
Furthermore, a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion.
Ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi acchiddehi asabalehi akammāsehi bhujissehi viññuppasatthehi aparāmaṭṭhehi samādhisaṁvattanikehi.
These are the four qualities that they possess.
Imehi catūhi dhammehi samannāgato hoti.
And, mendicants, gaining these four continents is not worth a sixteenth part of gaining these four things.”
Yo ca, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ dīpānaṁ paṭilābho, yo catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ paṭilābho catunnaṁ dīpānaṁ paṭilābho catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ paṭilābhassa kalaṁ nāgghati soḷasin”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
SN 55.2 · The Objective of the Spiritual Life
SN 55.2 · Brahmacariyogadhasutta
“Mendicants, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.
“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.
What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”
Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo”ti.
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
“Those who have faith and ethics,confidence, and vision of the truth,in time arrive at happiness,the objective of the spiritual life.”
“Yesaṁ saddhā ca sīlañca,Pasādo dhammadassanaṁ;Te ve kālena paccenti,Brahmacariyogadhaṁ sukhan”ti.
Dutiyaṁ.
SN 55.3 · With Dīghāvu
SN 55.3 · Dīghāvuupāsakasutta
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 the lay follower Dīghāvu was sick, suffering, gravely ill. Then he addressed his father, the householder Jotika, “Please, householder, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him: ‘Sir, the lay follower Dīghāvu is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’ And then say: ‘Sir, please visit him at his home out of sympathy.’”
Tena kho pana samayena dīghāvu upāsako ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. Atha kho dīghāvu upāsako pitaraṁ jotikaṁ gahapatiṁ āmantesi: “ehi tvaṁ, gahapati, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vanda: ‘dīghāvu, bhante, upāsako ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. So bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti. Evañca vadehi: ‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena dīghāvussa upāsakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.
“Yes, dear,” replied Jotika. He did as Dīghāvu asked. The Buddha consented with silence.
“Evaṁ, tātā”ti kho jotiko gahapati dīghāvussa upāsakassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jotiko gahapati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “dīghāvu, bhante, upāsako ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. So bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati. Evañca vadeti: ‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena dīghāvussa upāsakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the lay follower Dīghāvu, sat down on the seat spread out, and said to him, “I hope you’re keeping well, Dīghāvu, I hope you’re all right. I hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.”
Atha kho bhagavā nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena dīghāvussa upāsakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā dīghāvuṁ upāsakaṁ etadavoca: “kacci te, dīghāvu, 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.
“So, Dīghāvu, you should train like this: ‘I will have experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And I will have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion.’ That’s how you should train.”
“Tasmātiha te, dīghāvu, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato bhavissāmi—itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato bhavissāmi akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi’. Evañhi te, dīghāvu, sikkhitabban”ti.
“Sir, these four factors of stream-entry that were taught by the Buddha are found in me, and I exhibit them. For I have experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And I have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion.”
“Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā cattāri sotāpattiyaṅgāni desitāni, saṁvijjante dhammā mayi, ahañca tesu dhammesu sandissāmi. Ahañhi, bhante, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato—itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehī”ti.
“In that case, Dīghāvu, grounded on these four factors of stream-entry you should further develop these six things that play a part in realization. You should meditate observing the impermanence of all conditions, perceiving suffering in impermanence, perceiving not-self in suffering, perceiving giving up, perceiving fading away, and perceiving cessation. That’s how you should train.”
“Tasmātiha tvaṁ, dīghāvu, imesu catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu patiṭṭhāya cha vijjābhāgiye dhamme uttari bhāveyyāsi. Idha tvaṁ, dīghāvu, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharāhi, anicce dukkhasaññī, dukkhe anattasaññī pahānasaññī virāgasaññī nirodhasaññīti. Evañhi te, dīghāvu, sikkhitabban”ti.
“These six things that play a part in realization that were taught by the Buddha are found in me, and I exhibit them. For I meditate observing the impermanence of all conditions, perceiving suffering in impermanence, perceiving not-self in suffering, perceiving giving up, perceiving fading away, and perceiving cessation.
“Yeme, bhante, bhagavatā cha vijjābhāgiyā dhammā desitā, saṁvijjante dhammā mayi, ahañca tesu dhammesu sandissāmi. Ahañhi, bhante, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharāmi, anicce dukkhasaññī, dukkhe anattasaññī pahānasaññī virāgasaññī nirodhasaññī.
But still, sir, I think, ‘I hope Jotika doesn’t suffer distress when I’ve gone.’” Jotika said, “Dear Dīghāvu, don’t focus on that. Come on, dear Dīghāvu, you should closely focus on what the Buddha is saying.”
Api ca me, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘mā hevāyaṁ jotiko gahapati mamaccayena vighātaṁ āpajjī’”ti. “Mā tvaṁ, tāta dīghāvu, evaṁ manasākāsi. Iṅgha tvaṁ, tāta dīghāvu, yadeva te bhagavā āha, tadeva tvaṁ sādhukaṁ manasi karohī”ti.
When the Buddha had given this advice he rose from his seat and left. Not long after the Buddha left, Dīghāvu passed away. Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Atha kho bhagavā dīghāvuṁ upāsakaṁ iminā ovādena ovaditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. Atha kho dīghāvu upāsako acirapakkantassa bhagavato kālamakāsi. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
“Sir, the lay follower named Dīghāvu, who was advised in brief by the Buddha, has passed away. Where has he been reborn in his next life?”
“yo so, bhante, dīghāvu nāma upāsako bhagavatā saṅkhittena ovādena ovadito so kālaṅkato. Tassa kā gati, ko abhisamparāyo”ti?
“Mendicants, the lay follower Dīghāvu was astute. He practiced in line with the teaching, and did not trouble me about the teachings. With the ending of the five lower fetters, he’s been reborn spontaneously, and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.”
“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, dīghāvu upāsako, paccapādi dhammassānudhammaṁ, na ca maṁ dhammādhikaraṇaṁ vihesesi. Dīghāvu, bhikkhave, upāsako pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā”ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
SN 55.4 · With Sāriputta (1st)
SN 55.4 · Paṭhamasāriputtasutta
At one time Venerable Sāriputta was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Ānanda came out of retreat … and said to Sāriputta:
Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca ānando sāvatthiyaṁ viharanti jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:
“Reverend, how many things do people have to possess in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening?”
“katinaṁ nu kho, āvuso sāriputta, dhammānaṁ samannāgamanahetu evamayaṁ pajā bhagavatā byākatā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā”ti?
“Reverend, people have to possess four things in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.
“Catunnaṁ kho, āvuso, dhammānaṁ samannāgamanahetu evamayaṁ pajā bhagavatā byākatā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā.
What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. People have to possess these four things in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”
Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Idhāvuso, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imesaṁ kho, āvuso, catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ samannāgamanahetu evamayaṁ pajā bhagavatā byākatā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
SN 55.5 · With Sāriputta (2nd)
SN 55.5 · Dutiyasāriputtasutta
Then Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
“Sāriputta, they speak of a ‘factor for stream-entry’. What is a factor for stream-entry?”
“‘sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ, sotāpattiyaṅgan’ti hidaṁ, sāriputta, vuccati. Katamaṁ nu kho, sāriputta, sotāpattiyaṅgan”ti?
“Sir, the factors for stream-entry are associating with true persons, listening to the true teaching, rational application of mind, and practicing in line with the teaching.”
“Sappurisasaṁsevo hi, bhante, sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ, saddhammassavanaṁ sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ, yonisomanasikāro sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ, dhammānudhammappaṭipatti sotāpattiyaṅgan”ti.
“Good, good, Sāriputta! For the factors for stream-entry are associating with true persons, listening to the true teaching, rational application of mind, and practicing in line with the teaching.
“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Sappurisasaṁsevo hi, sāriputta, sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ, saddhammassavanaṁ sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ, yonisomanasikāro sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ, dhammānudhammappaṭipatti sotāpattiyaṅgaṁ.
Sāriputta, they speak of ‘the stream’. What is the stream?”
‘Soto, soto’ti hidaṁ, sāriputta, vuccati. Katamo nu kho, sāriputta, soto”ti?
“Sir, the stream is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.”
“Ayameva hi, bhante, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo soto, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhī”ti.
“Good, good, Sāriputta! For the stream is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.
“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Ayameva hi, sāriputta, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo soto, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.
Sāriputta, they speak of ‘a stream-enterer’. What is a stream-enterer?”
‘Sotāpanno, sotāpanno’ti hidaṁ, sāriputta, vuccati. Katamo nu kho, sāriputta, sotāpanno”ti?
“Sir, anyone who possesses this noble eightfold path is called a stream-enterer, the venerable of such name and such clan.”
“Yo hi, bhante, iminā ariyena aṭṭhaṅgikena maggena samannāgato ayaṁ vuccati sotāpanno, svāyaṁ āyasmā evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto”ti.
“Good, good, Sāriputta! For anyone who possesses this noble eightfold path is called a stream-enterer, the venerable of such name and such clan.”
“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Yo hi, sāriputta, iminā ariyena aṭṭhaṅgikena maggena samannāgato ayaṁ vuccati sotāpanno, svāyaṁ āyasmā evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
SN 55.6 · The Chamberlains
SN 55.6 · Thapatisutta
At Sāvatthī. At that time several mendicants were making a robe for the Buddha, thinking that when his robe was finished and the three months of the rains residence had passed the Buddha would set out wandering. Now at that time the chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa were residing in Sādhuka on some business. They heard about this.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: “niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī”ti. Tena kho pana samayena isidattapurāṇā thapatayo sādhuke paṭivasanti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Assosuṁ kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo: “sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: ‘niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’”ti.
So they posted someone on the road, saying:
Atha kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo magge purisaṁ ṭhapesuṁ:
“My man, let us know when you see the Blessed One coming, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.” And that person stood there for two or three days before they saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. When they saw him, they went to the chamberlains and said:
“yadā tvaṁ, ambho purisa, passeyyāsi bhagavantaṁ āgacchantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ, atha amhākaṁ āroceyyāsī”ti. Dvīhatīhaṁ ṭhito kho so puriso addasa bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna yena isidattapurāṇā thapatayo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā isidattapurāṇe thapatayo etadavoca:
“Sirs, the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha is coming. Please come at your convenience.”
“ayaṁ so, bhante, bhagavā āgacchati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Yassadāni kālaṁ maññathā”ti.
Then the chamberlains went up to the Buddha, bowed, and followed behind him. And then the Buddha left the road, went to the root of a certain tree, and sat down on the seat spread out. The chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:
Atha kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhiṁsu. Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma yena aññataraṁ rukkhamūlaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Isidattapurāṇā thapatayo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te isidattapurāṇā thapatayo bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
“Sir, when we hear that you will be setting out from Sāvatthī to wander in the Kosalan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you will be far from us. And when we hear that you are setting out from Sāvatthī to wander in the Kosalan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.
“Yadā mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyā kosalesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyā kosalesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
And when we hear that you will be setting out from the Kosalan lands to wander in the Mallian lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you will be far from us. And when we hear that you are setting out from the Kosalan lands to wander in the Mallian lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
And when we hear that you will be setting out from the Mallian lands to wander in the Vajjian lands …
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
you will be setting out from the Vajjian lands to wander in the Kāsian lands …
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
you will be setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Magadhan lands …
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi māgadhe cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti.
you are setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Magadhan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi māgadhe cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti anappakā no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti anappakaṁ domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
But when we hear that you will be setting out from the Magadhan lands to wander in the Kāsian lands, we’re happy and joyful, thinking that you will be near to us. And when we hear that you are setting out from the Magadhan lands to wander in the Kāsian lands …
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘māgadhehi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘māgadhehi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.
you will be setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Vajjian lands …
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.
you will be setting out from the Vajjian lands to wander in the Mallian lands …
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.
you will be setting out from the Mallian lands to wander in the Kosalan lands …
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi kosale cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi kosale cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.
you will be setting out in the Kosalan lands to wander to Sāvatthī, we’re happy and joyful, thinking that you will be near to us.
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi sāvatthiṁ cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti.
And when we hear that you are staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery we have no little happiness and joy, thinking that you are near to us.”
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme’ti, hoti anappakā no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti anappakaṁ somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’”ti.
“Well then, chamberlains, life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. Just this much is enough for diligence.”
“Tasmātiha, thapatayo, sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Alañca pana vo, thapatayo, appamādāyā”ti.
“Sir, for us there is something that’s even more cramped than that, and is considered as such.”
“Atthi kho no, bhante, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti.
“What is that?”
“Katamo pana vo, thapatayo, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti?
“Sir, it’s when King Pasenadi of Kosala wants to go and visit a park. We have to harness and prepare his royal elephants. Then we have to seat his dear and beloved wives on the elephants, one in front of us, and one behind. Those sisters smell like a freshly opened perfume box; that’s how the royal ladies smell with makeup on. The touch of those sisters is like a tuft of cotton-wool or kapok; that’s how pampered the royal ladies are. Now at that time we must look after the elephants, the sisters, and ourselves. But we don’t recall having a bad thought regarding those sisters. This is that thing that’s even more cramped than that, and is considered as such.”
“Idha mayaṁ, bhante, yadā rājā pasenadi kosalo uyyānabhūmiṁ niyyātukāmo hoti, ye te rañño pasenadissa kosalassa nāgā opavayhā te kappetvā, yā tā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa pajāpatiyo piyā manāpā tā ekaṁ purato ekaṁ pacchato nisīdāpema. Tāsaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhaginīnaṁ evarūpo gandho hoti, seyyathāpi nāma gandhakaraṇḍakassa tāvadeva vivariyamānassa, yathā taṁ rājakaññānaṁ gandhena vibhūsitānaṁ. Tāsaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhaginīnaṁ evarūpo kāyasamphasso hoti, seyyathāpi nāma tūlapicuno vā kappāsapicuno vā, yathā taṁ rājakaññānaṁ sukhedhitānaṁ. Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhante, samaye nāgopi rakkhitabbo hoti, tāpi bhaginiyo rakkhitabbā honti, attāpi rakkhitabbo hoti. Na kho pana mayaṁ, bhante, abhijānāma tāsu bhaginīsu pāpakaṁ cittaṁ uppādetā. Ayaṁ kho no, bhante, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti.
“Well then, chamberlains, life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. Just this much is enough for diligence. A noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.
“Tasmātiha, thapatayo, sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Alañca pana vo, thapatayo, appamādāya. Catūhi kho, thapatayo, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.
What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … They live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.
Katamehi catūhi? Idha, thapatayo, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… vigatamalamaccherena cetasā ajjhāgāraṁ vasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Imehi kho, thapatayo, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.
And you have experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And whatever there is in your family that’s available to give, you share it all with those who are ethical, of good character.
Tumhe kho, thapatayo, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi.
What do you think, chamberlains? How many people among the Kosalans are your equal when it comes to giving and sharing?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, thapatayo, katividhā te kosalesu manussā ye tumhākaṁ samasamā, yadidaṁ— dānasaṁvibhāge”ti?
“We’re fortunate, sir, so very fortunate, in that the Buddha understands us like this.”
“Lābhā no, bhante, suladdhaṁ no, bhante. Yesaṁ no bhagavā evaṁ pajānātī”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
SN 55.7 · The People of Bamboo Gate
SN 55.7 · Veḷudvāreyyasutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Bamboo Gate. The brahmins and householders of Bamboo Gate heard:
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena veḷudvāraṁ nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. Assosuṁ kho te veḷudvāreyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā:
“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Bamboo Gate, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants. He has this good reputation: ‘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.’ He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”
“samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ veḷudvāraṁ anuppatto. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.
Then the brahmins and householders of Bamboo Gate went up to the Buddha. Before sitting down to one side, some bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. Seated to one side they said to the Buddha:
Atha kho te veḷudvāreyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā appekacce bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu; sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce bhagavato santike nāmagottaṁ sāvetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce tuṇhībhūtā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te veḷudvāreyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
“Worthy Gotama, these are our wishes, desires, and hopes. We wish to live at home with our children; to use sandalwood imported from Kāsi; to wear garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and to accept gold and currency. And when our body breaks up, after death, we wish to be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. Given that we have such wishes, may the Buddha teach us the Dhamma so that we may achieve them.”
“mayaṁ, bho gotama, evaṅkāmā evaṁchandā evaṁadhippāyā— puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvaseyyāma, kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhaveyyāma, mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhāreyyāma, jātarūparajataṁ sādiyeyyāma, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyyāma. Tesaṁ no bhavaṁ gotamo amhākaṁ evaṅkāmānaṁ evaṁchandānaṁ evaṁadhippāyānaṁ tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathā mayaṁ puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvaseyyāma …pe… sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyyāmā”ti.
“Householders, I will teach you an explanation of the Dhamma that is relevant for oneself. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”
“Attupanāyikaṁ vo, gahapatayo, dhammapariyāyaṁ desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Yes, worthy sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho te veḷudvāreyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“And what is the explanation of the Dhamma that applies to oneself?
“Katamo ca, gahapatayo, attupanāyiko dhammapariyāyo?
It’s when a noble disciple reflects: ‘I want to live and don’t want to die; I want to be happy and recoil from pain. Since this is so, if someone were to take my life, I wouldn’t like that. But others also want to live and don’t want to die; they want to be happy and recoil from pain. So if I were to take the life of someone else, they wouldn’t like that either. The thing that is disliked by me is also disliked by others. Since I dislike this thing, how can I inflict it on someone else?’ Reflecting in this way, they give up killing living creatures themselves. And they encourage others to give up killing living creatures, praising the giving up of killing living creatures. So their bodily behavior is purified in three points.
Idha, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khosmi jīvitukāmo amaritukāmo sukhakāmo dukkhappaṭikūlo. Yo kho maṁ jīvitukāmaṁ amaritukāmaṁ sukhakāmaṁ dukkhappaṭikūlaṁ jīvitā voropeyya, na metaṁ assa piyaṁ manāpaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana paraṁ jīvitukāmaṁ amaritukāmaṁ sukhakāmaṁ dukkhappaṭikūlaṁ jīvitā voropeyyaṁ, parassapi taṁ assa appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, parassa peso dhammo appiyo amanāpo. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, kathāhaṁ paraṁ tena saṁyojeyyan’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya attanā ca pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, parañca pāṇātipātā veramaṇiyā samādapeti, pāṇātipātā veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Evamassāyaṁ kāyasamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to steal from me, I wouldn’t like that. But if I were to steal from someone else, they wouldn’t like that either. The thing that is disliked by me is also disliked by others. Since I dislike this thing, how can I inflict it on someone else?’ Reflecting in this way, they give up stealing themselves. And they encourage others to give up stealing, praising the giving up of stealing. So their bodily behavior is purified in three points.
Puna caparaṁ, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yo kho me adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyeyya, na metaṁ assa piyaṁ manāpaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana parassa adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyeyyaṁ, parassapi taṁ assa appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, parassa peso dhammo appiyo amanāpo. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, kathāhaṁ paraṁ tena saṁyojeyyan’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya attanā ca adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, parañca adinnādānā veramaṇiyā samādapeti, adinnādānā veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Evamassāyaṁ kāyasamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to have relations with my wives, I wouldn’t like it. But if I were to have relations with someone else’s wives, he wouldn’t like that either. The thing that is disliked by me is also disliked by others. Since I dislike this thing, how can I inflict it on others?’ Reflecting in this way, they give up sexual misconduct themselves. And they encourage others to give up sexual misconduct, praising the giving up of sexual misconduct. So their bodily behavior is purified in three points.
Puna caparaṁ, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yo kho me dāresu cārittaṁ āpajjeyya, na metaṁ assa piyaṁ manāpaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana parassa dāresu cārittaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, parassapi taṁ assa appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, parassa peso dhammo appiyo amanāpo. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, kathāhaṁ paraṁ tena saṁyojeyyan’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya attanā ca kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, parañca kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇiyā samādapeti, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Evamassāyaṁ kāyasamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to distort my meaning by lying, I wouldn’t like it. But if I were to distort someone else’s meaning by lying, they wouldn’t like it either. The thing that is disliked by me is also disliked by someone else. Since I dislike this thing, how can I inflict it on others?’ Reflecting in this way, they give up lying themselves. And they encourage others to give up lying, praising the giving up of lying. So their verbal behavior is purified in three points.
Puna caparaṁ, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yo kho me musāvādena atthaṁ bhañjeyya, na metaṁ assa piyaṁ manāpaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana parassa musāvādena atthaṁ bhañjeyyaṁ, parassapi taṁ assa appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, parassa peso dhammo appiyo amanāpo. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, kathāhaṁ paraṁ tena saṁyojeyyan’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya attanā ca musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, parañca musāvādā veramaṇiyā samādapeti, musāvādā veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Evamassāyaṁ vacīsamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to break me up from my friends by backbiting, I wouldn’t like it. But if I were to break someone else from their friends by backbiting, they wouldn’t like it either. …’ So their verbal behavior is purified in three points.
Puna caparaṁ, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: “yo kho maṁ pisuṇāya vācāya mitte bhindeyya, na metaṁ assa piyaṁ manāpaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana paraṁ pisuṇāya vācāya mitte bhindeyyaṁ, parassapi taṁ assa appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ …pe… evamassāyaṁ vacīsamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to attack me with harsh speech, I wouldn’t like it. But if I were to attack someone else with harsh speech, they wouldn’t like it either. …’ So their verbal behavior is purified in three points.
Puna caparaṁ, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: “yo kho maṁ pharusāya vācāya samudācareyya, na metaṁ assa piyaṁ manāpaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana paraṁ pharusāya vācāya samudācareyyaṁ, parassapi taṁ assa appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo …pe… evamassāyaṁ vacīsamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to annoy me by talking silliness and nonsense, I wouldn’t like it. But if I were to annoy someone else by talking silliness and nonsense, they wouldn’t like it either.’ The thing that is disliked by me is also disliked by another. Since I dislike this thing, how can I inflict it on another?’ Reflecting in this way, they give up talking nonsense themselves. And they encourage others to give up talking nonsense, praising the giving up of talking nonsense. So their verbal behavior is purified in three points.
Puna caparaṁ, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yo kho maṁ samphabhāsena samphappalāpabhāsena samudācareyya, na metaṁ assa piyaṁ manāpaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana paraṁ samphabhāsena samphappalāpabhāsena samudācareyyaṁ, parassapi taṁ assa appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, parassa peso dhammo appiyo amanāpo. Yo kho myāyaṁ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, kathāhaṁ paraṁ tena saṁyojeyyan’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya attanā ca samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti, parañca samphappalāpā veramaṇiyā samādapeti, samphappalāpā veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Evamassāyaṁ vacīsamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.
And they have experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. When a noble disciple possesses these seven good qualities and these four desirable states they may, if they wish, declare of themselves: ‘I’ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am assured, destined for awakening.’”
So buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti; dhamme …pe… saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti. ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Yato kho, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako imehi sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti imehi catūhi ākaṅkhiyehi ṭhānehi, so ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya: ‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’”ti.
When he had spoken, the brahmins and householders of Bamboo Gate said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! … We go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”
Evaṁ vutte, veḷudvāreyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… ete mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.
Sattamaṁ.
SN 55.8 · In the Brick Hall (1st)
SN 55.8 · Paṭhamagiñjakāvasathasutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying at Ñātika in the brick house. Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā ñātike viharati giñjakāvasathe. Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, the monk named Sāḷha has passed away. Where has he been reborn in his next life? The nun named Nandā, the layman named Sudatta, and the laywoman named Sujātā have passed away. Where have they been reborn in the next life?”
“Sāḷho nāma, bhante, bhikkhu kālaṅkato; tassa kā gati ko abhisamparāyo? Nandā nāma, bhante, bhikkhunī kālaṅkatā; tassā kā gati ko abhisamparāyo? Sudatto nāma, bhante, upāsako kālaṅkato; tassa kā gati ko abhisamparāyo? Sujātā nāma, bhante, upāsikā kālaṅkatā; tassā kā gati, ko abhisamparāyo”ti?
“Ānanda, the monk Sāḷha passed away having realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, having realized it with his own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.
“Sāḷho, ānanda, bhikkhu kālaṅkato āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.
The nun Nandā passed away having ended the five lower fetters. She’s been reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.
Nandā, ānanda, bhikkhunī kālaṅkatā pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyinī anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā.
The layman Sudatta passed away having ended three fetters, and weakened greed, hate, and delusion. He’s a once-returner; he will come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.
Sudatto, ānanda, upāsako kālaṅkato tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmī; sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karissati.
The laywoman Sujātā passed away having ended three fetters. She’s a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.
Sujātā, ānanda, upāsikā kālaṅkatā tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā.
It’s no wonder that a human being should pass away. But if you should come and ask me about it each and every time someone dies that would be a bother for me. So Ānanda, I will teach you the explanation of the Dhamma named ‘the mirror of the teaching’. A noble disciple who has this may declare of themselves: ‘I’ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am assured, destined for awakening.’
Anacchariyaṁ kho panetaṁ, ānanda, yaṁ manussabhūto kālaṁ kareyya; tasmiṁ tasmiñce maṁ kālaṅkate upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipucchissatha. Vihesā pesā, ānanda, assa tathāgatassa. Tasmātihānanda, dhammādāsaṁ nāma dhammapariyāyaṁ desessāmi; yena samannāgato ariyasāvako ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya: ‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’.
And what is that mirror of the teaching?
Katamo ca so, ānanda, dhammādāso dhammapariyāyo; yena samannāgato ariyasāvako ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya: ‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’?
It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. This is that mirror of the teaching. A noble disciple who has this may declare of themselves: ‘I’ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am assured, destined for awakening.’”
Idha, ānanda, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti—itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ayaṁ kho so, ānanda, dhammādāso dhammapariyāyo; yena samannāgato ariyasāvako ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya: ‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’”ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.
(The following two discourses have the same setting.)
(Tīṇipi suttantāni ekanidānāni.)