AN 10.94

Vajjiyamāhitasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre. Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati divā divassa campāya nikkhami bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Atha kho vajjiyamāhitassa gahapatissa etadahosi: “akālo kho tāva bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Paṭisallīno bhagavā. Manobhāvanīyānampi bhikkhūnaṁ akālo dassanāya. Paṭisallīnā manobhāvanīyāpi bhikkhū. Yannūnāhaṁ yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkameyyan”ti.

With Vajjiyamāhita

At one time the Buddha was staying near Campā on the banks of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond. Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita left Sāvatthī in the middle of the day to see the Buddha. Then it occurred to him, “It’s the wrong time to see the Buddha, as he’s in retreat. And it’s the wrong time to see the esteemed mendicants, as they’re in retreat. Why don’t I visit the monastery for the wanderers of other religions?”

Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkami. Tena kho pana samayena te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā saṅgamma samāgamma unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentā nisinnā honti.

Then he went to the monastery for the wanderers of other religions. Now at that time, the wanderers of other religions had come together, making an uproar, a colossal racket as they sat and talked about all kinds of low topics.

Addasaṁsu kho te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna aññamaññaṁ saṇṭhāpesuṁ: “appasaddā bhonto hontu. Mā bhonto saddamakattha. Ayaṁ vajjiyamāhito gahapati āgacchati samaṇassa gotamassa sāvako. Yāvatā kho pana samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakā gihī odātavasanā campāyaṁ paṭivasanti, ayaṁ tesaṁ aññataro vajjiyamāhito gahapati. Appasaddakāmā kho pana te āyasmanto appasaddavinītā appasaddassa vaṇṇavādino. Appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti.

They saw Vajjiyamāhita coming off in the distance, and stopped each other, saying, “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. The householder Vajjiyamāhita, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, is coming into our monastery. He is included among the white-clothed lay disciples of the ascetic Gotama, who is residing near Campā. Such venerables like the quiet, are educated to be quiet, and praise the quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.”

Atha kho te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ. Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yena te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā etadavocuṁ: “saccaṁ kira, gahapati, samaṇo gotamo sabbaṁ tapaṁ garahati, sabbaṁ tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ ekaṁsena upakkosati upavadatī”ti? “Na kho, bhante, bhagavā sabbaṁ tapaṁ garahati napi sabbaṁ tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ ekaṁsena upakkosati upavadati. Gārayhaṁ kho, bhante, bhagavā garahati, pasaṁsitabbaṁ pasaṁsati. Gārayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhagavā garahanto pasaṁsitabbaṁ pasaṁsanto vibhajjavādo bhagavā. Na so bhagavā ettha ekaṁsavādo”ti.

Then those wanderers of other religions fell silent. Then Vajjiyamāhita went up to them, and exchanged greetings with the wanderers there. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The wanderers said to him: “Is it really true, householder? Does the ascetic Gotama criticize all forms of mortification? Does he categorically condemn and denounce those fervent mortifiers who live rough?” “No, sirs, the Buddha does not criticize all forms of mortification. Nor does he categorically condemn and denounce those fervent mortifiers who live rough. The Buddha criticizes where it is due, and praises where it is due. In doing so he is one who speaks after analyzing the question, and is not one-sided on this point.”

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro paribbājako vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: “āgamehi tvaṁ, gahapati, yassa tvaṁ samaṇassa gotamassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, samaṇo gotamo venayiko appaññattiko”ti? “Etthapāhaṁ, bhante, āyasmante vakkhāmi sahadhammena: ‘idaṁ kusalan’ti, bhante, bhagavatā paññattaṁ; ‘idaṁ akusalan’ti, bhante, bhagavatā paññattaṁ. Iti kusalākusalaṁ bhagavā paññāpayamāno sapaññattiko bhagavā; na so bhagavā venayiko appaññattiko”ti.

When he said this, one of the wanderers said to him, “Hold on, householder! That ascetic Gotama who you praise is an exterminator who refrains from making statements.” “On this point, also, I reasonably respond to the venerables. The Buddha has stated ‘This is skillful’ and ‘This is unskillful’. So when it comes to what is skillful and unskillful the Buddha makes a statement. He is not an exterminator who refrains from making statements.”

Evaṁ vutte te paribbājakā tuṇhībhūtā maṅkubhūtā pattakkhandhā adhomukhā pajjhāyantā appaṭibhānā nisīdiṁsu. Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati te paribbājake tuṇhībhūte maṅkubhūte pattakkhandhe adhomukhe pajjhāyante appaṭibhāne viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yāvatako ahosi tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.

When this was said, those wanderers sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say. Seeing this, Vajjiyamāhita rose from his seat. He went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all they had discussed.

“Sādhu sādhu, gahapati. Evaṁ kho te, gahapati, moghapurisā kālena kālaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetabbā. Nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ tapaṁ tapitabbanti vadāmi; na ca panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ tapaṁ na tapitabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ samādānaṁ samāditabbanti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ samādānaṁ na samāditabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ padhānaṁ padahitabbanti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ padhānaṁ na padahitabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbo paṭinissaggo paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi. Na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbo paṭinissaggo na paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbā vimutti vimuccitabbāti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbā vimutti na vimuccitabbāti vadāmi.

“Good, good, householder! That’s how you should legitimately and completely refute those futile men from time to time. Householder, I don’t say that all mortifications should be undergone. But I don’t say that no mortifications should be undergone. I don’t say that all observances should be undertaken. But I don’t say that no observances should be undertaken. I don’t say that all efforts should be tried. But I don’t say that no efforts should be tried. I don’t say that everything should be given up. But I don’t say that nothing should be given up. I don’t say that you should be liberated with all kinds of freedom. But I don’t say that you should not be liberated with any kind of freedom.

Yañhi, gahapati, tapaṁ tapato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ tapaṁ na tapitabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, tapaṁ tapato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ tapaṁ tapitabbanti vadāmi.

When undergoing certain mortifications, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t undergo those mortifications. When undergoing certain mortifications, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should undergo those mortifications.

Yañhi, gahapati, samādānaṁ samādiyato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ samādānaṁ na samāditabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, samādānaṁ samādiyato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ samādānaṁ samāditabbanti vadāmi.

When undertaking certain observances, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t undertake those observances. When undertaking certain observances, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should undertake those observances.

Yañhi, gahapati, padhānaṁ padahato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ padhānaṁ na padahitabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, padhānaṁ padahato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ padhānaṁ padahitabbanti vadāmi.

When trying certain efforts, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t try those efforts. When trying certain efforts, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should try those efforts.

Yañhi, gahapati, paṭinissaggaṁ paṭinissajjato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpo paṭinissaggo na paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, paṭinissaggaṁ paṭinissajjato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpo paṭinissaggo paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi.

When giving up certain things, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t give up those things. When giving up certain things, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should give up those things.

Yañhi, gahapati, vimuttiṁ vimuccato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpā vimutti na vimuccitabbāti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, vimuttiṁ vimuccato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpā vimutti vimuccitabbāti vadāmī”ti.

When being liberated with certain kinds of freedom, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn’t be liberated with those kinds of freedom. When being liberated with certain kinds of freedom, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should be liberated with those kinds of freedom.”

Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

After Vajjiyamāhita had been educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired with a Dhamma talk by the Buddha, he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante vajjiyamāhite gahapatimhi bhikkhū āmantesi: “yopi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dīgharattaṁ apparajakkho imasmiṁ dhammavinaye, sopi evamevaṁ aññatitthiye paribbājake sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggaṇheyya yathā taṁ vajjiyamāhitena gahapatinā niggahitā”ti.

Then, not long after Vajjiyamāhita had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, even a mendicant who for a long time has had little dust in their eye in this teaching and training would legitimately and completely refute those wanderers of other religions just as the householder Vajjiyamāhita did.”