AN 11.14

Subhūtisutta

Atha kho āyasmā subhūti saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ subhūtiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “ko nāmāyaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhū”ti? “Saddho nāmāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu, sudattassa upāsakassa putto, saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito”ti.

With Subhūti

And then Venerable Subhūti together with the mendicant Saddha went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, “Subhūti, what is the name of this mendicant?” “Sir, the name of this mendicant is Saddha. He is the son of the layman Sudatta, and has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness.”

“Kacci panāyaṁ, subhūti, saddho bhikkhu sudattassa upāsakassa putto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito sandissati saddhāpadānesū”ti? “Etassa, bhagavā, kālo; etassa, sugata, kālo, yaṁ bhagavā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāseyya. Idānāhaṁ jānissāmi yadi vā ayaṁ bhikkhu sandissati saddhāpadānesu yadi vā no”ti.

“Well, I hope this mendicant Saddha exhibits the various evidences of faith.” “Now is the time, Blessed One! Now is the time, Holy One! Let the Buddha speak on the evidence of faith. Now I will find out whether or not this mendicant Saddha exhibits the various evidences of faith.”

“Tena hi, subhūti, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā subhūti bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Well then, Subhūti, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” Subhūti replied. The Buddha said this:

“Idha, subhūti, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

“Firstly, a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. When a mendicant is ethical, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo; ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. When a mendicant is learned, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates. When a mendicant has good friends, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They’re patient, and take instruction respectfully. When a mendicant is easy to admonish, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tatra dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tatra dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work. When a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant loves the teachings and is a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training. When a mendicant loves the teachings, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. When a mendicant is energetic, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant gets the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. When a mendicant gets the four absorptions, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattārīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. Idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant recollects many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. They remember: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so they recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details. When a mendicant recollects many kinds of past lives, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti. Iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, a mendicant sees sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. When a mendicant has clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, this is evidence of faith.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hotī”ti.

Furthermore, a mendicant has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. When a mendicant has ended the defilements, this is evidence of faith.”

Evaṁ vutte āyasmā subhūti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāsitāni, saṁvijjanti tāni imassa bhikkhuno, ayañca bhikkhu etesu sandissati.

When he said this, Venerable Subhūti said to the Buddha: “Sir, the various evidences of faith for a faithful person that the Buddha speaks of are found in this mendicant; he does exhibit them.

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

This mendicant is ethical …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo; ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

This mendicant is learned …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

This mendicant has good friends …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu suvaco hoti …pe… anusāsaniṁ.

This mendicant is easy to admonish …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tattha dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.

This mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo.

This mendicant loves the teachings …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati …pe… thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

This mendicant is energetic …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

This mendicant gets the four absorptions …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.

This mendicant recollects their many kinds of past lives …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.

This mendicant has clairvoyance that is purified and surpasses the human …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāsitāni, saṁvijjanti tāni imassa bhikkhuno, ayañca bhikkhu etesu sandissatī”ti.

This mendicant has ended the defilements … The various evidences of faith for a faithful person that the Buddha speaks of are found in this mendicant; he does exhibit them.”

“Sādhu sādhu, subhūti. Tena hi tvaṁ, subhūti, iminā ca saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ vihareyyāsi. Yadā ca tvaṁ, subhūti, ākaṅkheyyāsi tathāgataṁ dassanāya, iminā saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ upasaṅkameyyāsi tathāgataṁ dassanāyā”ti.

“Good, good, Subhūti! So, Subhūti, you should live together with this mendicant Saddha. And when you want to see the Realized One, you should come together with him.”