AN 8.86

Yasasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena icchānaṅgalaṁ nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Assosuṁ kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā: “samaṇo khalu bho gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito icchānaṅgalaṁ anuppatto icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī’”ti.

With Nāgita

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 Icchānaṅgala. He stayed in a forest near Icchānaṅgala. The brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala heard: “It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Icchānaṅgala. He is staying in a forest near Icchānaṅgala. 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.’ … It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

Atha kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā tassā rattiyā accayena pahutaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya yena icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhaṁsu uccāsaddā mahāsaddā. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nāgito bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti. Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ āmantesi: “ke pana te, nāgita, uccāsaddā mahāsaddā kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope”ti? “Ete, bhante, icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā pahutaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā bhagavantaṁyeva uddissa bhikkhusaṅghañcā”ti. “Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, mā ca mayā yaso. Yo kho, nāgita, nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī assa akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, so taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyyā”ti.

Then, when the night had passed, they took abundant fresh and cooked foods and went to the forest near Icchānaṅgala, where they stood outside the gates making a colossal racket. Now, at that time Venerable Nāgita was the Buddha’s attendant. Then the Buddha said to Nāgita, “Nāgita, who’s making that colossal racket? You’d think it was fishermen hauling in a catch!” “Sir, it’s these brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala. They’ve brought abundant fresh and cooked foods, and they’re standing outside the gates wanting to offer it specially to the Buddha and the mendicant Saṅgha.” “Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me. There are those who can’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity.”

“Adhivāsetu dāni, bhante, bhagavā. Adhivāsetu sugato. Adhivāsanakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato. Yena yeneva dāni, bhante, bhagavā gamissati tanninnāva bhavissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca. Seyyathāpi, bhante, thullaphusitake deve vassante yathāninnaṁ udakāni pavattanti; evamevaṁ kho, bhante, yena yeneva dāni bhagavā gamissati tanninnāva bhavissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca. Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathā hi, bhante, bhagavato sīlapaññāṇan”ti.

“Sir, may the Blessed One please relent now! May the Holy One relent! Now is the time for the Buddha to relent. Wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country will incline the same way. It’s like when the heavens rain heavily and the water flows downhill. In the same way, wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country will incline the same way. Why is that? Because of the Buddha’s ethics and wisdom.”

“Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, mā ca mayā yaso. Yo kho, nāgita, nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī assa akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, so taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyya.

“Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me. There are those who can’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity.

devatāpi kho, nāgita, ekaccā nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhiniyo assu akicchalābhiniyo akasiralābhiniyo, yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tumhākampi kho, nāgita, saṅgamma samāgamma saṅgaṇikavihāraṁ anuyuttānaṁ viharataṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘na hi nūname āyasmanto imassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhino assu akicchalābhino akasiralābhino. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tathā hi paname āyasmanto saṅgamma samāgamma saṅgaṇikavihāraṁ anuyuttā viharanti’.

Even some of the deities can’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. When you all come together to enjoy each other’s company, I think: ‘These venerables mustn’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they come together to enjoy each other’s company.’

Idhāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhū passāmi aññamaññaṁ aṅgulipatodakena sañjagghante saṅkīḷante. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘na hi nūname āyasmanto imassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhino assu akicchalābhino akasiralābhino. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tathā hi paname āyasmanto aññamaññaṁ aṅgulipatodakena sañjagghanti saṅkīḷanti’.

Take mendicants I see poking each other with their fingers, giggling and playing together. I think to myself: ‘These venerables mustn’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they’re poking each other with their fingers, giggling and playing together.’

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhū passāmi yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutte viharante. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘na hi nūname āyasmanto imassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhino assu akicchalābhino akasiralābhino. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tathā hi paname āyasmanto yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyuttā viharanti’.

Take mendicants I see eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing. I think to myself: ‘These venerables mustn’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing.’

Idhāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi gāmantavihāriṁ samāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni imaṁ āyasmantaṁ ārāmiko vā upaṭṭhahissati samaṇuddeso vā. Taṁ tamhā samādhimhā cāvessatī’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno na attamano homi gāmantavihārena.

Take a mendicant living within a village who I see sitting immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: ‘Now a monastery worker, a novice, or a fellow practitioner will make this venerable fall from immersion.’ So I’m not pleased that that mendicant is living within a village.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe pacalāyamānaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni ayamāyasmā imaṁ niddākilamathaṁ paṭivinodetvā araññasaññaṁyeva manasi karissati ekattan’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting nodding in meditation. I think to myself: ‘Now this venerable, having dispelled that sleepiness and weariness, will focus just on the unified perception of wilderness.’ So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe asamāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni ayamāyasmā asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ samādahissati, samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ anurakkhissatī’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting without being immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: ‘Now if this venerable’s mind is not immersed in samādhi they will immerse it; or if it is immersed in samādhi, they will preserve it.’ So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe samāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni ayamāyasmā avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccissati, vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ anurakkhissatī’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: ‘Now this venerable will free the unfreed mind or preserve the freed mind.’ So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi gāmantavihāriṁ lābhiṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. So taṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ nikāmayamāno riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, riñcati araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni; gāmanigamarājadhāniṁ osaritvā vāsaṁ kappeti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno na attamano homi gāmantavihārena.

Take a mendicant who I see living within a village receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Enjoying possessions, honor, and popularity they neglect retreat, and they neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. They come down to villages, towns, and capital cities and make their home there. So I’m not pleased that that mendicant is living within a village.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ lābhiṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. So taṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ paṭipaṇāmetvā na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, na riñcati araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

Take a mendicant who I see in the wilderness receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Fending off possessions, honor, and popularity they don’t neglect retreat, and they don’t neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Yasmāhaṁ, nāgita, samaye addhānamaggappaṭipanno na kañci passāmi purato vā pacchato vā, phāsu me, nāgita, tasmiṁ samaye hoti antamaso uccārapassāvakammāyā”ti.

Nāgita, when I’m walking along a road and I don’t see anyone ahead or behind I feel relaxed, even if I need to urinate or defecate.”