MN 79

Cūḷasakuludāyisutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tena kho pana samayena sakuludāyī paribbājako moranivāpe paribbājakārāme paṭivasati mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ.

The Shorter Discourse With Sakuludāyī

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time the wanderer Sakuludāyī was residing together with a large assembly of wanderers in their monastery in the peacocks’ feeding ground.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “atippago kho tāva rājagahe piṇḍāya carituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ yena moranivāpo paribbājakārāmo yena sakuludāyī paribbājako tenupasaṅkameyyan”ti. Atha kho bhagavā yena moranivāpo paribbājakārāmo tenupasaṅkami.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. Then it occurred to him, “It’s too early to wander for alms in Rājagaha. Why don’t I visit the wanderer Sakuludāyī at the monastery for the wanderers in the peacocks’ feeding ground?” Then the Buddha went to the monastery for the wanderers.

Tena kho pana samayena sakuludāyī paribbājako mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ nisinno hoti unnādiniyā uccāsaddamahāsaddāya anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentiyā, seyyathidaṁ— rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ mahāmattakathaṁ senākathaṁ bhayakathaṁ yuddhakathaṁ annakathaṁ pānakathaṁ vatthakathaṁ sayanakathaṁ mālākathaṁ gandhakathaṁ ñātikathaṁ yānakathaṁ gāmakathaṁ nigamakathaṁ nagarakathaṁ janapadakathaṁ itthikathaṁ sūrakathaṁ visikhākathaṁ kumbhaṭṭhānakathaṁ pubbapetakathaṁ nānattakathaṁ lokakkhāyikaṁ samuddakkhāyikaṁ itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā. Addasā kho sakuludāyī paribbājako bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna sakaṁ parisaṁ saṇṭhāpesi: “appasaddā bhonto hontu, mā bhonto saddamakattha. Ayaṁ samaṇo gotamo āgacchati; appasaddakāmo kho pana so āyasmā appasaddassa vaṇṇavādī. Appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti. Atha kho te paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

Now at that time, Sakuludāyī was sitting together with a large assembly of wanderers making an uproar, a colossal racket. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; talk at the street market and the place for water pots; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that place. Sakuludāyī saw the Buddha coming off in the distance, and hushed his own assembly, “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. Here comes the ascetic Gotama. The venerable likes quiet and praises quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.” Then those wanderers fell silent.

Atha kho bhagavā yena sakuludāyī paribbājako tenupasaṅkami. Atha kho sakuludāyī paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “etu kho, bhante, bhagavā. Svāgataṁ, bhante, bhagavato. Cirassaṁ kho, bhante, bhagavā imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāya. Nisīdatu, bhante, bhagavā; idamāsanaṁ paññattan”ti. Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Sakuludāyīpi kho paribbājako aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho sakuludāyiṁ paribbājakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “kāya nuttha, udāyi, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā, kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā”ti?

Then the Buddha approached Sakuludāyī, who said to him, “Let the Blessed One come, sir! Welcome to the Blessed One, sir! It’s been a long time since you took the opportunity to come here. Please, sir, sit down, this seat is ready.” The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out, while Sakuludāyī took a low seat and sat to one side. The Buddha said to him, “Udāyī, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”

“Tiṭṭhatesā, bhante, kathā yāya mayaṁ etarahi kathāya sannisinnā. Nesā, bhante, kathā bhagavato dullabhā bhavissati pacchāpi savanāya. Yadāhaṁ, bhante, imaṁ parisaṁ anupasaṅkanto homi athāyaṁ parisā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentī nisinnā hoti; yadā ca kho ahaṁ, bhante, imaṁ parisaṁ upasaṅkanto homi athāyaṁ parisā mamaññeva mukhaṁ ullokentī nisinnā hoti: ‘yaṁ no samaṇo udāyī dhammaṁ bhāsissati taṁ sossāmā’ti; yadā pana, bhante, bhagavā imaṁ parisaṁ upasaṅkanto hoti athāhañceva ayañca parisā bhagavato mukhaṁ ullokentā nisinnā homa: ‘yaṁ no bhagavā dhammaṁ bhāsissati taṁ sossāmā’”ti.

“Sir, leave aside what we were sitting talking about just now. It won’t be hard for you to hear about that later. When I don’t come to the assembly, they sit and engage in all kinds of low talk. But when I have come to the assembly, they sit gazing up at my face alone, thinking, ‘Whatever the ascetic Udāyī teaches, we shall listen to it.’ But when the Buddha has come to the assembly, both myself and the assembly sit gazing up at your face, thinking, ‘Whatever the Buddha teaches, we shall listen to it.’”

“Tenahudāyi, taṁyevettha paṭibhātu yathā maṁ paṭibhāseyyā”ti. “Purimāni, bhante, divasāni purimatarāni sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānamāno ‘carato ca me tiṭṭhato ca suttassa ca jāgarassa ca satataṁ samitaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paccupaṭṭhitan’ti. So mayā pubbantaṁ ārabbha pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno aññenaññaṁ paṭicari, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmesi, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātvākāsi. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva ārabbha sati udapādi: ‘aho nūna bhagavā, aho nūna sugato. Yo imesaṁ dhammānaṁ sukusalo’”ti. “Ko pana so, udāyi, sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānamāno ‘carato ca me tiṭṭhato ca suttassa ca jāgarassa ca satataṁ samitaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paccupaṭṭhitan’ti, yo tayā pubbantaṁ ārabbha pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno aññenaññaṁ paṭicari, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmesi kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātvākāsī”ti? “Nigaṇṭho, bhante, nāṭaputto”ti.

“Well then, Udāyī, suggest something for me to talk about.” “Sir, a few days ago someone was claiming to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception, thus: ‘Knowledge and vision are constantly and continually present to me, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking.’ When I asked them a question about the first beginning, they dodged the issue, distracted the discussion with irrelevant points, and displayed annoyance, hate, and bitterness. That reminded me of the Buddha: ‘Surely it must be the Blessed One, the Holy One who is so skilled in such matters.’” “But Udāyī, who was it that made such a claim and behaved in such a way?” “It was the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan, sir.”

“Yo kho, udāyi, anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussareyya, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussareyya, so vā maṁ pubbantaṁ ārabbha pañhaṁ puccheyya, taṁ vāhaṁ pubbantaṁ ārabbha pañhaṁ puccheyyaṁ; so vā me pubbantaṁ ārabbha pañhassa veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyya, tassa vāhaṁ pubbantaṁ ārabbha pañhassa veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyyaṁ. Yo kho, udāyi, dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passeyya cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajāneyya, so vā maṁ aparantaṁ ārabbha pañhaṁ puccheyya, taṁ vāhaṁ aparantaṁ ārabbha pañhaṁ puccheyyaṁ; so vā me aparantaṁ ārabbha pañhassa veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyya, tassa vāhaṁ aparantaṁ ārabbha pañhassa veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyyaṁ. Api ca, udāyi, tiṭṭhatu pubbanto, tiṭṭhatu aparanto. Dhammaṁ te desessāmi— imasmiṁ sati idaṁ hoti, imassuppādā idaṁ uppajjati; imasmiṁ asati idaṁ na hoti, imassa nirodhā idaṁ nirujjhatī”ti.

“Udāyī, someone who can recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details, might ask me a question about the first beginning, or I might ask them a question about the first beginning. And they might satisfy me with their answer, or I might satisfy them with my answer. Someone who, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, understands how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds might ask me a question about the final end, or I might ask them a question about the final end. And they might satisfy me with their answer, or I might satisfy them with my answer. Nevertheless, Udāyī, leave aside the first beginning and the final end. I shall teach you the Dhamma: ‘When this exists, this comes to be; due to the arising of this, this arises. When this doesn’t exist, that is not; due to the cessation of this, that ceases.’”

“Ahañhi, bhante, yāvatakampi me iminā attabhāvena paccanubhūtaṁ tampi nappahomi sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anussarituṁ, kuto panāhaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarissāmi, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarissāmi, seyyathāpi bhagavā? Ahañhi, bhante, etarahi paṁsupisācakampi na passāmi, kuto panāhaṁ dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passissāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānissāmi, seyyathāpi bhagavā? Yaṁ pana maṁ, bhante, bhagavā evamāha: ‘api ca, udāyi, tiṭṭhatu pubbanto, tiṭṭhatu aparanto; dhammaṁ te desessāmi— imasmiṁ sati idaṁ hoti, imassuppādā idaṁ uppajjati; imasmiṁ asati idaṁ na hoti, imassa nirodhā idaṁ nirujjhatī’ti tañca pana me bhiyyoso mattāya na pakkhāyati. Appeva nāmāhaṁ, bhante, sake ācariyake bhagavato cittaṁ ārādheyyaṁ pañhassa veyyākaraṇenā”ti.

“Well sir, I can’t even recall with features and details what I’ve undergone in this incarnation. How should I possibly recollect my many kinds of past lives with features and details, like the Buddha? For I can’t even see a mud-goblin right now. How should I possibly, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, see sentient beings passing away and being reborn, like the Buddha? But then the Buddha told me, ‘Nevertheless, Udāyī, leave aside the first beginning and the final end. I shall teach you the Dhamma: “When this exists, this comes to be; due to the arising of this, this arises. When this doesn’t exist, this doesn’t come to be; due to the cessation of this, this ceases.”’ But that is even more unclear to me. Perhaps I might satisfy the Buddha by answering a question about my own denomination.”

“Kinti pana te, udāyi, sake ācariyake hotī”ti? “Amhākaṁ, bhante, sake ācariyake evaṁ hoti: ‘ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo, ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo’”ti. “Yaṁ pana te etaṁ, udāyi, sake ācariyake evaṁ hoti: ‘ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo, ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo’ti, katamo so paramo vaṇṇo”ti? “Yasmā, bhante, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo”ti. “Katamo pana so paramo vaṇṇo yasmā vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthī”ti? “Yasmā, bhante, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo”ti.

“But Udāyī, what is your own denomination?” “Sir, it’s this: ‘This is the ultimate splendor, this is the ultimate splendor.’” “But what is that ultimate splendor?” “Sir, the ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.” “But what is that ultimate splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer?” “Sir, the ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.”

“Dīghāpi kho te esā, udāyi, phareyya: ‘yasmā, bhante, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo’ti vadesi, tañca vaṇṇaṁ na paññapesi. Seyyathāpi, udāyi, puriso evaṁ vadeyya: ‘ahaṁ yā imasmiṁ janapade janapadakalyāṇī taṁ icchāmi, taṁ kāmemī’ti. Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ—khattiyī vā brāhmaṇī vā vessī vā suddī vā’ti? Iti puṭṭho ‘no’ti vadeyya. Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ—evaṁnāmā evaṅgottāti vāti …pe… dīghā vā rassā vā majjhimā vā kāḷī vā sāmā vā maṅguracchavī vāti … amukasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā nagare vā’ti? Iti puṭṭho ‘no’ti vadeyya. Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ na jānāsi na passasi, taṁ tvaṁ icchasi kāmesī’ti? Iti puṭṭho ‘āmā’ti vadeyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi— nanu evaṁ sante, tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti? “Addhā kho, bhante, evaṁ sante tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti. “Evameva kho tvaṁ, udāyi, ‘yasmā, bhante, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo’ti vadesi, tañca vaṇṇaṁ na paññapesī”ti.

“Udāyī, you could draw this out for a long time. You say, ‘The ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.’ But you don’t describe that splendor. Suppose a man was to say, ‘Whoever the finest lady in the land is, it is her that I want, her I desire!’ They’d say to him, ‘My man, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know whether she’s an aristocrat, a brahmin, a peasant, or a menial?’ Asked this, he’d say, ‘No.’ They’d say to him, ‘My friend, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know her name or clan? Whether she’s tall or short or medium? Whether her skin is black, brown, or dingy? Whether she comes from such-and-such village, town, or city?’ Asked this, he’d say, ‘No.’ They’d say to him, ‘My man, do you desire someone who you’ve never even known or seen?’ Asked this, he’d say, ‘Yes.’ What do you think, Udāyī? This being so, doesn’t that man’s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?” “Clearly that’s the case, sir.” “In the same way, you say, ‘The ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.’ But you don’t describe that splendor.”

“Seyyathāpi, bhante, maṇi veḷuriyo subho jātimā aṭṭhaṁso suparikammakato paṇḍukambale nikkhitto bhāsate ca tapate ca virocati ca, evaṁ vaṇṇo attā hoti arogo paraṁ maraṇā”ti.

“Worthy sir, suppose there was a beryl gem that was naturally lustrous, eight-faceted, well-worked. When placed on a cream rug it would shine and glow and dazzle. Such is the splendor of the self that is free of disease after death.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yo vā maṇi veḷuriyo subho jātimā aṭṭhaṁso suparikammakato paṇḍukambale nikkhitto bhāsate ca tapate ca virocati ca, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya kimi khajjopanako—imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, rattandhakāratimisāya kimi khajjopanako—ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.

“What do you think, Udāyī? Which of these two has a finer splendor: such a beryl gem, or a firefly in the dark of night?” “A firefly in the dark of night, sir.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya kimi khajjopanako, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya telappadīpo—imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, rattandhakāratimisāya telappadīpo—ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.

“What do you think, Udāyī? Which of these two has a finer splendor: a firefly in the dark of night, or an oil lamp in the dark of night?” “An oil lamp in the dark of night, sir.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya telappadīpo, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya mahāaggikkhandho—imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, rattandhakāratimisāya mahāaggikkhandho—ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.

“What do you think, Udāyī? Which of these two has a finer splendor: an oil lamp in the dark of night, or a great mass of fire in the dark of night?” “A great mass of fire in the dark of night, sir.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya mahāaggikkhandho, yā vā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ viddhe vigatavalāhake deve osadhitārakā—imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ viddhe vigatavalāhake deve osadhitārakā—ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.

“What do you think, Udāyī? Which of these two has a finer splendor: a great mass of fire in the dark of night, or the morning star in the clear and cloudless heavens at the crack of dawn?” “The morning star in the clear and cloudless heavens at the crack of dawn, sir.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yā vā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ viddhe vigatavalāhake deve osadhitārakā, yo vā tadahuposathe pannarase viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido aḍḍharattasamayaṁ cando—imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, tadahuposathe pannarase viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido aḍḍharattasamayaṁ cando—ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.

“What do you think, Udāyī? Which of these two has a finer splendor: the morning star in the clear and cloudless heavens at the crack of dawn, or the full moon at midnight in the clear and cloudless heavens on the fifteenth day sabbath?” “The full moon at midnight in the clear and cloudless heavens on the fifteenth day sabbath, sir.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yo vā tadahuposathe pannarase viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido aḍḍharattasamayaṁ cando, yo vā vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido majjhanhikasamayaṁ sūriyo—imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido majjhanhikasamayaṁ sūriyo—ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.

“What do you think, Udāyī? Which of these two has a finer splendor: the full moon at midnight in the clear and cloudless heavens on the fifteenth day sabbath, or the sun at midday in the clear and cloudless heavens in the last month of the rainy season, in autumn?” “The sun at midday in the clear and cloudless heavens in the last month of the rainy season, in autumn, sir.”

“Ato kho te, udāyi, bahū hi bahutarā devā ye imesaṁ candimasūriyānaṁ ābhā nānubhonti, tyāhaṁ pajānāmi. Atha ca panāhaṁ na vadāmi: ‘yasmā vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthī’ti. Atha ca pana tvaṁ, udāyi, ‘yvāyaṁ vaṇṇo kiminā khajjopanakena nihīnataro ca patikiṭṭhataro ca so paramo vaṇṇo’ti vadesi, tañca vaṇṇaṁ na paññapesī”ti.

“Beyond this, Udāyī, I know very many gods on whom the luminosity of the sun and moon makes no impression. Nevertheless, I do not say: ‘The splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.’ But of the splendor inferior to a firefly you say, ‘This is the ultimate splendor.’ And you don’t describe that splendor.”

“Acchidaṁ bhagavā kathaṁ, acchidaṁ sugato kathan”ti. “Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, udāyi, evaṁ vadesi: ‘acchidaṁ bhagavā kathaṁ, acchidaṁ sugato kathan’”ti? “Amhākaṁ, bhante, sake ācariyake evaṁ hoti: ‘ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo, ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo’ti. Te mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā sake ācariyake samanuyuñjīyamānā samanuggāhīyamānā samanubhāsīyamānā rittā tucchā aparaddhā”ti.

“The Blessed One has cut short the discussion! The Holy One has cut short the discussion!” “But Udāyī, why do you say this?” “Sir, it says this in our own denomination: ‘This is the ultimate splendor, this is the ultimate splendor.’ But when pursued, pressed, and grilled on our own denomination, we turned out to be vacuous, hollow, and mistaken.”

“Kiṁ panudāyi, atthi ekantasukho loko, atthi ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti? “Amhākaṁ, bhante, sake ācariyake evaṁ hoti: ‘atthi ekantasukho loko, atthi ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā’”ti.

“But Udāyī, is there a world of absolute happiness? And is there a grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness?” “Sir, it says this in our own denomination: ‘There is a world of absolute happiness. And there is a grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness.’”

“Katamā pana sā, udāyi, ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti? “Idha, bhante, ekacco pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, aññataraṁ vā pana tapoguṇaṁ samādāya vattati. Ayaṁ kho sā, bhante, ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti.

“Well, what is that grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness?” “Sir, it’s when someone gives up killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying. And they proceed having undertaken some kind of mortification. This is the grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yasmiṁ samaye pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, ekantasukhī vā tasmiṁ samaye attā hoti sukhadukkhī vā”ti? “Sukhadukkhī, bhante”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yasmiṁ samaye adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, ekantasukhī vā tasmiṁ samaye attā hoti sukhadukkhī vā”ti? “Sukhadukkhī, bhante”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yasmiṁ samaye kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, ekantasukhī vā tasmiṁ samaye attā hoti sukhadukkhī vā”ti? “Sukhadukkhī, bhante”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yasmiṁ samaye musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, ekantasukhī vā tasmiṁ samaye attā hoti sukhadukkhī vā”ti? “Sukhadukkhī, bhante”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, yasmiṁ samaye aññataraṁ tapoguṇaṁ samādāya vattati, ekantasukhī vā tasmiṁ samaye attā hoti sukhadukkhī vā”ti? “Sukhadukkhī, bhante”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, udāyi, api nu kho vokiṇṇasukhadukkhaṁ paṭipadaṁ āgamma ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyā hotī”ti?

“What do you think, Udāyī? On an occasion when someone refrains from killing living creatures, is their self absolutely happy at that time, or does it have both pleasure and pain?” “It has both pleasure and pain.” “What do you think, Udāyī? On an occasion when someone refrains from stealing … sexual misconduct … lying, is their self absolutely happy at that time, or does it have both pleasure and pain?” “It has both pleasure and pain.” “What do you think, Udāyī? On an occasion when someone proceeds having undertaken some kind of mortification, is their self absolutely happy at that time, or does it have both pleasure and pain?” “It has both pleasure and pain.” “What do you think, Udāyī? Is an absolutely happy world realized by relying on a practice of mixed pleasure and pain?”

“Acchidaṁ bhagavā kathaṁ, acchidaṁ sugato kathan”ti. “Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, udāyi, vadesi: ‘acchidaṁ bhagavā kathaṁ, acchidaṁ sugato kathan’”ti? “Amhākaṁ, bhante, sake ācariyake evaṁ hoti: ‘atthi ekantasukho loko, atthi ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā’ti. Te mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā sake ācariyake samanuyuñjiyamānā samanuggāhiyamānā samanubhāsiyamānā rittā tucchā aparaddhā”ti. “Kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi ekantasukho loko, atthi ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti?

“The Blessed One has cut short the discussion! The Holy One has cut short the discussion!” “But Udāyī, why do you say this?” “Sir, it says this in our own denomination: ‘There is a world of absolute happiness. And there is a grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness.’ But when pursued, pressed, and grilled on our own denomination, we turned out to be vacuous, hollow, and mistaken. But sir, is there a world of absolute happiness? And is there a grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness?”

“Atthi kho, udāyi, ekantasukho loko, atthi ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti. “Katamā pana sā, bhante, ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti?

“There is a world of absolute happiness, Udāyī. And there is a grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness.” “Well sir, what is that grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness?”

“Idhudāyi, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati— ayaṁ kho sā, udāyi, ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti. “Na kho sā, bhante, ākāravatī paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāya, sacchikato hissa, bhante, ettāvatā ekantasukho loko hotī”ti. “Na khvāssa, udāyi, ettāvatā ekantasukho loko sacchikato hoti; ākāravatī tveva sā paṭipadā ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti.

“It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption. With the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption. This is the grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness.” “Sir, that’s not the grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness. At that point an absolutely happy world has already been realized.” “No, Udāyī, at that point an absolutely happy world has not been realized. This is the grounded practice for realizing a world of absolute happiness.”

Evaṁ vutte, sakuludāyissa paribbājakassa parisā unnādinī uccāsaddamahāsaddā ahosi: “ettha mayaṁ anassāma sācariyakā, ettha mayaṁ anassāma sācariyakā. Na mayaṁ ito bhiyyo uttaritaraṁ pajānāmā”ti. Atha kho sakuludāyī paribbājako te paribbājake appasadde katvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, Sakuludāyī’s assembly made an uproar, a colossal racket, “In that case, we are lost, together with our denomination! We are lost, together with our denomination! We know nothing higher than this!” Then Sakuludāyī, having quieted those wanderers, said to the Buddha,

“kittāvatā panāssa, bhante, ekantasukho loko sacchikato hotī”ti? “Idhudāyi, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ … upasampajja viharati. Yā tā devatā ekantasukhaṁ lokaṁ upapannā tāhi devatāhi saddhiṁ santiṭṭhati sallapati sākacchaṁ samāpajjati. Ettāvatā khvāssa, udāyi, ekantasukho loko sacchikato hotī”ti.

“Well sir, at what point is an absolutely happy world realized?” “It’s when, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption. There are deities who have been reborn in a absolutely happy world. That mendicant associates with them, converses, and engages in discussion. It’s at this point that a absolutely happy world has been realized.”

“Etassa nūna, bhante, ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ carantī”ti? “Na kho, udāyi, ekantasukhassa lokassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti. Atthi kho, udāyi, aññeva dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca, yesaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ carantī”ti. “Katame pana te, bhante, dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca yesaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ carantī”ti?

“Surely the mendicants must lead the spiritual life under the Buddha for the sake of realizing this absolutely happy world?” “No, Udāyī, the mendicants don’t lead the spiritual life under me for the sake of realizing this absolutely happy world. There are other things that are finer, for the sake of which the mendicants lead the spiritual life under me.” “But what are those finer things?”

“Idhudāyi, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā …pe…

“It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, 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. …

so ime pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, udāyi, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.

They give up these five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. Then, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, they enter and remain in the first absorption. This is one of the finer things for the sake of which the mendicants lead the spiritual life under me.

Puna caparaṁ, udāyi, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā … dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ … tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ … catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, udāyi, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.

Furthermore, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. This too is one of the finer things.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmeti. So anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. Ayampi kho, udāyi, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.

When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward recollection of past lives. They recollect 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 recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details. This too is one of the finer things.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṁ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmeti. So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti. Ayampi kho, udāyi, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.

When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings. 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. This too is one of the finer things.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṁ khayañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmeti. So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti … ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ime āsavā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ āsavasamudayo’ti … ‘ayaṁ āsavanirodho’ti … ‘ayaṁ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements. They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. They truly understand: ‘These are defilements’ … ‘This is the origin of defilements’ … ‘This is the cessation of defilements’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements’.

Tassa evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti. ‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti. Ayampi kho, udāyi, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti. Ime kho, udāyi, dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca yesaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ carantī”ti.

Knowing and seeing like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed. They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’ This too is one of the finer things. These are the finer things for the sake of which the mendicants lead the spiritual life under me.”

Evaṁ vutte, sakuludāyī paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante. Seyyathāpi, bhante, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhagavatā anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Labheyyāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, labheyyaṁ upasampadan”ti.

When he had spoken, Sakuludāyī said to the Buddha, “Excellent, sir! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, the Buddha has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. Sir, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence?”

Evaṁ vutte, sakuludāyissa paribbājakassa parisā sakuludāyiṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavocuṁ: “mā bhavaṁ, udāyi, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ cari; mā bhavaṁ, udāyi, ācariyo hutvā antevāsīvāsaṁ vasi. Seyyathāpi nāma udakamaṇiko hutvā udañcaniko assa, evaṁ sampadamidaṁ bhoto udāyissa bhavissati. Mā bhavaṁ, udāyi, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ cari; mā bhavaṁ, udāyi, ācariyo hutvā antevāsīvāsaṁ vasī”ti. Iti hidaṁ sakuludāyissa paribbājakassa parisā sakuludāyiṁ paribbājakaṁ antarāyamakāsi bhagavati brahmacariyeti.

When he said this, Sakuludāyī’s assembly said to him, “Worthy Udāyī, don’t lead the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama. You have been a tutor; don’t live as a pupil. You’ll end up like a water jar that turns into a water ladle. Worthy Udāyī, don’t lead the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama. You have been a tutor; don’t live as a pupil.” And that’s how the wanderer Sakuludāyī’s own assembly prevented him from leading the spiritual life under the Buddha.