SN 16.5

Jiṇṇasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ … rājagahe veḷuvane. Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “jiṇṇosi dāni tvaṁ, kassapa, garukāni ca te imāni sāṇāni paṁsukūlāni nibbasanāni. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, kassapa, gahapatāni ceva cīvarāni dhārehi, nimantanāni ca bhuñjāhi, mama ca santike viharāhī”ti.

Old Age

So I have heard. Near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove. Then Venerable Mahākassapa went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “You’re old now, Kassapa. Those worn-out hempen rag robes must be a burden for you. So Kassapa, you should wear clothes given by householders, accept invitations for the meal, and stay in my presence.”

“Ahaṁ kho, bhante, dīgharattaṁ āraññiko ceva āraññikattassa ca vaṇṇavādī, piṇḍapātiko ceva piṇḍapātikattassa ca vaṇṇavādī, paṁsukūliko ceva paṁsukūlikattassa ca vaṇṇavādī, tecīvariko ceva tecīvarikattassa ca vaṇṇavādī, appiccho ceva appicchatāya ca vaṇṇavādī, santuṭṭho ceva santuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, pavivitto ceva pavivekassa ca vaṇṇavādī, asaṁsaṭṭho ceva asaṁsaggassa ca vaṇṇavādī, āraddhavīriyo ceva vīriyārambhassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

“For a long time, sir, I’ve lived in the wilderness, eaten only almsfood, worn rag robes, and owned just three robes; and I’ve praised these things. I’ve been one of few wishes, content, secluded, aloof, and energetic; and I’ve praised these things.”

“Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, kassapa, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno dīgharattaṁ āraññiko ceva āraññikattassa ca vaṇṇavādī, piṇḍapātiko ceva …pe… paṁsukūliko ceva … tecīvariko ceva … appiccho ceva … santuṭṭho ceva … pavivitto ceva … asaṁsaṭṭho ceva … āraddhavīriyo ceva vīriyārambhassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

“But seeing what benefit, Kassapa, have you long practiced these things?”

“Dve khvāhaṁ, bhante, atthavase sampassamāno dīgharattaṁ āraññiko ceva āraññikattassa ca vaṇṇavādī, piṇḍapātiko ceva …pe… paṁsukūliko ceva … tecīvariko ceva … appiccho ceva … santuṭṭho ceva … pavivitto ceva … asaṁsaṭṭho ceva … āraddhavīriyo ceva vīriyārambhassa ca vaṇṇavādī.

“Sir, seeing two benefits I have long practiced these things.

Attano ca diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāraṁ sampassamāno, pacchimañca janataṁ anukampamāno: ‘appeva nāma pacchimā janatā diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjeyyuṁ. Ye kira te ahesuṁ buddhānubuddhasāvakā te dīgharattaṁ āraññikā ceva ahesuṁ āraññikattassa ca vaṇṇavādino …pe… piṇḍapātikā ceva ahesuṁ …pe… paṁsukūlikā ceva ahesuṁ … tecīvarikā ceva ahesuṁ … appicchā ceva ahesuṁ … santuṭṭhā ceva ahesuṁ … pavivittā ceva ahesuṁ … asaṁsaṭṭhā ceva ahesuṁ … āraddhavīriyā ceva ahesuṁ vīriyārambhassa ca vaṇṇavādino’ti. Te tathattāya paṭipajjissanti, tesaṁ taṁ bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

I see happiness for myself in this life. And I have sympathy for future generations, thinking: ‘Hopefully those who come after might follow my example.’ For they may think: ‘It seems that the disciples awakened after the Buddha for a long time lived in the wilderness, ate only almsfood, wore rag robes, and owned just three robes; and they praised these things. They were of few wishes, content, secluded, aloof, and energetic; and they praised these things.’ They’ll practice accordingly, which will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.

Ime khvāhaṁ, bhante, dve atthavase sampassamāno dīgharattaṁ āraññiko ceva āraññikattassa ca vaṇṇavādī, piṇḍapātiko ceva …pe… paṁsukūliko ceva … tecīvariko ceva … appiccho ceva … santuṭṭho ceva … pavivitto ceva … asaṁsaṭṭho ceva … āraddhavīriyo ceva vīriyārambhassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

Seeing these two benefits I have long practiced these things.”

“Sādhu sādhu, kassapa. Bahujanahitāya kira tvaṁ, kassapa, paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, kassapa, sāṇāni ceva paṁsukūlāni dhārehi nibbasanāni, piṇḍāya ca carāhi, araññe ca viharāhī”ti.

“Good, good, Kassapa! You’re acting for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. So Kassapa, wear worn-out hempen rag robes, walk for alms, and stay in the wilderness.”