SN 46.6

Kuṇḍaliyasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sākete viharati añjanavane migadāye. Atha kho kuṇḍaliyo paribbājako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho kuṇḍaliyo paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ahamasmi, bho gotama, ārāmanissayī parisāvacaro. Tassa mayhaṁ, bho gotama, pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāsassa ayamācāro hoti— ārāmena ārāmaṁ uyyānena uyyānaṁ anucaṅkamāmi anuvicarāmi. So tattha passāmi eke samaṇabrāhmaṇe itivādappamokkhānisaṁsañceva kathaṁ kathente upārambhānisaṁsañca: ‘bhavaṁ pana gotamo kimānisaṁso viharatī’”ti? “Vijjāvimuttiphalānisaṁso kho, kuṇḍaliya, tathāgato viharatī”ti.

Kuṇḍaliya

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāketa in the deer park at the Añjana Wood. Then the wanderer Kuṇḍaliya went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: “Worthy Gotama, I like to hang around the monasteries and visit the assemblies. When I’ve finished breakfast, it’s my habit to wander from monastery to monastery, from park to park. There I see some ascetics and brahmins speaking for the sake of winning debates and finding fault. But what benefit does the worthy Gotama live for?” “The benefit the Realized One lives for, Kuṇḍaliya, is the fruit of knowledge and freedom.”

“Katame pana, bho gotama, dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrentī”ti? “Satta kho, kuṇḍaliya, bojjhaṅgā bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrentī”ti. “Katame pana, bho gotama, dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrentī”ti? “Cattāro kho, kuṇḍaliya, satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrentī”ti. “Katame pana, bho gotama, dhammā bhāvitā, bahulīkatā cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrentī”ti? “Tīṇi kho, kuṇḍaliya, sucaritāni bhāvitāni bahulīkatāni cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrentī”ti. “Katame pana, bho gotama, dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā tīṇi sucaritāni paripūrentī”ti? “Indriyasaṁvaro kho, kuṇḍaliya, bhāvito bahulīkato tīṇi sucaritāni paripūretīti.

“But what things must be developed and cultivated in order to fulfill knowledge and freedom?” “The seven awakening factors.” “But what things must be developed and cultivated in order to fulfill the seven awakening factors?” “The four kinds of mindfulness meditation.” “But what things must be developed and cultivated in order to fulfill the four kinds of mindfulness meditation?” “The three kinds of good conduct.” “But what things must be developed and cultivated in order to fulfill the three kinds of good conduct?” “Sense restraint.

Kathaṁ bhāvito ca, kuṇḍaliya, indriyasaṁvaro kathaṁ bahulīkato tīṇi sucaritāni paripūretīti? Idha, kuṇḍaliya, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā manāpaṁ nābhijjhati nābhihaṁsati, na rāgaṁ janeti. Tassa ṭhito ca kāyo hoti, ṭhitaṁ cittaṁ ajjhattaṁ susaṇṭhitaṁ suvimuttaṁ. Cakkhunā kho paneva rūpaṁ disvā amanāpaṁ na maṅku hoti appatiṭṭhitacitto adīnamānaso abyāpannacetaso. Tassa ṭhito ca kāyo hoti ṭhitaṁ cittaṁ ajjhattaṁ susaṇṭhitaṁ suvimuttaṁ.

And Kuṇḍaliya, how is sense restraint developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the three kinds of good conduct? A mendicant sees an agreeable sight with their eyes. They don’t desire it or enjoy it, and they don’t give rise to greed. Their mind and body are steady internally, well settled and well freed. But if they see a disagreeable sight they’re undismayed, with mind unirritated, spirit undaunted, and heart unangered. Their mind and body are steady internally, well settled and well freed.

Puna caparaṁ, kuṇḍaliya, bhikkhu sotena saddaṁ sutvā …pe… ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …pe… jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …pe… kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …pe… manasā dhammaṁ viññāya manāpaṁ nābhijjhati nābhihaṁsati, na rāgaṁ janeti. Tassa ṭhito ca kāyo hoti, ṭhitaṁ cittaṁ ajjhattaṁ susaṇṭhitaṁ suvimuttaṁ. Manasā kho paneva dhammaṁ viññāya amanāpaṁ na maṅku hoti appatiṭṭhitacitto adīnamānaso abyāpannacetaso. Tassa ṭhito ca kāyo hoti, ṭhitaṁ cittaṁ ajjhattaṁ susaṇṭhitaṁ suvimuttaṁ.

Furthermore, a mendicant hears an agreeable sound with their ears … smells an agreeable odor with their nose … tastes an agreeable flavor with their tongue … encounters an agreeable touch with their body … knows an agreeable idea with their mind. They don’t desire it or enjoy it, and they don’t give rise to greed. Their mind and body are steady internally, well settled and well freed. But if they know a disagreeable idea they’re undismayed, with mind unirritated, spirit undaunted, and heart unangered. Their mind and body are steady internally, well settled and well freed.

Yato kho, kuṇḍaliya, bhikkhuno cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā manāpāmanāpesu rūpesu ṭhito ca kāyo hoti, ṭhitaṁ cittaṁ ajjhattaṁ susaṇṭhitaṁ suvimuttaṁ. Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …pe… ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …pe… jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …pe… kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …pe… manasā dhammaṁ viññāya manāpāmanāpesu dhammesu ṭhito ca kāyo hoti, ṭhitaṁ cittaṁ ajjhattaṁ susaṇṭhitaṁ suvimuttaṁ. Evaṁ bhāvito kho, kuṇḍaliya, indriyasaṁvaro evaṁ bahulīkato tīṇi sucaritāni paripūreti.

When a mendicant’s mind and body are steady internally, they’re well settled and well freed when it comes to both agreeable and disagreeable sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. That’s how sense restraint is developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the three kinds of good conduct.

Kathaṁ bhāvitāni ca, kuṇḍaliya, tīṇi sucaritāni kathaṁ bahulīkatāni cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrenti? Idha, kuṇḍaliya, bhikkhu kāyaduccaritaṁ pahāya kāyasucaritaṁ bhāveti, vacīduccaritaṁ pahāya vacīsucaritaṁ bhāveti, manoduccaritaṁ pahāya manosucaritaṁ bhāveti. Evaṁ bhāvitāni kho, kuṇḍaliya, tīṇi sucaritāni evaṁ bahulīkatāni cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrenti.

And how are the three kinds of good conduct developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the four kinds of mindfulness meditation? A mendicant gives up bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and develops good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. That’s how the three kinds of good conduct are developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, kuṇḍaliya, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā kathaṁ bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti? Idha, kuṇḍaliya, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, kuṇḍaliya, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā evaṁ bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti.

And how are the four kinds of mindfulness meditation developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the seven awakening factors? A mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. That’s how the four kinds of mindfulness meditation are developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the seven awakening factors.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, kuṇḍaliya, satta bojjhaṅgā kathaṁ bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti? Idha, kuṇḍaliya, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, kuṇḍaliya, satta bojjhaṅgā evaṁ bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrentī”ti.

And how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to fulfill knowledge and freedom? A mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to fulfill knowledge and freedom.”

Evaṁ vutte, kuṇḍaliyo paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evameva bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

When he said this, the wanderer Kuṇḍaliya said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! 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, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”