Ud 5.6

Soṇasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahākaccāno avantīsu viharati kuraraghare pavatte pabbate. Tena kho pana samayena soṇo upāsako kuṭikaṇṇo āyasmato mahākaccānassa upaṭṭhāko hoti.

With Soṇa

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time Venerable Mahākaccāna was staying in the land of the Avantis near Kuraraghara on Steep Mountain. And the layman Soṇa of the Sharp Ears was Mahākaccāna’s attendant.

Atha kho soṇassa upāsakassa kuṭikaṇṇassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “yathā yathā kho ayyo mahākaccāno dhammaṁ deseti nayidaṁ sukaraṁ agāraṁ ajjhāvasatā ekantaparipuṇṇaṁ ekantaparisuddhaṁ saṅkhalikhitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajeyyan”ti.

Then as Soṇa was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “As I understand Master Mahākaccāna’s teachings, it’s not easy for someone living at home to lead the spiritual life utterly full and pure, like a polished shell. Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from lay life to homelessness?”

Atha kho soṇo upāsako kuṭikaṇṇo yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho soṇo upāsako kuṭikaṇṇo āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca:

Then Soṇa went up to Mahākaccāna, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what he was thinking. Then he said,

“Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘yathā yathā kho ayyo mahākaccāno dhammaṁ deseti nayidaṁ sukaraṁ agāraṁ ajjhāvasatā ekantaparipuṇṇaṁ ekantaparisuddhaṁ saṅkhalikhitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajeyyan’ti. Pabbājetu maṁ, bhante, ayyo mahākaccāno”ti.

“May Master Mahākaccāna please give me the going forth!”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā mahākaccāno soṇaṁ upāsakaṁ kuṭikaṇṇaṁ etadavoca: “dukkaraṁ kho, soṇa, yāvajīvaṁ ekabhattaṁ ekaseyyaṁ brahmacariyaṁ. Iṅgha tvaṁ, soṇa, tattheva āgārikabhūto samāno buddhānaṁ sāsanaṁ anuyuñja kālayuttaṁ ekabhattaṁ ekaseyyaṁ brahmacariyan”ti. Atha kho soṇassa upāsakassa kuṭikaṇṇassa yo ahosi pabbajjābhisaṅkhāro so paṭipassambhi.

When this was said, Mahākaccāna said to him, “It’s hard to lead the spiritual life as long as you live, eating in one part of the day and sleeping alone. Come now, Soṇa, while remaining a layperson just as you are, devote yourself to the instructions of the Buddhas, leading the spiritual life at suitable times, eating in one part of the day and sleeping alone.” Then Soṇa’s aspiration to go forth died down.

Dutiyampi kho …pe… dutiyampi kho āyasmā mahākaccāno soṇaṁ upāsakaṁ kuṭikaṇṇaṁ etadavoca: “dukkaraṁ kho, soṇa, yāvajīvaṁ ekabhattaṁ ekaseyyaṁ brahmacariyaṁ. Iṅgha tvaṁ, soṇa, tattheva āgārikabhūto samāno buddhānaṁ sāsanaṁ anuyuñja kālayuttaṁ ekabhattaṁ ekaseyyaṁ brahmacariyan”ti. Dutiyampi kho soṇassa upāsakassa kuṭikaṇṇassa yo ahosi pabbajjābhisaṅkhāro so paṭipassambhi.

For a second time, while in private retreat the thought came to Soṇa that he should go forth, but the outcome was the same.

Tatiyampi kho soṇassa upāsakassa kuṭikaṇṇassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “yathā yathā kho ayyo mahākaccāno dhammaṁ deseti nayidaṁ sukaraṁ agāraṁ ajjhāvasatā ekantaparipuṇṇaṁ ekantaparisuddhaṁ saṅkhalikhitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajeyyan”ti. Tatiyampi kho soṇo upāsako kuṭikaṇṇo yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho soṇo upāsako kuṭikaṇṇo āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca:

For a third time, as Soṇa was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “As I understand Master Mahākaccāna’s teachings, it’s not easy for someone living at home to lead the spiritual life utterly full and pure, like a polished shell. Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from lay life to homelessness?” For a third time, Soṇa went up to Mahākaccāna, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what he was thinking. Then he said,

“Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘yathā yathā kho ayyo mahākaccāno dhammaṁ deseti nayidaṁ sukaraṁ agāraṁ ajjhāvasatā ekantaparipuṇṇaṁ ekantaparisuddhaṁ saṅkhalikhitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajeyyan’ti. Pabbājetu maṁ, bhante, ayyo mahākaccāno”ti.

“May Master Mahākaccāna please give me the going forth!”

Atha kho āyasmā mahākaccāno soṇaṁ upāsakaṁ kuṭikaṇṇaṁ pabbājesi. Tena kho pana samayena avantidakkhiṇāpatho appabhikkhuko hoti. Atha kho āyasmā mahākaccāno tiṇṇaṁ vassānaṁ accayena kicchena kasirena tato tato dasavaggaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātetvā āyasmantaṁ soṇaṁ upasampādesi.

Then Mahākaccāna gave Soṇa the going forth. Now at that time the southern region, including Avanti, was short of monks. It took three years and much struggle and difficulty before Venerable Mahākaccāna was able to assemble from here and there a Saṅgha consisting of ten monks and give Venerable Soṇa the full ordination.

Atha kho āyasmato soṇassa vassaṁvuṭṭhassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “na kho me so bhagavā sammukhā diṭṭho, api ca sutoyeva me: ‘so bhagavā īdiso ca īdiso cā’ti. Sace maṁ upajjhāyo anujāneyya, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.

Then as Venerable Soṇa was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I have not personally seen the Buddha. I have only heard reports that that Blessed One is like this or like that. If my mentor allows, I should go to see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.”

Atha kho āyasmā soṇo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā soṇo āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca: “Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘na kho me so bhagavā sammukhā diṭṭho, api ca sutoyeva me— so bhagavā īdiso ca īdiso cā’ti. Sace maṁ upajjhāyo anujāneyya, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.

Then in the late afternoon, Soṇa came out of retreat, went up to Mahākaccāna, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what he was thinking. Then Mahākaccāna said,

“Sādhu sādhu, soṇa; gaccha tvaṁ, soṇa, taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ. Dakkhissasi tvaṁ, soṇa, taṁ bhagavantaṁ pāsādikaṁ pasādanīyaṁ santindriyaṁ santamānasaṁ uttamadamathasamathamanuppattaṁ dantaṁ guttaṁ yatindriyaṁ nāgaṁ. Disvāna mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘upajjhāyo me, bhante, āyasmā mahākaccāno bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’”ti.

“Good, good, Soṇa! Go to see the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. You will see that Blessed One who is impressive and inspiring, with peaceful faculties and heart, attained to the highest self-control and serenity, like an elephant with tamed, guarded, and controlled faculties. On seeing him, in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably, saying, ‘Sir, my mentor Venerable Mahākaccāna bows with his head to your feet. He asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.’”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā soṇo āyasmato mahākaccānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena sāvatthi tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena sāvatthi jetavanaṁ anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāmo, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami, upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā soṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “upajjhāyo me, bhante, āyasmā mahākaccāno bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī”ti.

Saying, “Yes, sir,” Soṇa welcomed and agreed with Mahākaccāna’s words. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Mahākaccāna, keeping him on his right. Then he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, set out for Sāvatthī. Eventually he came to Sāvatthī and Jeta’s Grove. He went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Soṇa said to the Buddha, “Sir, my mentor Venerable Mahākaccāna bows with his head to your feet. He asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.”

“Kacci, bhikkhu, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ, kaccisi appakilamathena addhānaṁ āgato, na ca piṇḍakena kilantosī”ti? “Khamanīyaṁ, bhagavā, yāpanīyaṁ, bhagavā, appakilamathena cāhaṁ, bhante, addhānaṁ āgato, na ca piṇḍakena kilantomhī”ti.

“I hope you’re keeping well, mendicant, I hope you’re all right. And I hope you have arrived from your journey unwearied, having had no trouble getting almsfood.” “I’m keeping well, Blessed One, I’m all right. And I have arrived from my journey unwearied, having had no trouble getting almsfood.”

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “imassānanda, āgantukassa bhikkhuno senāsanaṁ paññāpehī”ti. Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: “yassa kho maṁ bhagavā āṇāpeti: ‘imassānanda, āgantukassa bhikkhuno senāsanaṁ paññāpehī’ti, icchati bhagavā tena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ ekavihāre vatthuṁ, icchati bhagavā āyasmatā soṇena saddhiṁ ekavihāre vatthun”ti. Yasmiṁ vihāre bhagavā viharati, tasmiṁ vihāre āyasmato soṇassa senāsanaṁ paññāpesi.

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, “Prepare lodgings for this visiting mendicant.” Then Venerable Ānanda thought, “When the Buddha orders me to prepare lodgings for a specific mendicant, he wishes to stay in the same dwelling with that mendicant. The Buddha wishes to stay together with Venerable Soṇa.” He prepared lodgings for Soṇa in the same dwelling where the Buddha was staying.

Atha kho bhagavā bahudeva rattiṁ abbhokāse nisajjāya vītināmetvā pāde pakkhāletvā vihāraṁ pāvisi. Āyasmāpi kho soṇo bahudeva rattiṁ abbhokāse nisajjāya vītināmetvā pāde pakkhāletvā vihāraṁ pāvisi. Atha kho bhagavā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya āyasmantaṁ soṇaṁ ajjhesi: “paṭibhātu taṁ, bhikkhu, dhammo bhāsitun”ti.

The Buddha spent much of the night sitting meditation in the open. Then he got up from his seat, washed his feet, and entered the dwelling. Venerable Soṇa did the same. Then the Buddha rose at the crack of dawn and addressed Soṇa, “Speak some Dhamma, mendicant, as you feel inspired.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā soṇo bhagavato paṭissutvā soḷasa aṭṭhakavaggikāni sabbāneva sarena abhaṇi. Atha kho bhagavā āyasmato soṇassa sarabhaññapariyosāne abbhanumodi: “sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu, suggahitāni te, bhikkhu, soḷasa aṭṭhakavaggikāni sumanasikatāni sūpadhāritāni, kalyāṇiyāsi vācāya samannāgato vissaṭṭhāya anelagaḷāya atthassa viññāpaniyā. Kati vassosi tvaṁ, bhikkhū”ti? “Ekavasso ahaṁ, bhagavā”ti. “Kissa pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, evaṁ ciraṁ akāsī”ti? “Ciraṁ diṭṭho me, bhante, kāmesu ādīnavo; api ca sambādho gharāvāso bahukicco bahukaraṇīyo”ti.

“Yes, sir,” replied Soṇa. He intoned all sixteen discourses in the Chapter of the Eights. When Soṇa finished his intoning, the Buddha applauded, saying, “Good, good, mendicant! You have learned the sixteen discourses of the Chapter of the Eights well, you have applied the mind and remembered it well. You are a good speaker, with a polished, clear, and articulate voice that expresses the meaning. How many rains have you been ordained, mendicant?” “I have one rains, Blessed One.” “But why did it take you so long to make it?” “Sir, I have long seen the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, yet living in a house is cramped, with many duties and much to do.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Disvā ādīnavaṁ loke, ñatvā dhammaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; Ariyo na ramatī pāpe, pāpe na ramatī sucī”ti.

“Seeing the danger of the world, I understood the truth without attachments. The Noble One does not delight in evil, the Pure One does not delight in evil.”