{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an10.94/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an10.94","id":"suttacentral_an10.94","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an10.94/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near Camp\u0101 on the banks of the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond. Then the householder Vajjiyam\u0101hita left S\u0101vatth\u012b in the middle of the day to see the Buddha. Then it occurred to him, \u201cIt\u2019s the wrong time to see the Buddha, as he\u2019s in retreat. And it\u2019s the wrong time to see the esteemed mendicants, as they\u2019re in retreat. Why don\u2019t I visit the monastery for the wanderers of other religions?\u201d Then he went to the monastery for the wanderers of other religions. Now at that time, the wanderers of other religions had come together, making an uproar, a colossal racket as they sat and talked about all kinds of low topics. They saw Vajjiyam\u0101hita coming off in the distance, and stopped each other, saying, \u201cBe quiet, good fellows, don\u2019t make a sound. The householder Vajjiyam\u0101hita, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, is coming into our monastery. He is included among the white-clothed lay disciples of the ascetic Gotama, who is residing near Camp\u0101. Such venerables like the quiet, are educated to be quiet, and praise the quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he\u2019ll see fit to approach.\u201d Then those wanderers of other religions fell silent. Then Vajjiyam\u0101hita went up to them, and exchanged greetings with the wanderers there. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The wanderers said to him: \u201cIs it really true, householder? Does the ascetic Gotama criticize all forms of mortification? Does he categorically condemn and denounce those fervent mortifiers who live rough?\u201d \u201cNo, sirs, the Buddha does not criticize all forms of mortification. Nor does he categorically condemn and denounce those fervent mortifiers who live rough. The Buddha criticizes where it is due, and praises where it is due. In doing so he is one who speaks after analyzing the question, and is not one-sided on this point.\u201d When he said this, one of the wanderers said to him, \u201cHold on, householder! That ascetic Gotama who you praise is an exterminator who refrains from making statements.\u201d \u201cOn this point, also, I reasonably respond to the venerables. The Buddha has stated \u2018This is skillful\u2019 and \u2018This is unskillful\u2019. So when it comes to what is skillful and unskillful the Buddha makes a statement. He is not an exterminator who refrains from making statements.\u201d When this was said, those wanderers sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say. Seeing this, Vajjiyam\u0101hita rose from his seat. He went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all they had discussed. \u201cGood, good, householder! That\u2019s how you should legitimately and completely refute those futile men from time to time. Householder, I don\u2019t say that all mortifications should be undergone. But I don\u2019t say that no mortifications should be undergone. I don\u2019t say that all observances should be undertaken. But I don\u2019t say that no observances should be undertaken. I don\u2019t say that all efforts should be tried. But I don\u2019t say that no efforts should be tried. I don\u2019t say that everything should be given up. But I don\u2019t say that nothing should be given up. I don\u2019t say that you should be liberated with all kinds of freedom. But I don\u2019t say that you should not be liberated with any kind of freedom. When undergoing certain mortifications, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn\u2019t undergo those mortifications. When undergoing certain mortifications, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should undergo those mortifications. When undertaking certain observances, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn\u2019t undertake those observances. When undertaking certain observances, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should undertake those observances. When trying certain efforts, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn\u2019t try those efforts. When trying certain efforts, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should try those efforts. When giving up certain things, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn\u2019t give up those things. When giving up certain things, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should give up those things. When being liberated with certain kinds of freedom, unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline. I say that you shouldn\u2019t be liberated with those kinds of freedom. When being liberated with certain kinds of freedom, unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow. I say that you should be liberated with those kinds of freedom.\u201d After Vajjiyam\u0101hita had been educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired with a Dhamma talk by the Buddha, he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. Then, not long after Vajjiyam\u0101hita had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: \u201cMendicants, even a mendicant who for a long time has had little dust in their eye in this teaching and training would legitimately and completely refute those wanderers of other religions just as the householder Vajjiyam\u0101hita did.\u201d","title":"With Vajjiyam\u0101hita","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":855}