{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an4.159/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an4.159","id":"suttacentral_an4.159","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an4.159/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time Venerable \u0100nanda was staying near Kosamb\u012b in Ghosita\u2019s monastery. And then a certain nun addressed a man, \u201cPlease, my friend, go to the venerable \u0100nanda, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him: \u2018Sir, the nun named so-and-so is sick, suffering, and gravely ill. She bows with her head to your feet.\u2019 And then say: \u2018Sir, please go to the nuns\u2019 quarters to visit that nun out of sympathy.\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d that man replied. He did as the nun asked. \u0100nanda consented with silence. Then \u0100nanda robed up and went to the nuns\u2019 quarters to visit that nun, taking his bowl and robe. That nun saw \u0100nanda coming off in the distance. She wrapped herself up from head to foot and laid down on her cot. Then Venerable \u0100nanda went up to her, and sat down on the seat spread out. Then \u0100nanda said to the nun: \u201cSister, this body is produced by food. Relying on food, you should give up food. This body is produced by craving. Relying on craving, you should give up craving. This body is produced by conceit. Relying on conceit, you should give up conceit. This body is produced by sex. The Buddha spoke of breaking off everything to do with sex. \u2018This body is produced by food. Relying on food, you should give up food.\u2019 This is what I said, but why did I say it? Take a mendicant who reflects rationally on the food that they eat: \u2018Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will have the means to keep going, blamelessness, and a comfortable abiding.\u2019 After some time, relying on food, they give up food. That\u2019s why I said what I said. \u2018This body is produced by craving. Relying on craving, you should give up craving.\u2019 This is what I said, but why did I say it? Take a mendicant who hears this: \u2018They say that the mendicant named so-and-so has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.\u2019 They think: \u2018Oh, when will I too realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom \u2026 in this very life \u2026\u2019 After some time, relying on craving, they give up craving. That\u2019s why I said what I said. \u2018This body is produced by conceit. Relying on conceit, you should give up conceit.\u2019 This is what I said, but why did I say it? Take a mendicant who hears this: \u2018They say that the mendicant named so-and-so has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.\u2019 They think: \u2018Well, that venerable can realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom \u2026 in this very life \u2026 Why can\u2019t I?\u2019 After some time, relying on conceit, they give up conceit. That\u2019s why I said what I said. \u2018This body is produced by sex. The Buddha spoke of breaking off everything to do with sex.\u2019\u201d Then that nun rose from her cot, placed her robe over one shoulder, bowed with her head to \u0100nanda\u2019s feet, and said, \u201cI made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to act in that way. Please, sir, accept my mistake for what it is, so I can restrain myself in future.\u201d \u201cIndeed, sister, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to act in that way. But since you have recognized your mistake for what it is, and have dealt with it properly, I accept it. For it is growth in the training of the Noble One to recognize a mistake for what it is, deal with it properly, and commit to restraint in the future.\u201d","title":"Nun","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":689}