{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an6.43/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an6.43","id":"suttacentral_an6.43","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an6.43/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered S\u0101vatth\u012b for alms. Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable \u0100nanda, \u201cCome, \u0100nanda, let\u2019s go to the stilt longhouse of Mig\u0101ra\u2019s mother in the Eastern Monastery for the day\u2019s meditation.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d \u0100nanda replied. So the Buddha went with \u0100nanda to the Eastern Monastery. In the late afternoon the Buddha came out of retreat and addressed \u0100nanda, \u201cCome, \u0100nanda, let\u2019s go to the eastern gate to bathe.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d \u0100nanda replied. So the Buddha went with \u0100nanda to the eastern gate to bathe. When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs. Now, at that time King Pasenadi had a giant bull elephant called \u201cWhite\u201d. It emerged from the eastern gate to the beating and playing of musical instruments. When people saw it they said, \u201cThe royal giant is so handsome! The royal giant is so good-looking! The royal giant is so lovely! The royal giant has such a big body!\u201d When they said this, Venerable Ud\u0101y\u012b said to the Buddha, \u201cSir, is it only when they see elephants with such a big, formidable body that people say: \u2018A giant, such a giant\u2019? Or do they say it when they see any other creatures with big, formidable bodies?\u201d \u201cUd\u0101y\u012b, when they see elephants with such a big, formidable body people say: \u2018A giant, such a giant!\u2019 And also when they see a horse with a big, formidable body \u2026 When they see a bull with a big, formidable body \u2026 When they see a serpent with a big, formidable body \u2026 When they see a tree with a big, formidable body \u2026 And when they see a human being with such a big, formidable body people say: \u2018A giant, such a giant!\u2019 But Ud\u0101y\u012b, one who does nothing monstrous by way of body, speech, and mind is who I call a \u2018giant\u2019 in this world with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, sir, it\u2019s amazing! How well said this was by the Buddha: \u2018But Ud\u0101y\u012b, one who does nothing monstrous by way of body, speech, and mind is who I call a \u201cgiant\u201d in this world with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.\u2019 And I celebrate the well-spoken words of the Buddha with these verses: Awakened as a human being, self-tamed and immersed in sam\u0101dhi, following the spiritual path, he loves peace of mind. Revered by people, gone beyond all things, even the gods revere him; so I\u2019ve heard from the perfected one. He has transcended all fetters and escaped from entanglements. Delighting to renounce sensual pleasures, he\u2019s freed like lustrous gold from stone. That giant outshines all, like the Himalaya beside other mountains. Of all those named \u2018giant\u2019, he is truly named, supreme. I shall extol the giant for you, for he does nothing monstrous. Gentleness and harmlessness are two feet of the giant. Fervor and chastity are his two other feet. Faith is the giant\u2019s trunk, and equanimity his white tusks. Mindfulness is his neck, his head is wisdom\u2014 inquiry and thinking about principles. His belly is the sacred hearth of the Dhamma, and his tail is seclusion. Practicing absorption, enjoying the breath, he is serene within. The giant is serene when walking, the giant is serene when standing, the giant is serene when lying down, and when sitting, the giant is serene. The giant is restrained everywhere: this is the accomplishment of the giant. He eats blameless things, he doesn\u2019t eat blameworthy things. When he gets food and clothes, he avoids storing them up. Having severed all bonds, fetters large and small, wherever he goes, he goes without concern. A white lotus, fragrant and delightful, sprouts in water and grows there, but water does not stick to it. Just so the Buddha is born in the world, and lives in the world, but the world does not stick to him, as water does not stick to the lotus. A great blazing fire dies down when the fuel runs out. When the coals have gone out it\u2019s said to be \u2018quenched\u2019. This simile is taught by the discerning to express the meaning clearly. Great giants will understand what the giant taught the giant. Free of greed, free of hate, free of delusion, undefiled; the giant, giving up his body, being undefiled, will be fully quenched.\u201d","title":"The Giant","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":771}