{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an6.55/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an6.55","id":"suttacentral_an6.55","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an6.55/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha, on the Vulture\u2019s Peak Mountain. Now at that time Venerable So\u1e47a was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Cool Grove. Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, \u201cI am one of the Buddha\u2019s most energetic disciples. Yet my mind is not freed from defilements by not grasping. But my family has wealth. I could enjoy that wealth and make merit. Why don\u2019t I resign the training and return to a lesser life, so I can enjoy my wealth and make merit?\u201d Then the Buddha knew Venerable So\u1e47a\u2019s train of thought. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the Vulture\u2019s Peak and reappeared in the Cool Grove in front of So\u1e47a, and sat down on the seat spread out. So\u1e47a bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, \u201cSo\u1e47a, as you were in private retreat didn\u2019t this thought come to your mind: \u2018I am one of the Buddha\u2019s most energetic disciples. Yet my mind is not freed from defilements by not grasping. But my family has wealth. I could enjoy that wealth and make merit. Why don\u2019t I resign the training and return to a lesser life, so I can enjoy my wealth and make merit?\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, So\u1e47a? When you were still a layman, weren\u2019t you a good player of the arched harp?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhen your harp\u2019s strings were tuned too tight, was it resonant and playable?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWhen your harp\u2019s strings were tuned too slack, was it resonant and playable?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cBut when your harp\u2019s strings were tuned neither too tight nor too slack, but fixed at an even tension, was it resonant and playable?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, So\u1e47a, when energy is too forceful it leads to restlessness. When energy is too slack it leads to laziness. So, So\u1e47a, you should focus on energy and serenity, find a balance of the faculties, and learn the character of this situation.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d So\u1e47a replied. After advising So\u1e47a like this, the Buddha, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the Cool Grove and reappeared on the Vulture\u2019s Peak. After some time So\u1e47a focused on energy and serenity, found a balance of the faculties, and learned the pattern of this situation. Then So\u1e47a, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. He understood: \u201cRebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.\u201d And Venerable So\u1e47a became one of the perfected. Then, when So\u1e47a had attained perfection, he thought, \u201cWhy don\u2019t I go to the Buddha and declare my enlightenment in his presence?\u201d Then So\u1e47a went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cSir, a mendicant who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014is dedicated to six things. They are dedicated to renunciation, seclusion, kindness, the ending of craving, the ending of grasping, and mental clarity. It may be, sir, that one of the venerables here thinks: \u2018Maybe this venerable is dedicated to renunciation solely out of mere faith.\u2019 But it should not be seen like this. A mendicant with defilements ended does not see in themselves anything more to do, or anything that needs improvement. They\u2019re dedicated to renunciation because they\u2019re free of greed, hate, and delusion with the end of greed, hate, and delusion. It may be, sir, that one of the venerables here thinks: \u2018Maybe this venerable is dedicated to seclusion because they enjoy possessions, honor, and popularity.\u2019 But it should not be seen like this. \u2026 It may be, sir, that one of the venerables here thinks: \u2018Maybe this venerable is dedicated to kindness because they believe that adhering to precepts and observances is essential.\u2019 But it should not be seen like this. \u2026 They\u2019re dedicated to the ending of craving because they\u2019re free of greed, hate, and delusion with the end of greed, hate, and delusion. They\u2019re dedicated to the ending of grasping because they\u2019re free of greed, hate, and delusion with the end of greed, hate, and delusion. They\u2019re dedicated to clarity of mind because they\u2019re free of greed, hate, and delusion with the end of greed, hate, and delusion. When a mendicant\u2019s mind is rightly freed like this, even if compelling sights come into the range of vision they don\u2019t overcome their mind. Their mind is quite untainted. It is steady, imperturbable, observing disappearance. Even if compelling sounds \u2026 smells \u2026 tastes \u2026 touches \u2026 and ideas come into the range of the mind they don\u2019t overcome the mind. Their mind is quite untainted. It is steady, imperturbable, observing disappearance. Suppose there was a mountain that was one solid mass of rock, without cracks or holes. Even if violent storms were to blow up out of the east, the west, the north, and the south, they couldn\u2019t make it shake or rock or tremble. In the same way, when a mendicant\u2019s mind is rightly freed like this, even if compelling sights come into the range of vision they don\u2019t overcome their mind. \u2026 Their mind is quite untainted. It is steady, imperturbable, observing disappearance. When you\u2019re dedicated to renunciation and seclusion of the heart; when you\u2019re dedicated to kindness and the end of grasping; when you\u2019re dedicated to the ending of craving and clarity of heart; and you\u2019ve seen the arising of the senses, your mind is rightly freed. For that one, rightly freed, a mendicant with peaceful mind, there\u2019s nothing to be improved, and nothing more to do. As the wind cannot stir a solid mass of rock, so too sights, tastes, sounds, smells, and touches\u2014the lot\u2014 and ideas, whether liked or disliked, don\u2019t disturb the unaffected one. Their mind is steady and free as they observe fall.\u201d","title":"With So\u1e47a","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1059}