{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn100/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn100","id":"suttacentral_mn100","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn100/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants. Now at that time a brahmin lady named Dhana\u00f1j\u0101n\u012b was residing at Ca\u1e47\u1e0dalakappa. She was devoted to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha. Once, she tripped and expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times: \u201cHomage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!\u201d Now at that time the student Sa\u1e45g\u0101rava was residing in Ca\u1e47\u1e0dalakappa. He was young, newly tonsured; he was sixteen years old. He had mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knew them word-by-word, and their grammar. He was well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. Hearing Dhana\u00f1j\u0101n\u012b\u2019s exclamation, he said to her, \u201cThe brahmin lady Dhana\u00f1j\u0101n\u012b is a disgrace! Though brahmins proficient in the three Vedas are found, she will praise that shaveling, that fake ascetic.\u201d \u201cBut dearest boy, you don\u2019t understand the Buddha\u2019s ethics and wisdom. If you did, you\u2019d never think of abusing or insulting him.\u201d \u201cWell then, ma\u2019am, let me know when the Buddha arrives in Ca\u1e47\u1e0dalakappa.\u201d \u201cI will, dearest,\u201d she replied. And then the Buddha, traveling stage by stage in the Kosalan lands, arrived at Ca\u1e47\u1e0dalakappa, where he stayed in the mango grove of the Todeyya brahmins. Dhana\u00f1j\u0101n\u012b heard that he had arrived. So she went to Sa\u1e45g\u0101rava and told him, adding, \u201cPlease, dearest boy, go at your convenience.\u201d \u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d replied Sa\u1e45g\u0101rava. He went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: \u201cWorthy Gotama, there are some ascetics and brahmins who claim to have mastered the fundamentals of the spiritual life having attained perfection and consummation of insight in this life. Where do you stand regarding these?\u201d \u201cI say there is a disparity among those who claim to have mastered the fundamentals of the spiritual life having attained perfection and consummation of insight in this life. There are some ascetics and brahmins who are oral transmitters. Through oral transmission they claim to have mastered the fundamentals of the spiritual life. For example, the brahmins who are proficient in the three Vedas. There are some ascetics and brahmins who solely by mere faith claim to have mastered the fundamentals of the spiritual life. For example, those who rely on logic and inquiry. There are some ascetics and brahmins who, having directly known for themselves the principle regarding teachings not learned before from another, claim to have mastered the fundamentals of the spiritual life. I am one of those. And here\u2019s a way to understand that I am one of them. Before my awakening\u2014when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening\u2014I thought: \u2018Life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. It\u2019s not easy for someone living at home to lead the spiritual life utterly full and pure, like a polished shell. Why don\u2019t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness?\u2019 Some time later, while still with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life\u2014though my mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces\u2014I shaved off my hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness. Once I had gone forth I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend K\u0101l\u0101ma, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.\u2019 \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma replied, \u2018Stay, venerable. This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.\u2019 I quickly memorized that teaching. As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It is not solely by mere faith that \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma declares: \u201cI realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.\u201d Surely he meditates knowing and seeing this teaching.\u2019 So I approached \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma and said to him: \u2018Reverend K\u0101l\u0101ma, to what extent do you say you\u2019ve realized this teaching with your own insight?\u2019 When I said this, he declared the dimension of nothingness. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It\u2019s not just \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma who has faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom; I too have these things. Why don\u2019t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma says he has realized with his own insight?\u2019 I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it. So I approached \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend K\u0101l\u0101ma, is it up to this point that you realized this teaching with your own insight, and declare having achieved it?\u2019 \u2018I have, reverend.\u2019 \u2018I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.\u2019 \u2018We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions! So the teaching that I\u2019ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it, you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it. The teaching that you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, I\u2019ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it. So the teaching that I know, you know, and the teaching you know, I know. I am like you and you are like me. Come now, reverend! We should both lead this community together.\u2019 And that is how my tutor \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma placed me, his pupil, on the same position as him, and honored me with high praise. Then it occurred to me, \u2018This teaching doesn\u2019t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.\u2019 Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed. I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Uddaka son of R\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.\u2019 Uddaka replied, \u2018Stay, venerable. This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.\u2019 I quickly memorized that teaching. As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It is not solely by mere faith that R\u0101ma declared: \u201cI realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.\u201d Surely he meditated knowing and seeing this teaching.\u2019 So I approached Uddaka son of R\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend, to what extent did R\u0101ma say he\u2019d realized this teaching with his own insight?\u2019 When I said this, Uddaka son of R\u0101ma declared the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It\u2019s not just R\u0101ma who had faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom; I too have these things. Why don\u2019t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that R\u0101ma said he had realized with his own insight?\u2019 I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it. So I approached Uddaka son of R\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend, had R\u0101ma realized this teaching with his own insight up to this point, and declared having achieved it?\u2019 \u2018He had, reverend.\u2019 \u2018I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.\u2019 \u2018We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions! So the teaching that R\u0101ma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it, you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it. The teaching that you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, R\u0101ma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it. So the teaching that R\u0101ma directly knew, you know, and the teaching you know, R\u0101ma directly knew. R\u0101ma was like you and you are like R\u0101ma. Come now, reverend! You should lead this community.\u2019 And that is how my spiritual companion Uddaka son of R\u0101ma placed me in the position of a tutor and honored me with high praise. Then it occurred to me, \u2018This teaching doesn\u2019t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.\u2019 Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed. I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. Traveling stage by stage in the Magadhan lands, I arrived at the town of Sen\u0101 in Uruvel\u0101. There I saw a delightful park, a lovely grove with a flowing river that was clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby was a village to resort to for alms. Then it occurred to me, \u2018This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that\u2019s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there\u2019s a village to resort to for alms. This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.\u2019 So I sat down right there, thinking: \u2018This is good enough for striving.\u2019 And then these three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me. Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying in water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log lying in water, could they light a fire and produce heat?\u201d \u201cNo, worthy Gotama. Why is that? Because it\u2019s a green, sappy log, and it\u2019s lying in the water. That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who don\u2019t live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. They haven\u2019t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the first example that occurred to me. Then a second example occurred to me. Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?\u201d \u201cNo, worthy Gotama. Why is that? Because it\u2019s still a green, sappy log, despite the fact that it\u2019s lying on dry land far from water. That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. But they haven\u2019t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the second example that occurred to me. Then a third example occurred to me. Suppose there was a dried up, withered log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja? By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?\u201d \u201cYes, worthy Gotama. Why is that? Because it\u2019s a dried up, withered log, and it\u2019s lying on dry land far from water.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. And they have internally given up and stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are capable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the third example that occurred to me. These are the three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, that occurred to me. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, squeeze, squash, and scorch mind with mind?\u2019 So that\u2019s what I did, until sweat ran from my armpits. It was like when a strong man grabs a weaker man by the head or throat or shoulder and squeezes, squashes, and crushes them. In the same way, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, I squeezed, squashed, and crushed mind with mind until sweat ran from my armpits. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I practice the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose. But then winds came out my ears making a severe noise, like the puffing of a blacksmith\u2019s bellows. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then severe winds ground my head, like a strong man was drilling into my head with a sharp point. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then I got a severe headache, like a strong man was tightening a strong leather strap around my head. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then severe winds carved up my belly, like a deft butcher or their apprentice was slicing my belly open with a sharp meat cleaver. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then there was a severe burning in my body, like two strong men grabbing a weaker man by the arms to burn and scorch him on a pit of glowing coals. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then some deities saw me and said, \u2018The ascetic Gotama is dead.\u2019 Others said, \u2018He\u2019s not dead, but he\u2019s dying.\u2019 Others said, \u2018He\u2019s not dead or dying. The ascetic Gotama is a perfected one, for that is how the perfected ones live.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I practice completely cutting off food?\u2019 But deities came to me and said, \u2018Good fellow, don\u2019t practice totally cutting off food. If you do, we\u2019ll infuse heavenly nectar into your pores and you will live on that.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018If I claim to be completely fasting while these deities are infusing heavenly nectar in my pores, that would be a lie on my part.\u2019 So I refused those deities, saying, \u2018There\u2019s no need.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I just take a little bit of food each time, a handful of broth made from mung beans, horse gram, chickpeas, or green gram?\u2019 So that\u2019s what I did, until my body became severely emaciated. Due to eating so little, my major and minor limbs became like the joints of an eighty-year-old or a dying man, my bottom became like a camel\u2019s hoof, my vertebrae stuck out like beads on a string, and my ribs were as gaunt as the broken-down rafters on an old barn. Due to eating so little, the gleam of my eyes sank deep in their sockets, like the gleam of water sunk deep down a well. Due to eating so little, my scalp shriveled and withered like a green bitter-gourd in the wind and sun. Due to eating so little, the skin of my belly stuck to my backbone, so that when I tried to rub the skin of my belly I grabbed my backbone, and when I tried to rub my backbone I rubbed the skin of my belly. Due to eating so little, when I tried to urinate or defecate I fell face down right there. Due to eating so little, when I tried to relieve my body by rubbing my limbs with my hands, the hair, rotted at its roots, fell out. Then some people saw me and said: \u2018The ascetic Gotama is black.\u2019 Some said: \u2018He\u2019s not black, he\u2019s brown.\u2019 Some said: \u2018He\u2019s neither black nor brown. The ascetic Gotama has dingy skin.\u2019 That\u2019s how far the pure, bright complexion of my skin had been ruined by taking so little food. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Whatever ascetics and brahmins have experienced painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion\u2014whether in the past, future, or present\u2014this is as far as it goes, no-one has done more than this. But I have not achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones by this severe, grueling work. Could there be another path to awakening?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018I recall sitting in the cool shade of a black plum tree while my father the Sakyan was off working. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. Could that be the path to awakening?\u2019 Stemming from that memory came the understanding: \u2018<em>That</em> is the path to awakening!\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why am I afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018I\u2019m not afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018I can\u2019t achieve that pleasure with a body so severely emaciated. Why don\u2019t I eat some solid food, some rice and porridge?\u2019 So I ate some solid food. Now at that time the group of five mendicants were attending on me, thinking, \u2018The ascetic Gotama will tell us of any truth that he realizes.\u2019 But when I ate some solid food, they left disappointed in me, saying, \u2018The ascetic Gotama has become indulgent; he has strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence.\u2019 After eating solid food and gathering my strength, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption \u2026 As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected were stilled, I entered and remained in the second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption. When my mind had immersed in sam\u0101dhi like this\u2014purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable\u2014I extended it toward recollection of past lives. I recollected many past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. And so I recollected my many kinds of past lives, with features and details. This was the first knowledge, which I achieved in the first watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. When my mind had immersed in sam\u0101dhi like this\u2014purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable\u2014I extended it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings. With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn\u2014inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. This was the second knowledge, which I achieved in the middle watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. When my mind had immersed in sam\u0101dhi like this\u2014purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable\u2014I extended it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements. I truly understood: \u2018This is suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the origin of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the cessation of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.\u2019 I truly understood: \u2018These are defilements\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the origin of defilements\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the cessation of defilements\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements.\u2019 Knowing and seeing like this, my mind was freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When it was freed, I knew it was freed. I understood: \u2018Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 This was the third knowledge, which I achieved in the last watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.\u201d When he had spoken, Sa\u1e45g\u0101rava said to the Buddha, \u201cThe striving of the worthy Gotama was indeed assiduous and that of a true person, since he is a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha. But worthy Gotama, do gods survive?\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve understood about gods in terms of causes.\u201d \u201cBut worthy Gotama, when asked \u2018Do gods survive?\u2019 why did you say that you have understood about gods in terms of causes? That being so, is it not hollow and false?\u201d \u201cWhen asked \u2018Do gods survive\u2019, whether you reply \u2018Gods survive\u2019 or \u2018I\u2019ve understood in terms of causes\u2019 a sensible person would come to the categorical conclusion in this matter that gods survive.\u201d \u201cBut why didn\u2019t you say that in the first place?\u201d \u201cIt is agreed by the eminent in the world that gods survive.\u201d When he had spoken, Sa\u1e45g\u0101rava said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what\u2019s there, worthy Gotama has made the Teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"With Sa\u1e45g\u0101rava","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":4054}