{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn12/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn12","id":"suttacentral_mn12","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn12/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying outside the city of Ves\u0101l\u012b in a woodland grove west of the town. Now at that time Sunakkhatta the Licchavi had recently left this teaching and training. He was telling a crowd in Ves\u0101l\u012b: \u201cThe ascetic Gotama has no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. He teaches what he\u2019s worked out by logic, following a line of inquiry, expressing his own perspective. Regardless of his goal in teaching the Dhamma, it delivers one who applies it to the complete ending of suffering.\u201d Then Venerable S\u0101riputta robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Ves\u0101l\u012b for alms. He heard what Sunakkhatta was saying. Then he wandered for alms in Ves\u0101l\u012b. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. \u201cS\u0101riputta, Sunakkhatta, that futile man, is angry. His words are spoken out of anger. Thinking he criticizes the Realized One, in fact he just praises him. For it is praise of the Realized One to say: \u2018Regardless of his goal in teaching the Dhamma, it delivers one who applies it to the complete ending of suffering.\u2019 But there\u2019s no way Sunakkhatta will infer about me from the teaching: \u2018That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.\u2019 And there\u2019s no way Sunakkhatta will infer about me from the teaching: \u2018That Blessed One wields the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying himself and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity.\u2019 And there\u2019s no way Sunakkhatta will infer about me from the teaching: \u2018That Blessed One, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, hears both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far.\u2019 And there\u2019s no way Sunakkhatta will infer about me from the teaching: \u2018That Blessed One understands the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with his own mind. He understands mind with greed as \u201cmind with greed,\u201d and mind without greed as \u201cmind without greed.\u201d He understands mind with hate \u2026 mind without hate \u2026 mind with delusion \u2026 mind without delusion \u2026 constricted mind \u2026 scattered mind \u2026 expansive mind \u2026 unexpansive mind \u2026 mind that is supreme \u2026 mind that is not supreme \u2026 mind immersed in sam\u0101dhi \u2026 mind not immersed in sam\u0101dhi \u2026 freed mind as \u201cfreed mind,\u201d and unfreed mind as \u201cunfreed mind.\u201d\u2019 There are these ten powers of a Realized One that the Realized One possesses. With these he claims the bull\u2019s place, roars his lion\u2019s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel. What ten? Firstly, the Realized One truly understands the possible as possible, and the impossible as impossible. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. Relying on this he claims the bull\u2019s place, roars his lion\u2019s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel. Furthermore, the Realized One truly understands the result of deeds undertaken in the past, future, and present in terms of grounds and causes. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, the Realized One truly understands where all paths of practice lead. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, the Realized One truly understands the world with its many and diverse elements. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, the Realized One truly understands the diverse convictions of sentient beings. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, the Realized One truly understands the faculties of other sentient beings and other individuals after encompassing them with his mind. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, the Realized One truly understands corruption, cleansing, and emergence regarding the absorptions, liberations, immersions, and attainments. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, the Realized One recollects many kinds of 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. He remembers: \u2018There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.\u2019 And so he recollects his many kinds of past lives, with features and details. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, the Realized One sees sentient beings passing away and being reborn\u2014inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. He understands how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. \u2018These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.\u2019 And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, he sees sentient beings passing away and being reborn\u2014inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. He understands how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. \u2026 Furthermore, the Realized One has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with his own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. Since he truly understands this, this is a power of the Realized One. Relying on this he claims the bull\u2019s place, roars his lion\u2019s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel. A Realized One possesses these ten powers of a Realized One. With these he claims the bull\u2019s place, roars his lion\u2019s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel. When I know and see in this way, suppose someone were to say this: \u2018The ascetic Gotama has no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. He teaches what he\u2019s worked out by logic, following a line of inquiry, expressing his own perspective.\u2019 Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there. Just as a mendicant accomplished in ethics, immersion, and wisdom would reach enlightenment in this very life, such is the consequence, I say. Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there. S\u0101riputta, a Realized One has four kinds of self-assurance. With these he claims the bull\u2019s place, roars his lion\u2019s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel. What four? I see no reason for anyone\u2014whether ascetic, brahmin, god, M\u0101ra, or the Divinity, or anyone else in the world\u2014to legitimately scold me, saying: \u2018You claim to be a fully awakened Buddha, but you don\u2019t understand these things.\u2019 Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and self-assured. I see no reason for anyone\u2014whether ascetic, brahmin, god, M\u0101ra, or the Divinity, or anyone else in the world\u2014to legitimately scold me, saying: \u2018You claim to have ended all defilements, but you still have these defilements.\u2019 Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and self-assured. I see no reason for anyone\u2014whether ascetic, brahmin, god, M\u0101ra, or the Divinity, or anyone else in the world\u2014to legitimately scold me, saying: \u2018The acts that you say are obstructions are not really obstructions for the one who performs them.\u2019 Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and self-assured. I see no reason for anyone\u2014whether ascetic, brahmin, god, M\u0101ra, or the Divinity, or anyone else in the world\u2014to legitimately scold me, saying: \u2018Regardless of your goal in teaching the Dhamma, it does not deliver one who applies it to the complete ending of suffering.\u2019 Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and self-assured. A Realized One possesses these four kinds of self-assurance. With these he claims the bull\u2019s place, roars his lion\u2019s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel. When I know and see in this way, suppose someone were to say this: \u2018The ascetic Gotama has no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones \u2026\u2019 Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there. S\u0101riputta, there are these eight assemblies. What eight? The assemblies of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and ascetics. An assembly of the gods of the four great kings. An assembly of the gods of the thirty-three. An assembly of M\u0101ras. An assembly of divinities. These are the eight assemblies. Possessing these four kinds of self-assurance, the Realized One approaches and enters right into these eight assemblies. I recall having approached an assembly of hundreds of aristocrats. There I used to sit with them, converse, and engage in discussion. But I don\u2019t see any reason to feel afraid or insecure. Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and self-assured. I recall having approached an assembly of hundreds of brahmins \u2026 householders \u2026 ascetics \u2026 the gods of the four great kings \u2026 the gods of the thirty-three \u2026 M\u0101ras \u2026 divinities. There too I used to sit with them, converse, and engage in discussion. But I don\u2019t see any reason to feel afraid or insecure. Since I see no such reason, I live secure, fearless, and self-assured. When I know and see in this way, suppose someone were to say this: \u2018The ascetic Gotama has no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones \u2026\u2019 Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there. S\u0101riputta, there are these four kinds of reproduction. What four? Reproduction for creatures born from an egg, from a womb, from moisture, or spontaneously. And what is reproduction from an egg? There are beings who are born by breaking out of an eggshell. This is called reproduction from an egg. And what is reproduction from a womb? There are beings who are born by breaking out of the amniotic sac. This is called reproduction from a womb. And what is reproduction from moisture? There are beings who are born in a rotten fish, a rotten carcass, rotten porridge, a cesspool, or a sump. This is called reproduction from moisture. And what is spontaneous reproduction? Gods, hell-beings, certain humans, and certain beings in the lower realms. This is called spontaneous reproduction. These are the four kinds of reproduction. When I know and see in this way, suppose someone were to say this: \u2018The ascetic Gotama has no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones \u2026\u2019 Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there. There are these five destinations. What five? Hell, the animal realm, the ghost realm, humanity, and the gods. I understand hell, and the path and practice that leads to hell. And I understand how someone practicing that way, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. I understand the animal realm \u2026 the ghost realm \u2026 humanity \u2026 gods, and the path and practice that leads to the world of the gods. And I understand how someone practicing that way, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. And I understand extinguishment, and the path and practice that leads to extinguishment. And I understand how someone practicing that way realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. When I\u2019ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand: \u2018This individual is practicing in such a way and is riding upon such a path that when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.\u2019 Some time later I see that they have indeed been reborn in hell, where they experience absolutely painful feelings, sharp and severe. Suppose there was a pit of glowing coals deeper than a man\u2019s height, full of glowing coals that neither flamed nor smoked. Then along comes a person struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. And they have set out on a path that meets with that same pit of coals. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they\u2019d say: \u2018This person is proceeding in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will arrive at that very pit of coals.\u2019 Some time later they see that they have indeed fallen into that pit of coals, where they experience absolutely painful feelings, sharp and severe. \u2026 When I\u2019ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand: \u2018This individual \u2026 will be reborn in the animal realm.\u2019 Some time later I see that they have indeed been reborn in the animal realm, where they suffer painful feelings, sharp and severe. Suppose there was a sewer deeper than a man\u2019s height, full to the brim with feces. Then along comes a person struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. And they have set out on a path that meets with that same sewer. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they\u2019d say: \u2018This person is proceeding in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will arrive at that very sewer.\u2019 Some time later they see that they have indeed fallen into that sewer, where they suffer painful feelings, sharp and severe. \u2026 When I\u2019ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand: \u2018This individual \u2026 will be reborn in the ghost realm.\u2019 Some time later I see that they have indeed been reborn in the ghost realm, where they experience mostly painful feelings. Suppose there was a tree growing on rugged ground, with thin foliage casting dappled shade. Then along comes a person struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. And they have set out on a path that meets with that same tree. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they\u2019d say: \u2018This person is proceeding in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will arrive at that very tree.\u2019 Some time later they see them sitting or lying under that tree, where they experience mostly painful feelings. \u2026 When I\u2019ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand: \u2018This individual \u2026 will be reborn among human beings.\u2019 Some time later I see that they have indeed been reborn among human beings, where they experience mostly pleasant feelings. Suppose there was a tree growing on smooth ground, with abundant foliage casting dense shade. Then along comes a person struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. And they have set out on a path that meets with that same tree. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they\u2019d say: \u2018This person is proceeding in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will arrive at that very tree.\u2019 Some time later they see them sitting or lying under that tree, where they experience mostly pleasant feelings. \u2026 When I\u2019ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand: \u2018This individual \u2026 will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.\u2019 Some time later I see that they have indeed been reborn in a heavenly realm, where they experience feelings of absolute happiness. Suppose there was a stilt longhouse with a peaked roof, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with door fastened and window shuttered. And it had a couch spread with woolen covers\u2014shag-piled, pure white, or embroidered with flowers\u2014and spread with a fine deer hide, with a canopy above and red pillows at both ends. Then along comes a person struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. And they have set out on a path that meets with that same stilt longhouse. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they\u2019d say: \u2018This person is proceeding in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will arrive at that very stilt longhouse.\u2019 Some time later they see them sitting or lying in that stilt longhouse, where they experience feelings of absolute happiness. \u2026 When I\u2019ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand: \u2018This individual is practicing in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.\u2019 Some time later I see that they have indeed realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight  in this very life due to the ending of defilements, experiencing feelings of absolute happiness. Suppose there was a lotus pond with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful. Nearby was a dense forest grove. Then along comes a person struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. And they have set out on a path that meets with that same lotus pond. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they\u2019d say: \u2018This person is proceeding in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will arrive at that very lotus pond.\u2019 Some time later they would see that person after they had plunged into that lotus pond, bathed and drunk. When all their stress, weariness, and heat exhaustion had faded away, they emerged and sat or lay down in that woodland thicket, where they experienced feelings of absolute happiness. In the same way, when I\u2019ve comprehended the mind of an individual, I understand: \u2018This individual is practicing in such a way and is riding upon such a path that they will realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.\u2019 Some time later I see that they have indeed realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements, experiencing feelings of absolute happiness. These are the five destinations. When I know and see in this way, suppose someone were to say this: \u2018The ascetic Gotama has no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. He teaches what he\u2019s worked out by logic, following a line of inquiry, expressing his own perspective.\u2019 Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there. Just as a mendicant accomplished in ethics, immersion, and wisdom would reach enlightenment in this very life, such is the consequence, I say. Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there. S\u0101riputta, I recall having practiced a spiritual path consisting of four factors. I used to be a fervent mortifier, the ultimate fervent mortifier. I used to live rough, the ultimate rough-liver. I used to live in disgust of sin, the ultimate one living in disgust of sin. I used to be secluded, in ultimate seclusion. And this is what my fervent mortification was like. I went naked, ignoring conventions. I licked my hands, and didn\u2019t come or stop when asked. I didn\u2019t consent to food brought to me, or food prepared specially for me, or an invitation for a meal. I didn\u2019t receive anything from a pot or bowl; or from someone who keeps sheep, or who has a weapon or a shovel in their home; or where a couple is eating; or where there is a woman who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or who lives with a man; or where food for distribution is advertised; or where there\u2019s a hound waiting or flies buzzing. I accepted no fish or meat or beer or wine, and drank no fermented gruel. I went to just one house for alms, taking just one mouthful, or two houses and two mouthfuls, up to seven houses and seven mouthfuls. I fed on one saucer a day, two saucers a day, up to seven saucers a day. I ate once a day, once every second day, up to once a week, and so on, even up to once a fortnight. I lived committed to the practice of eating food at set intervals. I ate herbs, millet, wild rice, poor rice, water lettuce, rice bran, scum from boiling rice, sesame flour, grass, or cow dung. I survived on forest roots and fruits, or eating fallen fruit. I wore robes of sunn hemp, mixed hemp, corpse-wrapping cloth, rags, lodh tree bark, antelope hide (whole or in strips), kusa grass, bark, wood-chips, human hair, horse-tail hair, or owls\u2019 wings. I tore out hair and beard, committed to this practice. I constantly stood, turning down seats. I squatted, committed to the endeavor of squatting. I lay on a mat of thorns, making a mat of thorns my bed. I was devoted to ritual bathing three times a day, including at dusk. And so I lived committed to practicing these various ways of mortifying and tormenting the body. Such was my practice of fervent mortification. And this is what my rough living was like. The dust and dirt built up on my body over many years until it started flaking off. It\u2019s like the trunk of a pale-moon ebony tree, which builds up bark over many years until it starts flaking off. But it didn\u2019t occur to me: \u2018Oh, this dust and dirt must be rubbed off by my hand or another\u2019s.\u2019 That didn\u2019t occur to me. Such was my rough living. And this is what my living in disgust of sin was like. I\u2019d step forward or back ever so mindfully, so I was full of pity regarding even a drop of water, thinking: \u2018May I not injure any little creatures on unclear ground.\u2019 Such was my living in disgust of sin. And this is what my seclusion was like. I would plunge deep into a wilderness region and stay there. When I saw a cowherd or a shepherd, or someone gathering grass or sticks, or a lumberjack, I\u2019d flee from forest to forest, from thicket to thicket, from valley to valley, from uplands to uplands. Why is that? So that I wouldn\u2019t see them, nor they me. I fled like a wild deer seeing a human being. Such was my practice of seclusion. I would go on all fours into the cow-pens after the cattle had left and eat the dung of the young suckling calves. As long as my own urine and excrement lasted, I would even eat that. Such was my eating of most unnatural things. I would plunge deep into an awe-inspiring forest grove and stay there. It was so awe-inspiring that normally it would make your hair stand on end if you weren\u2019t free of greed. And on days such as the cold spell when the snow falls in the January winter, I stayed in the open by night and in the forest by day. But in the last month of summer I\u2019d stay in the open by day and in the forest by night. And then these verses, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me: \u2018Scorched and frozen, alone in the awe-inspiring forest. nude, no fire to sit beside, the sage still pursues his quest.\u2019 I would make my bed in a charnel ground, with the bones of the dead for a pillow. Then village louts would come up to me. They\u2019d spit and piss on me, throw mud on me, even poke twigs in my ears. But I don\u2019t recall ever having a bad thought about them. Such was my abiding in equanimity. There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018Purity comes from food.\u2019 They say: \u2018Let\u2019s live on jujubes.\u2019 So they eat jujubes and jujube powder, and drink jujube juice. And they enjoy many jujube concoctions. I recall eating just a single jujube. You might think that at that time the jujubes must have been very big. But you should not see it like this. The jujubes then were at most the same size as today. Eating so very little, 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. There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018Purity comes from food.\u2019 They say: \u2018Let\u2019s live on mung beans.\u2019 \u2026 \u2018Let\u2019s live on sesame.\u2019 \u2026 \u2018Let\u2019s live on ordinary rice.\u2019 \u2026 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. But S\u0101riputta, I did not achieve any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones by that conduct, that practice, that grueling work. Why is that? Because I didn\u2019t achieve that noble wisdom that\u2019s noble and emancipating, and which delivers one who applies it to the complete ending of suffering. There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018Purity comes from transmigration.\u2019 But it\u2019s not easy to find a realm that I haven\u2019t previously transmigrated to in all this long time, except the gods of the pure abodes. For if I had transmigrated to the gods of the pure abodes I would not have returned to this realm again. There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018Purity comes from rebirth.\u2019 But it\u2019s not easy to find any rebirth that I haven\u2019t previously been reborn in \u2026 There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018Purity comes from abode of rebirth.\u2019 But it\u2019s not easy to find an abode where I haven\u2019t previously abided \u2026 There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018Purity comes from sacrifice.\u2019 But it\u2019s not easy to find a sacrifice that I haven\u2019t previously offered in all this long time, when I was an anointed aristocratic king or a well-to-do brahmin. There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018Purity comes from serving the sacred flame.\u2019 But it\u2019s not easy to find a fire that I haven\u2019t previously served in all this long time, when I was an anointed aristocratic king or a well-to-do brahmin. There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: \u2018So long as this gentleman is youthful, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life he will be endowed with perfect lucidity of wisdom. But when he\u2019s old, elderly, and senior, advanced in years, and has reached the final stage of life\u2014eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old\u2014he will lose his lucidity of wisdom.\u2019 But you should not see it like this. For now I am old, elderly, and senior, I\u2019m advanced in years, and have reached the final stage of life. I am eighty years old. Suppose I had four disciples with a lifespan of a hundred years. And they each were perfect in memory, rememberance, retention, and perfect lucidity of wisdom. Imagine how easily a well-trained expert archer with a strong bow would shoot a light arrow across the shadow of a palm tree. That\u2019s how extraordinary they were in memory, rememberance, retention, and perfect lucidity of wisdom. They\u2019d bring up questions about the four kinds of mindfulness meditation again and again, and I would answer each question. They\u2019d remember the answers and not ask the same question twice. And they\u2019d pause only to eat and drink, go to the toilet, and sleep to dispel weariness. But the Realized One would not run out of Dhamma teachings, words and phrases of the teachings, or spontaneous answers. And at the end of a hundred years my four disciples would pass away. Even if you have to carry me around on a stretcher, there will never be any deterioration in the Realized One\u2019s lucidity of wisdom. And if there\u2019s anyone of whom it may be rightly said that a being not liable to delusion has arisen in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans, it\u2019s of me that this should be said.\u201d Now at that time Venerable N\u0101gasam\u0101la was standing behind the Buddha fanning him. Then he said to the Buddha: \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, sir, it\u2019s amazing! While I was listening to this exposition of the teaching my hair stood up! What is the name of this exposition of the teaching?\u201d \u201cWell then, N\u0101gasam\u0101la, you may remember this exposition of the teaching as \u2018The Hair-raising Discourse\u2019.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable N\u0101gasam\u0101la approved what the Buddha said.","title":"The Longer Discourse on the Lion\u2019s Roar","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":5339}