{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn124/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn124","id":"suttacentral_mn124","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn124/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time Venerable Bakkula was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. Then the naked ascetic Kassapa, an old friend of Bakkula in the lay life, approached him, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Venerable Bakkula, \u201cReverend Bakkula, how long has it been since you went forth?\u201d \u201cIt has been eighty years, reverend.\u201d \u201cBut in these eighty years, how many times have you had sex?\u201d \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t ask me such a question. Rather, you should ask me this: \u2018But in these eighty years, how many times have sensual perceptions ever arisen in you?\u2019\u201d \u201cBut in these eighty years, how many times have sensual perceptions ever arisen in you?\u201d \u201cIn these eighty years, I don\u2019t recall that any sensual perception has ever arisen in me.\u201d This we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula. \u201cIn these eighty years, I don\u2019t recall that any perception of ill will \u2026 or cruelty has ever arisen in me.\u201d This too we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula. \u201cIn these eighty years, I don\u2019t recall that any thought of sensuality \u2026 ill will \u2026 or cruelty has ever arisen in me.\u201d This too we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula. \u201cIn these eighty years, I don\u2019t recall accepting a robe from a householder \u2026 cutting a robe with a knife \u2026 sewing a robe with a needle \u2026 dying a robe \u2026 sewing a robe during the robe-making ceremony \u2026 wandering to look for robe material for my companions in the spiritual life when they are making robes \u2026 accepting an invitation \u2026 having such a thought: \u2018If only someone would invite me!\u2019 \u2026 sitting down inside a house \u2026 eating inside a house \u2026 getting caught up in the features by way of the details of a lady\u2019s appearance \u2026 teaching a lady, even so much as a four line verse \u2026 going to the nuns\u2019 quarters \u2026 teaching the nuns \u2026 teaching the trainee nuns \u2026 teaching the novice nuns \u2026 giving the going forth \u2026 giving the ordination \u2026 giving dependence \u2026 being attended by a novice \u2026 bathing in the sauna \u2026 bathing with bath powder \u2026 looking for a massage from my spiritual companions \u2026 being ill, even for as long as it takes to pull a cow\u2019s udder \u2026 being presented with medicine, even as much as a bit of yellow myrobalan \u2026 leaning on a leaning-board \u2026 preparing a cot \u2026\u201d This too we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula. \u201cIn these eighty years, I don\u2019t recall commencing the rainy season residence within a village.\u201d This too we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula. \u201cReverend, for seven days I ate the nation\u2019s almsfood as a debtor. Then on the eighth day I became enlightened.\u201d This too we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula. \u201cReverend Bakkula, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training?\u201d And the naked ascetic Kassapa received the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training. Not long after his ordination, Venerable Kassapa, 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 Kassapa became one of the perfected. Then some time later Venerable Bakkula, taking a latchkey, went from dwelling to dwelling, saying, \u201cCome forth, venerables, come forth! Today will be my full extinguishment.\u201d This too we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula. And Venerable Bakkula became fully extinguished while seated right in the middle of the Sa\u1e45gha. This too we remember as an incredible and amazing quality of Venerable Bakkula.","title":"With Bakkula","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":694}