{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn24/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn24","id":"suttacentral_mn24","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn24/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. Then several mendicants who had completed the rainy season residence in their native land went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to them: \u201cIn your native land, mendicants, which of the native mendicants is esteemed in this way: \u2018Personally having few wishes, they speak to the mendicants on having few wishes. Personally having contentment, seclusion, aloofness, energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom, they speak to the mendicants on all these things. They\u2019re an adviser and counselor, one who educates, encourages, fires up, and inspires their spiritual companions.\u2019\u201d \u201cPu\u1e47\u1e47a son of Mant\u0101\u1e47\u012b, sir, is esteemed in this way in our native land.\u201d Now at that time Venerable S\u0101riputta was sitting not far from the Buddha. Then he thought: \u201cPu\u1e47\u1e47a son of Mant\u0101\u1e47\u012b is fortunate, so very fortunate, in that his sensible spiritual companions praise him point by point in the presence of the Teacher, and that the Teacher seconds that appreciation. Hopefully, some time or other I\u2019ll get to meet Venerable Pu\u1e47\u1e47a, and we can have a discussion.\u201d When the Buddha had stayed in R\u0101jagaha as long as he pleased, he set out for S\u0101vatth\u012b. Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at S\u0101vatth\u012b, where he stayed in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Pu\u1e47\u1e47a heard that the Buddha had arrived at S\u0101vatth\u012b. Then he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, set out for S\u0101vatth\u012b. Eventually he came to S\u0101vatth\u012b and Jeta\u2019s Grove. He went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk. Then, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, Pu\u1e47\u1e47a rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went to the Dark Forest for the day\u2019s meditation. Then a certain mendicant went up to Venerable S\u0101riputta, and said to him, \u201cReverend S\u0101riputta, the mendicant named Pu\u1e47\u1e47a, of whom you have often spoken so highly, after being inspired by a talk of the Buddha\u2019s, left for the Dark Forest for the day\u2019s meditation.\u201d S\u0101riputta quickly grabbed his sitting cloth and followed behind Pu\u1e47\u1e47a, keeping sight of his head. Pu\u1e47\u1e47a plunged deep into the Dark Forest and sat at the root of a tree for the day\u2019s meditation. And S\u0101riputta did likewise. Then in the late afternoon, S\u0101riputta came out of retreat, went to Pu\u1e47\u1e47a, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Pu\u1e47\u1e47a: \u201cReverend, is our spiritual life lived under the Buddha?\u201d \u201cYes, reverend.\u201d \u201cIs the spiritual life lived under the Buddha for the sake of purification of ethics?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cWell, is the spiritual life lived under the Buddha for the sake of purification of mind?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cIs the spiritual life lived under the Buddha for the sake of purification of view?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cWell, is the spiritual life lived under the Buddha for the sake of purification by traversing doubt?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cIs the spiritual life lived under the Buddha for the sake of purification of knowledge and vision of what is the path and what is not the path?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cWell, is the spiritual life lived under the Buddha for the sake of purification of knowledge and vision of the practice?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cIs the spiritual life lived under the Buddha for the sake of purification of knowledge and vision?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cWhen asked each of these questions, you answered, \u2018Certainly not.\u2019 Then what exactly is the goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha?\u201d \u201cThe goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping.\u201d \u201cReverend, is purification of ethics complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping?\u201d \u201cCertainly not, reverend.\u201d \u201cIs purification of mind \u2026 purification of view \u2026 purification by traversing doubt \u2026 purification of knowledge and vision of what is the path and what is not the path \u2026 purification of knowledge and vision of the practice \u2026 Is purification of knowledge and vision complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cThen is complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping something apart from these things?\u201d \u201cCertainly not.\u201d \u201cWhen asked each of these questions, you answered, \u2018Certainly not.\u2019 How then should we see the meaning of this statement?\u201d \u201cIf the Buddha had asserted purification of ethics to be complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping, he would have asserted that which grasps fuel to be complete extinguishment without grasping fuel. If the Buddha had asserted purification of mind \u2026 purification of view \u2026 purification by traversing doubt \u2026 purification of knowledge and vision of what is the path and what is not the path \u2026 purification of knowledge and vision of the practice \u2026 If the Buddha had asserted purification of knowledge and vision to be complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping, he would have asserted that which grasps fuel to be complete extinguishment without grasping fuel. But if complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping was something apart from these things, an ordinary person would become extinguished. For an ordinary person lacks these things. Well then, reverend, I shall give you a simile. For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said. Suppose that, while staying in S\u0101vatth\u012b, King Pasenadi of Kosala had some urgent business come up in S\u0101keta. Now, between S\u0101vatth\u012b and S\u0101keta seven chariots were stationed at the ready for him. Then Pasenadi, exiting S\u0101vatth\u012b, mounted the first chariot at the ready by the gate of the royal compound. The first chariot at the ready would bring him to the second, where he\u2019d dismount and mount the second chariot. The second chariot at the ready would bring him to the third \u2026 The third chariot at the ready would bring him to the fourth \u2026 The fourth chariot at the ready would bring him to the fifth \u2026 The fifth chariot at the ready would bring him to the sixth \u2026 The sixth chariot at the ready would bring him to the seventh, where he\u2019d dismount and mount the seventh chariot. The seventh chariot at the ready would bring him to the gate of the royal compound of S\u0101keta. And when he was at the gate, friends and colleagues, relatives and kin would ask him: \u2018Great king, did you come to S\u0101keta from S\u0101vatth\u012b by this chariot at the ready?\u2019 If asked this, how should King Pasenadi rightly reply?\u201d \u201cThe king should reply: \u2018Well, while staying in S\u0101vatth\u012b, I had some urgent business come up in S\u0101keta. Now, between S\u0101vatth\u012b and S\u0101keta seven chariots were stationed at the ready for me. Then, exiting S\u0101vatth\u012b, I mounted the first chariot at the ready by the gate of the royal compound. The first chariot at the ready brought me to the second, where I dismounted and mounted the second chariot. \u2026 The second chariot brought me to the third \u2026 the fourth \u2026 the fifth \u2026 the sixth \u2026 The sixth chariot at the ready brought me to the seventh, where I dismounted and mounted the seventh chariot. The seventh chariot at the ready brought me to the gate of the royal compound of S\u0101keta.\u2019 That\u2019s how King Pasenadi should rightly reply.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, reverend, purification of ethics is only for the sake of purification of mind. Purification of mind is only for the sake of purification of view. Purification of view is only for the sake of purification by traversing doubt. Purification by traversing doubt is only for the sake of purification of knowledge and vision of what is the path and what is not the path. Purification of knowledge and vision of what is the path and what is not the path is only for the sake of purification of knowledge and vision of the practice. Purification of knowledge and vision of the practice is only for the sake of purification of knowledge and vision. Purification of knowledge and vision is only for the sake of extinguishment with no fuel for grasping. The spiritual life is lived under the Buddha for the sake of complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping.\u201d When he said this, S\u0101riputta said to Pu\u1e47\u1e47a, \u201cWhat is the venerable\u2019s name? And how are you known among your spiritual companions?\u201d \u201cReverend, my name is Pu\u1e47\u1e47a. And I am known as \u2018son of Mant\u0101\u1e47\u012b\u2019 among my spiritual companions.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, reverend, it\u2019s amazing! Venerable Pu\u1e47\u1e47a son of Mant\u0101\u1e47\u012b has answered each deep question point by point, as a learned disciple who rightly understands the Teacher\u2019s instructions. It is fortunate for his spiritual companions, so very fortunate, that they get to see Venerable Pu\u1e47\u1e47a son of Mant\u0101\u1e47\u012b and pay homage to him. Even if they only got to see him and pay respects to him by carrying him around on their heads on a roll of cloth, it would still be very fortunate for them! And it\u2019s fortunate for me, so very fortunate, that I get to see the venerable and pay homage to him.\u201d When he said this, Pu\u1e47\u1e47a said to S\u0101riputta, \u201cWhat is the venerable\u2019s name? And how are you known among your spiritual companions?\u201d \u201cReverend, my name is Upatissa. And I am known as S\u0101riputta among my spiritual companions.\u201d \u201cGoodness! I had no idea I was consulting with <em>the</em> Venerable S\u0101riputta, the disciple who is fit to be compared with the Teacher himself! If I\u2019d known, I would not have said so much. It\u2019s incredible, reverend, it\u2019s amazing! Venerable S\u0101riputta has asked each deep question point by point, as a learned disciple who rightly understands the Teacher\u2019s instructions. It is fortunate for his spiritual companions, so very fortunate, that they get to see Venerable S\u0101riputta and pay homage to him. Even if they only got to see him and pay respects to him by carrying him around on their heads on a roll of cloth, it would still be very fortunate for them! And it\u2019s fortunate for me, so very fortunate, that I get to see the venerable and pay homage to him.\u201d And so these two spiritual giants agreed with each other\u2019s fine words.","title":"Chariots at the Ready","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1727}