{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn47/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn47","id":"suttacentral_mn47","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn47/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, \u201cMendicants!\u201d \u201cVenerable sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cMendicants, a mendicant who is an inquirer, unable to encompass another\u2019s mind, should scrutinize the Realized One to understand whether he is a fully awakened Buddha or not.\u201d \u201cOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.\u201d \u201cWell then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cMendicants, a mendicant who is an inquirer, unable to encompass another\u2019s mind, should scrutinize the Realized One for two things\u2014things that can be seen and heard: \u2018Can anything corrupt be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?\u2019 Scrutinizing him they find that nothing corrupt can be seen or heard in the Realized One. They scrutinize further: \u2018Can anything mixed be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?\u2019 Scrutinizing him they find that nothing mixed can be seen or heard in the Realized One. They scrutinize further: \u2018Can anything clean be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?\u2019 Scrutinizing him they find that clean things can be seen and heard in the Realized One. They scrutinize further: \u2018Did the venerable attain this skillful state a long time ago, or just recently?\u2019 Scrutinizing him they find that the venerable attained this skillful state a long time ago, not just recently. They scrutinize further: \u2018Are certain dangers found in that venerable mendicant who has achieved fame and renown?\u2019 For, mendicants, so long as a mendicant has not achieved fame and renown, certain dangers are not found in them. But when they achieve fame and renown, those dangers appear. Scrutinizing him they find that those dangers are not found in that venerable mendicant who has achieved fame and renown. They scrutinize further: \u2018Is this venerable securely stilled or insecurely stilled? Is the reason they don\u2019t indulge in sensual pleasures that they\u2019re free of greed because greed has ended?\u2019 Scrutinizing him they find that that venerable is securely stilled, not insecurely stilled. The reason they don\u2019t indulge in sensual pleasures is that they\u2019re free of greed because greed has ended. If others should ask that mendicant, \u2018But what reason and evidence does the venerable have for saying this?\u2019 Answering rightly, the mendicant should say, \u2018Because, whether that venerable is staying in a community or alone, some people there are in a good state or a sorry state, some instruct a group, and some are seen among pleasures of the flesh while others remain unsullied. Yet that venerable doesn\u2019t look down on them for that. Also, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: \u201cI am securely stilled, not insecurely stilled. The reason I don\u2019t indulge in sensual pleasures is that I\u2019m free of greed because greed has ended.\u201d\u2019 Next, they should ask the Realized One himself about this, \u2018Can anything corrupt be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?\u2019 The Realized One would answer, \u2018Nothing corrupt can be seen or heard in the Realized One.\u2019 \u2018Can anything mixed be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?\u2019 The Realized One would answer, \u2018Nothing mixed can be seen or heard in the Realized One.\u2019 \u2018Can anything clean be seen or heard in the Realized One or not?\u2019 The Realized One would answer, \u2018Clean things can be seen and heard in the Realized One. I am the scope and the range of that, but I am not determined by that.\u2019 A disciple ought to approach a teacher who has such a doctrine in order to listen to the teaching. The teacher explains Dhamma with its higher and higher stages, with its better and better stages, with its dark and bright sides. When they directly know a certain principle of those teachings, in accordance with how they were taught, the mendicant comes to a conclusion about the teachings. They have confidence in the Teacher: \u2018The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha! The teaching is well explained! The Sa\u1e45gha is practicing well!\u2019 If others should ask that mendicant, \u2018But what reason and evidence does the venerable have for saying this?\u2019 Answering rightly, the mendicant should say, \u2018Reverends, I approached the Buddha to listen to the teaching. He explained Dhamma with its higher and higher stages, with its better and better stages, with its dark and bright sides. When I directly knew a certain principle of those teachings, in accordance with how I was taught, I came to a conclusion about the teachings. I had confidence in the Teacher: \u201cThe Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha! The teaching is well explained! The Sa\u1e45gha is practicing well!\u201d\u2019 When someone\u2019s faith is settled, rooted, and planted in the Realized One in this manner, with these words and phrases, it\u2019s said to be grounded faith that\u2019s based on evidence. It is strong, and cannot be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or god or M\u0101ra or divinity or by anyone in the world. That is how there is legitimate scrutiny of the Realized One, and that is how the Realized One is legitimately well-scrutinized.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.","title":"The Inquirer","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":903}