{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn80/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn80","id":"suttacentral_mn80","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn80/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. Then the wanderer Vekhanasa went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side, and expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cThis is the ultimate splendor, this is the ultimate splendor.\u201d \u201cBut Kacc\u0101na, why do you say: \u2018This is the ultimate splendor, this is the ultimate splendor.\u2019 What is that ultimate splendor?\u201d \u201cWorthy Gotama, the ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.\u201d \u201cBut what is that ultimate splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer?\u201d \u201cWorthy Gotama, the ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.\u201d \u201cKacc\u0101na, you could draw this out for a long time. You say, \u2018The ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.\u2019 But you don\u2019t describe that splendor. Suppose a man was to say, \u2018Whoever the finest lady in the land is, it is her that I want, her I desire!\u2019 They\u2019d say to him, \u2018My man, that finest lady in the land who you desire\u2014do you know whether she\u2019s an aristocrat, a brahmin, a peasant, or a menial?\u2019 Asked this, he\u2019d say, \u2018No.\u2019 They\u2019d say to him, \u2018My friend, that finest lady in the land who you desire\u2014do you know her name or clan? Whether she\u2019s tall or short or medium? Whether her skin is black, brown, or dingy? Whether she comes from such-and-such village, town, or city?\u2019 Asked this, he\u2019d say, \u2018No.\u2019 They\u2019d say to him, \u2018My man, do you desire someone who you\u2019ve never even known or seen?\u2019 Asked this, he\u2019d say, \u2018Yes.\u2019 What do you think, Kacc\u0101na? This being so, doesn\u2019t that man\u2019s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?\u201d \u201cClearly that\u2019s the case, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, you say, \u2018The ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.\u2019 But you don\u2019t describe that splendor.\u201d \u201cMister Gotama, suppose there was a beryl gem that was naturally lustrous, eight-faceted, well-worked. When placed on a cream rug it would shine and glow and dazzle. Such is the splendor of the self that is free of disease after death.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Kacc\u0101na? Which of these two has a finer splendor: such a beryl gem, or a firefly in the dark of night?\u201d \u201cA firefly in the dark of night.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Kacc\u0101na? Which of these two has a finer splendor: a firefly in the dark of night, or an oil lamp in the dark of night?\u201d \u201cAn oil lamp in the dark of night.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Kacc\u0101na? Which of these two has a finer splendor: an oil lamp in the dark of night, or a great mass of fire in the dark of night?\u201d \u201cA great mass of fire in the dark of night.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Kacc\u0101na? Which of these two has a finer splendor: a great mass of fire in the dark of night, or the morning star in the clear and cloudless heavens at the crack of dawn?\u201d \u201cThe morning star in the clear and cloudless heavens at the crack of dawn.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Kacc\u0101na? Which of these two has a finer splendor: the morning star in the clear and cloudless heavens at the crack of dawn, or the full moon at midnight in the clear and cloudless heavens on the fifteenth day sabbath?\u201d \u201cThe full moon at midnight in the clear and cloudless heavens on the fifteenth day sabbath.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Kacc\u0101na? Which of these two has a finer splendor: the full moon at midnight in the clear and cloudless heavens on the fifteenth day sabbath, or the sun at midday in the clear and cloudless heavens in the last month of the rainy season, in autumn?\u201d \u201cThe sun at midday in the clear and cloudless heavens in the last month of the rainy season, in autumn.\u201d \u201cBeyond this, Kacc\u0101na, I know very many gods on whom the luminosity of the sun and moon makes no impression. Nevertheless, I do not say: \u2018The splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.\u2019 But of the splendor inferior to a firefly you say, \u2018This is the ultimate splendor.\u2019 And you don\u2019t describe that splendor. Kacc\u0101na, there are these five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds known by the ear \u2026 Smells known by the nose \u2026 Tastes known by the tongue \u2026 Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. The pleasure and happiness that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called sensual pleasure. \u2018From the senses comes sensual pleasure. Beyond sensual pleasure is the pleasure that surmounts the sensual, which is said to be the best of these.\u2019\u201d When he said this, Vekhanasa said to the Buddha, \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, worthy Gotama, it\u2019s amazing! How well said this was by the worthy Gotama! \u2018From the senses comes sensual pleasure. Beyond sensual pleasure is the pleasure that surmounts the sensual, which is said to be the best of these.\u2019 Worthy Gotama, from the senses comes sensual pleasure. Beyond sensual pleasure is the pleasure that surmounts the sensual, which is said to be the best of these.\u201d \u201cKacc\u0101na, since you have a different view, creed, and belief, and another discipline and denomination, it\u2019s hard for you to understand the senses, sensual pleasure, and the pleasure that surmounts the sensual. There are mendicants who are perfected, who have ended the defilements, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and are rightly freed through enlightenment. They can understand the senses, sensual pleasure, and the pleasure that surmounts the sensual.\u201d When he said this, Vekhanasa became angry and upset. He even attacked and badmouthed the Buddha himself, saying, \u201cThe ascetic Gotama will be worsted!\u201d He said to the Buddha, \u201cThis is exactly what happens with some ascetics and brahmins. Not knowing the first beginning or seeing the final end, they nevertheless claim: \u2018We understand: \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\u2019 Their statement turns out to be a joke\u2014mere words, vacuous and hollow.\u201d \u201cKacc\u0101na, there are some ascetics and brahmins who, not knowing the first beginning or seeing the final end, nevertheless claim: \u2018We understand: \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\u2019 There is a legitimate refutation of them. Nevertheless, Kacc\u0101na, leave aside the first beginning and the final end. Let a sensible person come\u2014neither devious nor deceitful, a person of integrity. I teach and instruct them. Practicing as instructed they will soon know and see for themselves, \u2018So this is how to be rightly released from the bond, that is, the bond of ignorance.\u2019 Suppose there was a little baby bound with swaddling up to the neck. As they grow up and their senses mature, they\u2019re accordingly released from those bonds. They\u2019d know \u2018I\u2019m released,\u2019 and there would be no more bonds. In the same way, let a sensible person come\u2014neither devious nor deceitful, a person of integrity. I teach and instruct them. Practicing as instructed they will soon know and see for themselves, \u2018So this is how to be rightly released from the bond, that is, the bond of ignorance.\u2019\u201d When he said this, Vekhanasa said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, worthy Gotama! \u2026 From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"With Vekhanasa","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1323}