{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn85/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn85","id":"suttacentral_mn85","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn85/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile\u2019s Bellow, in the deer park at Bhesaka\u1e37\u0101\u2019s Wood. Now at that time a new stilt longhouse named Pink Lotus had recently been constructed for Prince Bodhi. It had not yet been occupied by an ascetic or brahmin or any human at all. Then Prince Bodhi addressed the student Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta, \u201cPlease, dear Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then ask him whether he would accept tomorrow\u2019s meal from me together with the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta replied. He did as Prince Bodhi asked, and the Buddha consented with silence. Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta rose from his seat, went to Prince Bodhi, and said, \u201cI gave your message to the worthy Gotama, and he accepted.\u201d And when the night had passed Prince Bodhi had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. He also had the Pink Lotus longhouse spread with white cloth down to the last step of the staircase. Then he said to Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta, \u201cPlease, dear Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta, go to the Buddha, and announce the time, saying, \u2018Sir, it\u2019s time. The meal is ready.\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta replied, and he did as he was asked. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Prince Bodhi\u2019s home. Now at that time Prince Bodhi was standing outside the gates waiting for the Buddha. Seeing the Buddha coming off in the distance, he went out to greet him. After bowing and inviting the Buddha to go first, he approached the Pink Lotus longhouse. But the Buddha stopped by the last step of the staircase. Then Prince Bodhi said to him, \u201cSir, let the Blessed One ascend on the cloth! Let the Holy One ascend on the cloth! It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u201d But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent. For a second time \u2026 and a third time, Prince Bodhi said to him, \u201cSir, let the Blessed One ascend on the cloth! Let the Holy One ascend on the cloth! It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u201d Then the Buddha glanced at Venerable \u0100nanda. So \u0100nanda said to Prince Bodhi, \u201cFold up the cloth, Prince. The Buddha will not step upon white cloth. The Realized One has sympathy for future generations.\u201d So Prince Bodhi had the cloth folded up and the seats spread out upstairs in the longhouse. Then the Buddha ascended the longhouse and sat on the seats spread out together with the Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants. Then Prince Bodhi served and satisfied the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Prince Bodhi took a low seat, sat to one side, and said to him, \u201cSir, this is what I think: \u2018Pleasure is not gained through pleasure; pleasure is gained through pain.\u2019\u201d \u201cPrince, before my awakening\u2014when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening\u2014I too thought, \u2018Pleasure is not gained through pleasure; pleasure is gained through pain.\u2019 Some time later, while still with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life\u2014though my mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces\u2014I shaved off my hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness. Once I had gone forth I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend K\u0101l\u0101ma, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.\u2019 \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma replied, \u2018Stay, venerable. This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.\u2019 I quickly memorized that teaching. As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It is not solely by mere faith that \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma declares: \u201cI realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.\u201d Surely he meditates knowing and seeing this teaching.\u2019 So I approached \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend K\u0101l\u0101ma, to what extent do you say you\u2019ve realized this teaching with your own insight?\u2019 When I said this, he declared the dimension of nothingness. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It\u2019s not just \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma who has faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom; I too have these things. Why don\u2019t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma says he has realized with his own insight?\u2019 I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it. So I approached \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend K\u0101l\u0101ma, is it up to this point that you realized this teaching with your own insight, and declare having achieved it?\u2019 \u2018I have, reverend.\u2019 \u2018I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.\u2019 \u2018We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions! So the teaching that I\u2019ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it, you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it. The teaching that you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, I\u2019ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it. So the teaching that I know, you know, and the teaching you know, I know. I am like you and you are like me. Come now, reverend! We should both lead this community together.\u2019 And that is how my tutor \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma placed me, his pupil, on the same position as him, and honored me with high praise. Then it occurred to me, \u2018This teaching doesn\u2019t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.\u2019 Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed. I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Uddaka son of R\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.\u2019 Uddaka replied, \u2018Stay, venerable. This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.\u2019 I quickly memorized that teaching. As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It is not solely by mere faith that R\u0101ma declared: \u201cI realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.\u201d Surely he meditated knowing and seeing this teaching.\u2019 So I approached Uddaka son of R\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend, to what extent did R\u0101ma say he\u2019d realized this teaching with his own insight?\u2019 When I said this, Uddaka son of R\u0101ma declared the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. Then it occurred to me, \u2018It\u2019s not just R\u0101ma who had faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom; I too have these things. Why don\u2019t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that R\u0101ma said he had realized with his own insight?\u2019 I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it. So I approached Uddaka son of R\u0101ma and said to him, \u2018Reverend, had R\u0101ma realized this teaching with his own insight up to this point, and declared having achieved it?\u2019 \u2018He had, reverend.\u2019 \u2018I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.\u2019 \u2018We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions! So the teaching that R\u0101ma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it, you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it. The teaching that you\u2019ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, R\u0101ma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it. So the teaching that R\u0101ma directly knew, you know, and the teaching you know, R\u0101ma directly knew. R\u0101ma was like you and you are like R\u0101ma. Come now, reverend! You should lead this community.\u2019 And that is how my spiritual companion Uddaka son of R\u0101ma placed me in the position of a tutor and honored me with high praise. Then it occurred to me, \u2018This teaching doesn\u2019t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.\u2019 Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed. I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. Traveling stage by stage in the Magadhan lands, I arrived at the town of Sen\u0101 in Uruvel\u0101. There I saw a delightful park, a lovely grove with a flowing river that was clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby was a village to resort to for alms. Then it occurred to me, \u2018This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that\u2019s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there\u2019s a village to resort to for alms. This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.\u2019 So I sat down right there, thinking, \u2018This is good enough for striving.\u2019 And then these three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me. Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying in water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Prince? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log lying in water, could they light a fire and produce heat?\u201d \u201cNo, sir. Why is that? Because it\u2019s a green, sappy log, and it\u2019s lying in the water. That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who don\u2019t live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. They haven\u2019t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the first example that occurred to me. Then a second example occurred to me. Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Prince? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?\u201d \u201cNo, sir. Why is that? Because it\u2019s still a green, sappy log, despite the fact that it\u2019s lying on dry land far from water. That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. But they haven\u2019t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the second example that occurred to me. Then a third example occurred to me. Suppose there was a dried up, withered log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Prince? By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?\u201d \u201cYes, sir. Why is that? Because it\u2019s a dried up, withered log, and it\u2019s lying on dry land far from water.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. And they have internally given up and stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion, they are capable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the third example that occurred to me. These are the three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, that occurred to me. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, squeeze, squash, and scorch mind with mind?\u2019 So that\u2019s what I did, until sweat ran from my armpits. It was like when a strong man grabs a weaker man by the head or throat or shoulder and squeezes, squashes, and crushes them. In the same way, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, I squeezed, squashed, and crushed mind with mind until sweat ran from my armpits. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I practice the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose. But then winds came out my ears making a loud noise, like the puffing of a blacksmith\u2019s bellows. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then severe winds ground my head, like a strong man was drilling into my head with a sharp point. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then I got a severe headache, like a strong man was tightening a strong leather strap around my head. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then severe winds carved up my belly, like a deft butcher or their apprentice was slicing my belly open with a sharp meat cleaver. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?\u2019 So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then there was a severe burning in my body, like two strong men grabbing a weaker man by the arms to burn and scorch him on a pit of glowing coals. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I\u2019d pushed too hard with that painful striving. Then some deities saw me and said, \u2018The ascetic Gotama is dead.\u2019 Others said, \u2018He\u2019s not dead, but he\u2019s dying.\u2019 Others said, \u2018He\u2019s not dead or dying. The ascetic Gotama is a perfected one, for that is how the perfected ones live.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I practice completely cutting off food?\u2019 But deities came to me and said, \u2018Good fellow, don\u2019t practice totally cutting off food. If you do, we\u2019ll infuse heavenly nectar into your pores and you will live on that.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018If I claim to be completely fasting while these deities are infusing heavenly nectar in my pores, that would be a lie on my part.\u2019 So I refused those deities, saying, \u2018There\u2019s no need.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t I just take a little bit of food each time, a handful of broth made from mung beans, horse gram, chickpeas, or green gram?\u2019 So that\u2019s what I did, until 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. Then some people saw me and said, \u2018The ascetic Gotama is black.\u2019 Some said, \u2018He\u2019s not black, he\u2019s brown.\u2019 Some said, \u2018He\u2019s neither black nor brown. The ascetic Gotama has dingy skin.\u2019 That\u2019s how far the pure, bright complexion of my skin had been ruined by taking so little food. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Whatever ascetics and brahmins have experienced painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to exertion\u2014whether in the past, future, or present\u2014this is as far as it goes, no-one has done more than this. But I have not achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones by this severe, grueling work. Could there be another path to awakening?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018I recall sitting in the cool shade of a black plum tree while my father the Sakyan was off working. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. Could that be the path to awakening?\u2019 Stemming from that memory came the understanding: \u2018<em>That</em> is the path to awakening!\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Why am I afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018I\u2019m not afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018I can\u2019t achieve that pleasure with a body so severely emaciated. Why don\u2019t I eat some solid food, some rice and porridge?\u2019 So I ate some solid food. Now at that time the group of five mendicants were attending on me, thinking, \u2018The ascetic Gotama will tell us of any truth that he realizes.\u2019 But when I ate some solid food, they left disappointed in me, saying, \u2018The ascetic Gotama has become indulgent; he has strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence.\u2019 After eating solid food and gathering my strength, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption \u2026 second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption. When my mind had immersed in sam\u0101dhi like this\u2014purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable\u2014I extended it toward recollection of past lives. I recollected many 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. And so I recollected my many kinds of past lives, with features and details. This was the first knowledge, which I achieved in the first watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. When my mind had immersed in sam\u0101dhi like this\u2014purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable\u2014I extended it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings. With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn\u2014inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. This was the second knowledge, which I achieved in the middle watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. When my mind had immersed in sam\u0101dhi like this\u2014purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable\u2014I extended it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements. I truly understood: \u2018This is suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the origin of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the cessation of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.\u2019 I truly understood: \u2018These are defilements\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the origin of defilements\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the cessation of defilements\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements.\u2019 Knowing and seeing like this, my mind was freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When it was freed, I knew it was freed. I understood: \u2018Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 This was the third knowledge, which I achieved in the last watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. Then it occurred to me, \u2018This principle I have discovered is deep, hard to see, hard to understand, peaceful, sublime, beyond the scope of logic, subtle, comprehensible to the astute. But people like clinging, they love it and enjoy it. It\u2019s hard for them to see this topic; that is, specific conditionality, dependent origination. It\u2019s also hard for them to see this topic; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment. And if I were to teach this principle, others might not understand me, which would be wearying and troublesome for me.\u2019 And then these verses, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me: \u2018I\u2019ve struggled hard to realize this, there\u2019s no need to reveal it now! Those mired in greed and hate can\u2019t really understand this teaching. It goes against the stream, subtle, deep, obscure, and very fine. Those besotted by greed cannot see, for they\u2019re cloaked in a mass of darkness.\u2019 So, as I reflected like this, my mind inclined to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma. Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing my train of thought, thought, \u2018Oh lord! The world will be lost, the world will perish! For the mind of the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, inclines to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.\u2019 Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the divinity Sahampati vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me. He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward me, and said, \u2018Sir, let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach the Dhamma! There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They\u2019re in decline because they haven\u2019t heard the teaching. There will be those who understand the teaching!\u2019 That is what the divinity Sahampati said. Then he went on to say: \u2018Among the Magadhans there appeared in the past an impure teaching thought up by the stained. Fling open the door to freedom from death! Let them hear the teaching <j>the immaculate one discovered. Standing high on a rocky mountain, you can see the people all around. In just the same way, All-seer, so intelligent, having ascended the Temple of Truth, rid of sorrow, look upon the people swamped with sorrow, <j>overcome by rebirth and old age. Rise, hero! Victor in battle, caravan leader, wander the world free of debt. Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! There will be those who understand!\u2019 Then, understanding the Divinity\u2019s invitation, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha, because of my compassion for sentient beings. And I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes; with keen faculties and with weak faculties, with good qualities and with bad qualities, easy to teach and hard to teach. And some of them lived seeing the danger in the fault to do with the next world, while others did not. It\u2019s like a pool with blue water lilies, or pink or white lotuses. Some of them sprout and grow in the water without rising above it, thriving underwater. Some of them sprout and grow in the water reaching the water\u2019s surface. And some of them sprout and grow in the water but rise up above the water and stand with no water clinging to them. In the same way, I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes. Then I replied in verse to the divinity Sahampati: \u2018Flung open are the doors to freedom from death! Let those with ears to hear commit to faith. Thinking it would be troublesome, Divinity, <j>I did not teach the sophisticated, sublime Dhamma among mankind.\u2019 Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing that his request for me to teach the Dhamma had been granted, bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right, before vanishing right there. Then it occurred to me, \u2018Who should I teach first of all? Who will quickly understand the teaching?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018That \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes. Why don\u2019t I teach him first of all? He\u2019ll quickly understand the teaching.\u2019 But a deity came to me and said, \u2018Sir, \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma passed away seven days ago.\u2019 And knowledge and vision arose in me, \u2018\u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma passed away seven days ago.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018This is a great loss for \u0100\u1e37\u0101ra K\u0101l\u0101ma. If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Who should I teach first of all? Who will quickly understand the teaching?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018That Uddaka son of R\u0101ma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes. Why don\u2019t I teach him first of all? He\u2019ll quickly understand the teaching.\u2019 But a deity came to me and said, \u2018Sir, Uddaka son of R\u0101ma, passed away just last night.\u2019 And knowledge and vision arose in me, \u2018Uddaka son of R\u0101ma, passed away just last night.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018This is a great loss for Uddaka. If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Who should I teach first of all? Who will quickly understand the teaching?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018The group of five mendicants were very helpful to me. They looked after me during my time of resolute striving. Why don\u2019t I teach them first of all?\u2019 Then it occurred to me, \u2018Where are the group of five mendicants staying these days?\u2019 With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman I saw that the group of five mendicants were staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana. So, when I had stayed in Uruvel\u0101 as long as I pleased, I set out for Varanasi. While I was traveling along the road between Gay\u0101 and Bodhgaya, the \u0100j\u012bvaka ascetic Upaka saw me and said, \u2018Reverend, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright. In whose name have you gone forth, reverend? Who is your Teacher? Whose teaching do you believe in?\u2019 I replied to Upaka in verse: \u2018I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all, unsullied in the midst of all things. I\u2019ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving. Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be? I have no tutor. There is no one like me. In the world with its gods, I have no rival. For in this world, I am the perfected one; I am the supreme Teacher. I alone am fully awakened, cooled, quenched. I am going to the city of K\u0101si to roll forth the Wheel of Dhamma. In this world that is so blind, I\u2019ll beat the drum of freedom from death!\u2019 \u2018According to what you claim, reverend, you ought to be the Infinite Victor.\u2019 \u2018The victors are those who, like me, have reached the ending of defilements. I have conquered bad qualities, Upaka\u2014 that\u2019s why I\u2019m a victor.\u2019 When I had spoken, Upaka said: \u2018If you say so, reverend.\u2019 Shaking his head, he took a wrong turn and left. Traveling stage by stage, I arrived at Varanasi, and went to see the group of five mendicants in the deer park at Isipatana. The group of five mendicants saw me coming off in the distance and stopped each other, saying, \u2018Here comes the ascetic Gotama. He\u2019s so indulgent; he strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence. We shouldn\u2019t bow to him or rise for him or receive his bowl and robe. But we can set out a seat; he can sit if he likes.\u2019 Yet as I drew closer, the group of five mendicants were unable to stop themselves per their own agreement. Some came out to greet me and receive my bowl and robe, some spread out a seat, while others set out water for washing my feet. But they still addressed me by name and as \u2018reverend\u2019. So I said to them, \u2018Mendicants, don\u2019t address me by name and as \u201creverend\u201d. The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.\u2019 But they said to me, \u2018Reverend Gotama, even by that conduct, that practice, that grueling work you did not achieve any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How could you have achieved such a state now that you\u2019ve become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence?\u2019 So I said to them, \u2018The Realized One has not become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence. The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.\u2019 But for a second time they said to me, \u2018Reverend Gotama \u2026 you\u2019ve fallen into indulgence.\u2019 So for a second time I said to them, \u2018The Realized One has not become indulgent \u2026\u2019 But for a third time they said to me, \u2018Reverend Gotama \u2026 you\u2019ve fallen into indulgence.\u2019 So I said to them, \u2018Mendicants, have you ever known me to speak like this before?\u2019 \u2018No, sir.\u2019 \u2018The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.\u2019 I was able to persuade the group of five mendicants. Then sometimes I advised two mendicants, while the other three went for alms. Then those three would feed all six of us with what they brought back. Sometimes I advised three mendicants, while the other two went for alms. Then those two would feed all six of us with what they brought back. As the group of five mendicants were being advised and instructed by me like this, they soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. They lived having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.\u201d When he had spoken, Prince Bodhi said to the Buddha, \u201cSir, when a mendicant has the Realized One as trainer, how long would it take for them to realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life?\u201d \u201cWell then, prince, I\u2019ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, prince? Are you skilled in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, prince? Suppose a man were to come along thinking, \u2018Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant. I\u2019ll train in that art under him.\u2019 If he\u2019s faithless, he wouldn\u2019t achieve what he could with faith. If he\u2019s unhealthy, he wouldn\u2019t achieve what he could with good health. If he\u2019s devious or deceitful, he wouldn\u2019t achieve what he could with honesty and integrity. If he\u2019s lazy, he wouldn\u2019t achieve what he could with energy. If he\u2019s stupid, he wouldn\u2019t achieve what he could with wisdom. What do you think, prince? Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?\u201d \u201cSir, if he had even a single one of these factors he couldn\u2019t train under me, let alone all five.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, prince? Suppose a man were to come along thinking, \u2018Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant. I\u2019ll train in that art under him.\u2019 If he\u2019s faithful, he\u2019d achieve what he could with faith. If he\u2019s healthy, he\u2019d achieve what he could with good health. If he\u2019s honest and has integrity, he\u2019d achieve what he could with honesty and integrity. If he\u2019s energetic, he\u2019d achieve what he could with energy. If he\u2019s wise, he\u2019d achieve what he could with wisdom. What do you think, prince? Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?\u201d \u201cSir, if he had even a single one of these factors he could train under me, let alone all five.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, prince, there are these five factors that support meditation. What five? It\u2019s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One\u2019s awakening: \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 They are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation. They\u2019re not devious or deceitful. They reveal themselves honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions. They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They\u2019re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. They\u2019re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. These are the five factors that support meditation. When a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in seven years. Let alone seven years, they could realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in six years, or as little as one year. Let alone one year, when a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in seven months, or as little as one day. Let alone one day, when a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could be instructed at dusk and achieve distinction at daybreak, or be instructed at daybreak and achieve distinction at dusk.\u201d When he had spoken, Prince Bodhi said to the Buddha, \u201cOh, the Buddha! Oh, the teaching! Oh, how well explained is the teaching! For someone could be instructed at dusk and achieve distinction at daybreak, or be instructed at daybreak and achieve distinction at dusk.\u201d When he said this, Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta said to Prince Bodhi, \u201cThough the worthy Bodhi speaks like this, you don\u2019t go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t say that, dear Sa\u00f1jik\u0101putta, don\u2019t say that! I have heard and learned this in the presence of my lady mother. This one time the Buddha was staying near Kosamb\u012b in Ghosita\u2019s monastery. Then my pregnant lady mother went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u2018Sir, the prince or princess in my womb goes for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember them as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u2019 Another time the Buddha was staying here in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile\u2019s Bellow, in the deer park at Bhesaka\u1e37\u0101\u2019s Wood. Then my nursemaid, carrying me on her hip, went to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, \u2018Sir, this Prince Bodhi goes for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember him as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u2019 Now for a third time I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"With Prince Bodhi","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":6579}