{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn86/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn86","id":"suttacentral_mn86","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn86/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. Now at that time in the realm of King Pasenadi of Kosala there was a bandit named A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. He was violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. He laid waste to villages, towns, and countries. He was constantly murdering humans, and he wore their fingers as a necklace. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered S\u0101vatth\u012b for alms. Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, he walked down the road that led to A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. The cowherds, shepherds, farmers, and travelers saw him on the road, and said to him, \u201cDon\u2019t take this road, ascetic. On this road there is a bandit named A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. He is violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. He has laid waste to villages, towns, and countries. He is constantly murdering humans, and he wears their fingers as a necklace. People travel along this road only after banding closely together in groups of ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty. Still they meet their end by A\u1e45gulim\u0101la\u2019s hand.\u201d But when they said this, the Buddha went on in silence. For a second time \u2026 and a third time, they urged the Buddha to turn back. But when they said this, the Buddha went on in silence. The bandit A\u1e45gulim\u0101la saw the Buddha coming off in the distance, and thought, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing! People travel along this road only after banding closely together in groups of ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty. Still they meet their end by my hand. But still this ascetic comes along alone and unaccompanied, like a conqueror. Why don\u2019t I take his life?\u201d Then A\u1e45gulim\u0101la donned his sword and shield, fastened his bow and arrows, and followed behind the Buddha. But the Buddha used his psychic power to will that A\u1e45gulim\u0101la could not catch up with him no matter how hard he tried, even though the Buddha kept walking at a normal speed. Then A\u1e45gulim\u0101la thought, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing! Previously, even when I\u2019ve chased a speeding elephant, horse, chariot or deer, I\u2019ve always caught up with them. But I can\u2019t catch up with this ascetic no matter how hard I try, even though he\u2019s walking at a normal speed.\u201d He stood still and said, \u201cStop, stop, ascetic!\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve stopped, A\u1e45gulim\u0101la\u2014now you stop.\u201d Then A\u1e45gulim\u0101la thought, \u201cThese ascetics who follow the Sakyan speak the truth. Yet while walking the ascetic says: \u2018I\u2019ve stopped, A\u1e45gulim\u0101la\u2014now you stop.\u2019 Why don\u2019t I ask him about this?\u201d Then he addressed the Buddha in verse: \u201cWhile walking, ascetic, you say \u2018I\u2019ve stopped.\u2019 And I have stopped, but you tell me I\u2019ve not. I\u2019m asking you this, ascetic: how is it you\u2019ve stopped and I have not?\u201d \u201cA\u1e45gulim\u0101la, I have forever stopped\u2014 I\u2019ve laid aside violence toward all creatures. But you can\u2019t stop yourself <j>from harming living creatures; that\u2019s why I\u2019ve stopped, but you have not.\u201d \u201cOh, at long last a renowned great seer, an ascetic has followed me into this deep wood. Now that I\u2019ve heard your verse on Dhamma, I shall live without evil.\u201d With these words, <j>the bandit hurled his sword and weapons down a cliff into an abyss. He venerated the Holy One\u2019s feet, and requested the going forth right away. Then the Buddha, the compassionate great seer, the Teacher of the world with its gods, said to him, \u201cCome, monk!\u201d And with that he became a monk. Then the Buddha set out for S\u0101vatth\u012b with Venerable A\u1e45gulim\u0101la as his second monk. Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at S\u0101vatth\u012b, where he stayed in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Now at that time a crowd had gathered by the gate of King Pasenadi\u2019s royal compound making a colossal racket, \u201cIn your realm, Your Majesty, there is a bandit named A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. He is violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. He has laid waste to villages, towns, and countries. He is constantly murdering humans, and he wears their fingers as a necklace. Your Majesty must put a stop to him!\u201d Then King Pasenadi drove out from S\u0101vatth\u012b in the middle of the day with around five hundred horses, heading for the monastery. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached the Buddha on foot. He bowed and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, \u201cWhat is it, Great King? Is King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha angry with you, or the Licchavis of Ves\u0101l\u012b, or some other opposing ruler?\u201d \u201cNo, sir. In my realm there is a bandit named A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. He is violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. \u2026 I shall put a stop to him.\u201d \u201cBut, Great King, suppose you were to see that A\u1e45gulim\u0101la had shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and gone forth from the lay life to homelessness. And that he was refraining from killing living creatures, stealing, and lying; that he was eating in one part of the day, and was chaste, ethical, and of good character. What would you do to him?\u201d \u201cI would bow to him, rise in his presence, or offer him a seat. I\u2019d invite him to accept robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And I\u2019d organize his lawful guarding and protection. But sir, how could such an immoral, evil man ever have such virtue and restraint?\u201d Now at that time Venerable A\u1e45gulim\u0101la was sitting not far from the Buddha. Then the Buddha pointed with his right arm and said to the king, \u201cGreat king, this is A\u1e45gulim\u0101la.\u201d Then the king became frightened, scared, his hair standing on end. Knowing this, the Buddha said to him, \u201cDo not fear, Great King. You have nothing to fear from him.\u201d Then the king\u2019s fear died down. Then the king went over to A\u1e45gulim\u0101la and said, \u201cSir, is the master really A\u1e45gulim\u0101la?\u201d \u201cYes, Great King.\u201d \u201cWhat clans were your father and mother from?\u201d \u201cMy father was a Gagga, and my mother a Mant\u0101\u1e47\u012b.\u201d \u201cSir, may Master Gagga son of Mant\u0101\u1e47\u012b be happy. I\u2019ll make sure that you\u2019re provided with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.\u201d But at that time Venerable A\u1e45gulim\u0101la lived in the wilderness, ate only almsfood, and owned just three robes. So he said to the king, \u201cEnough, Great King. My robes are complete.\u201d Then the king went back to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, sir, it\u2019s amazing! How the Buddha tames those who are wild, pacifies those who are violent, and extinguishes those who are unquenched! For I was not able to tame him with the rod and the sword, but the Buddha tamed him without rod or sword. Well, now, sir, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.\u201d \u201cPlease, Great King, go at your convenience.\u201d Then King Pasenadi rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. Then Venerable A\u1e45gulim\u0101la robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered S\u0101vatth\u012b for alms. Then as he was wandering indiscriminately for almsfood he saw a woman undergoing a distressing obstructed labor. Seeing this, it occurred to him, \u201cOh, beings undergo such travail! Oh, beings undergo such travail!\u201d Then after wandering for alms in S\u0101vatth\u012b, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said to him, \u201cWell then, A\u1e45gulim\u0101la, go to that woman and say this: \u2018Ever since I was born, sister, I don\u2019t recall having intentionally taken the life of a living creature. By this truth, may both you and your baby be safe.\u2019\u201d \u201cBut sir, wouldn\u2019t that be telling a deliberate lie? For I have intentionally killed many living creatures.\u201d \u201cIn that case, A\u1e45gulim\u0101la, go to that woman and say this: \u2018Ever since I was born in the noble birth, sister, I don\u2019t recall having intentionally taken the life of a living creature. By this truth, may both you and your baby be safe.\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. He went to that woman and said: \u201cEver since I was born in the noble birth, sister, I don\u2019t recall having intentionally taken the life of a living creature. By this truth, may both you and your baby be safe.\u201d Then that woman was safe, and so was her baby. Then A\u1e45gulim\u0101la, 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 A\u1e45gulim\u0101la became one of the perfected. Then Venerable A\u1e45gulim\u0101la robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered S\u0101vatth\u012b for alms. Now at that time someone threw a stone that hit A\u1e45gulim\u0101la, someone else threw a stick, and someone else threw gravel. Then A\u1e45gulim\u0101la\u2014with cracked head, bleeding, his bowl broken, and his outer robe torn\u2014went to the Buddha. The Buddha saw him coming off in the distance, and said to him, \u201cEndure it, brahmin! Endure it, brahmin! You\u2019re experiencing in this very life the result of deeds that might have caused you to be tormented in hell for many years, many hundreds or thousands of years.\u201d Later, Venerable A\u1e45gulim\u0101la was experiencing the bliss of release while in private retreat. On that occasion he expressed this heartfelt sentiment: \u201cHe who once was heedless, but turned to heedfulness, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds. Someone whose bad deed is supplanted by the good, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds. A young mendicant devoted to the Buddha\u2019s teaching, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds. May even my enemies <j>hear a Dhamma talk! May even my enemies <j>devote themselves to the Buddha\u2019s teaching! May even my enemies associate with those good men who establish others in the Dhamma! May even my enemies <j>hear Dhamma at the right time, from those who teach acceptance, praising acquiescence; and may they follow that path! For then they\u2019d never wish harm upon myself or others. Having arrived at ultimate peace, they\u2019d look after creatures firm and frail. For while irrigators guide water, fletchers bend arrows straight, and carpenters bend timber straight, the astute tame themselves. Some tame by using the rod, some with goads, and some with whips. But the unaffected one tamed me without rod or sword. My name is \u2018Harmless\u2019, though I used to be harmful. The name I bear today is true, for I do no harm to anyone. I used to be a bandit, the notorious A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. Swept away in a great flood, I went to the Buddha as a refuge. I used to have blood on my hands, the notorious A\u1e45gulim\u0101la. See the refuge I\u2019ve found\u2014 the leash to existence is eradicated. I\u2019ve done many of the sort of deeds that lead to a bad destination. The result of my deeds has already struck me, so I enjoy my food free of debt. Fools and simpletons devote themselves to negligence. But the wise protect diligence as their best treasure. Don\u2019t devote yourself to negligence, or delight in erotic intimacy. For if you\u2019re diligent and practice absorption, you\u2019ll attain abundant happiness. It was welcome, not unwelcome, the advice I got was good. Of the well-explained teachings, I arrived at the best. It was welcome, not unwelcome, the advice I got was good. I\u2019ve attained the three knowledges and fulfilled the Buddha\u2019s instructions.\u201d","title":"With A\u1e45gulim\u0101la","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1992}