{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn87/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn87","id":"suttacentral_mn87","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn87/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 a certain householder\u2019s dear and beloved only child passed away. After their death he didn\u2019t feel like working or eating. He would go to the cremation ground and wail, \u201cWhere are you, my only child? Where are you, my only child?\u201d Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, \u201cYour faculties, householder, are those of one who is unstable in their own mind; there is a deterioration in your faculties.\u201d \u201cAnd how, sir, could there be no deterioration of my faculties? For my dear and beloved only child has passed away. Since their death I haven\u2019t felt like working or eating. I go to the cremation ground and wail: \u2018Where are you, my only child? Where are you, my only child?\u2019\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s so true, householder! That\u2019s so true, householder! For our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.\u201d \u201cSir, who on earth could ever think such a thing! For our loved ones are a source of joy and happiness.\u201d Disagreeing with the Buddha\u2019s statement, rejecting it, he rose from his seat and left. Now at that time several gamblers were playing dice not far from the Buddha. That householder approached them and told them what had happened. \u201cThat\u2019s so true, householder! That\u2019s so true, householder! For our loved ones are a source of joy and happiness.\u201d Thinking, \u201cThe gamblers and I are in agreement,\u201d the householder left. Eventually that topic of discussion reached the royal compound. Then King Pasenadi addressed Queen Mallik\u0101, \u201cMallik\u0101, your ascetic Gotama said this: \u2018Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.\u2019\u201d \u201cIf that\u2019s what the Buddha said, Great King, then that\u2019s how it is.\u201d \u201cNo matter what the ascetic Gotama says, Mallik\u0101 agrees with him: \u2018If that\u2019s what the Buddha said, Great King, then that\u2019s how it is.\u2019 You\u2019re just like a pupil who agrees with everything their tutor says. Go away, Mallik\u0101, get out of here!\u201d Then Queen Mallik\u0101 addressed the brahmin N\u0101\u1e37ija\u1e45gha, \u201cPlease, brahmin, 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 say: \u2018Sir, did the Buddha make this statement: \u201cOur loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress\u201d?\u2019 Remember well how the Buddha answers and tell it to me. For Realized Ones say nothing that is not so.\u201d \u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d he replied. He went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha, \u201cWorthy Gotama, Queen Mallik\u0101 bows with her head to your feet. She asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And she asks whether the Buddha made this statement: \u2018Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.\u2019\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s right, brahmin, that\u2019s right! For our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. And here\u2019s a way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. Once upon a time right here in S\u0101vatth\u012b a certain woman\u2019s mother passed away. And because of that she went mad and lost her mind. She went from street to street and from square to square saying, \u2018Has anyone seen my mother? Has anyone seen my mother?\u2019 And here\u2019s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. Once upon a time right here in S\u0101vatth\u012b a certain woman\u2019s father \u2026 brother \u2026 sister \u2026 son \u2026 daughter \u2026 husband passed away. And because of that she went mad and lost her mind. She went from street to street and from square to square saying, \u2018Has anyone seen my husband? Has anyone seen my husband?\u2019 And here\u2019s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. Once upon a time right here in S\u0101vatth\u012b a certain man\u2019s mother \u2026 father \u2026 brother \u2026 sister \u2026 son \u2026 daughter \u2026 wife passed away. And because of that he went mad and lost his mind. He went from street to street and from square to square saying, \u2018Has anyone seen my wife? Has anyone seen my wife?\u2019 And here\u2019s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. Once upon a time right here in S\u0101vatth\u012b a certain woman went to live with her relative\u2019s family. But her relatives wanted to divorce her from her husband and give her to another, who she didn\u2019t want. So she told her husband about this. But he cut her in two and disemboweled himself, thinking, \u2018We shall be together after death.\u2019 That\u2019s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.\u201d Then N\u0101\u1e37ija\u1e45gha the brahmin, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, rose from his seat, went to Queen Mallik\u0101, and told her of all they had discussed. Then Queen Mallik\u0101 approached King Pasenadi and said to him, \u201cWhat do you think, Great King? Do you love Princess Vajir\u012b?\u201d \u201cIndeed I do, Mallik\u0101.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Great King? If she were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?\u201d \u201cIf she were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?\u201d \u201cThis is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: \u2018Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.\u2019 What do you think, Great King? Do you love Queen V\u0101sabh\u0101? \u2026 Do you love your son, General Vi\u1e0d\u016b\u1e0dabha? \u2026 Do you love me?\u201d \u201cIndeed I do love you, Mallik\u0101.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Great King? If I were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?\u201d \u201cIf you were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?\u201d \u201cThis is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: \u2018Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.\u2019 What do you think, Great King? Do you love the realms of K\u0101si and Kosala?\u201d \u201cIndeed I do, Mallik\u0101. It\u2019s due to the bounty of K\u0101si and Kosala that we use sandalwood imported from K\u0101si and wear garlands, fragrance, and makeup.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Great King? If these realms were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?\u201d \u201cIf they were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?\u201d \u201cThis is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: \u2018Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.\u2019\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, Mallik\u0101, it\u2019s amazing, how far the Buddha sees with penetrating wisdom, it seems to me. Come, Mallik\u0101, rinse my hands.\u201d Then King Pasenadi rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times: \u201cHomage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!\u201d","title":"Born From the Beloved","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1281}