{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn12.32/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn12.32","id":"suttacentral_sn12.32","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn12.32/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. Then the mendicant Ka\u1e37\u0101ra the Aristocrat went up to Venerable S\u0101riputta and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to him, \u201cReverend S\u0101riputta, the mendicant Phagguna of the Top-Knot has resigned the training and returned to a lesser life.\u201d \u201cThat venerable mustn\u2019t have gained any solace in this teaching and training.\u201d \u201cWell then, has Venerable S\u0101riputta found solace in this teaching and training?\u201d \u201cReverend, I have no uncertainty.\u201d \u201cBut what of the future?\u201d \u201cI have no doubt.\u201d Then Ka\u1e37\u0101ra the Aristocrat went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cSir, Venerable S\u0101riputta has declared enlightenment: \u2018I 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\u201d So the Buddha addressed one of the monks, \u201cPlease, monk, in my name tell S\u0101riputta that the Teacher summons him.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d that monk replied. He went to S\u0101riputta and said to him, \u201cReverend S\u0101riputta, the Teacher summons you.\u201d \u201cYes, reverend,\u201d replied S\u0101riputta. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, \u201cS\u0101riputta, is it really true that you have declared enlightenment: \u2018I 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?\u201d \u201cSir, I did not state the matter in these words and phrases.\u201d \u201cS\u0101riputta, no matter how a gentleman declares enlightenment, what he has declared should be regarded as such.\u201d \u201cSir, did I not also say that I did not state the matter in these words and phrases?\u201d \u201cS\u0101riputta, suppose they were to ask you: \u2018But Reverend S\u0101riputta, how have you known and seen so that you\u2019ve declared enlightenment: \u201cI understand: \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\u201d\u2019 How would you answer?\u201d \u201cSir, if they were to ask me this, I would answer: \u2018Reverends, when the source of rebirth ended, I knew \u201cit is ended\u201d. Knowing it is ended, I 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 That\u2019s how I\u2019d answer such a question.\u201d \u201cBut S\u0101riputta, suppose they were to ask you: \u2018But what is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of rebirth?\u2019 How would you answer?\u201d \u201cSir, if they were to ask me this, I would answer: \u2018Continued existence is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of rebirth.\u2019 That\u2019s how I\u2019d answer such a question.\u201d \u201cBut S\u0101riputta, suppose they were to ask you: \u2018What is the source of continued existence?\u2019 How would you answer?\u201d \u201cSir, if they were to ask me this, I\u2019d answer: \u2018Grasping is the source of continued existence.\u2019 That\u2019s how I\u2019d answer such a question.\u201d \u201cBut S\u0101riputta, suppose they were to ask you: \u2018What is the source of grasping?\u2019 \u2026 But S\u0101riputta, suppose they were to ask you: \u2018What is the source of craving?\u2019 How would you answer?\u201d \u201cSir, if they were to ask me this, I\u2019d answer: \u2018Feeling is the source of craving.\u2019 That\u2019s how I\u2019d answer such a question.\u201d \u201cBut S\u0101riputta, suppose they were to ask you: \u2018But how have you known and seen so that the relishing of feelings is no longer present?\u2019 How would you answer?\u201d \u201cSir, if they were to ask me this, I\u2019d answer: \u2018Reverends, there are three feelings. What three? Pleasant, painful, and neutral feeling. These three feelings are impermanent, and what\u2019s impermanent is suffering. When I understood this, the relishing of feelings was no longer present.\u2019 That\u2019s how I\u2019d answer such a question.\u201d \u201cGood, good, S\u0101riputta! The same point may also be briefly explained in this way: \u2018Suffering includes whatever is felt.\u2019 But S\u0101riputta, suppose they were to ask you: \u2018But Reverend, how have you been liberated that you declare enlightenment: \u201cI understand: \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\u201d?\u2019 How would you answer?\u201d \u201cSir, if they were to ask me this, I\u2019d answer: \u2018Because of an inner release with the ending of all grasping, I live mindfully so that defilements don\u2019t defile me and I don\u2019t look down on myself.\u2019 That\u2019s how I\u2019d answer such a question.\u201d \u201cGood, good, S\u0101riputta! The same point may also be briefly explained in this way: \u2018I have no uncertainty regarding the defilements spoken of by the ascetic. I have no doubt that I\u2019ve given them up.\u2019\u201d That is what the Buddha said. When he had spoken, the Holy One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling. Then, not long after the Buddha left, Venerable S\u0101riputta said to the mendicants, \u201cReverends, the Buddha asked me the first question without letting me know beforehand, so I hesitated. But when the Buddha agreed with my answer, I thought: \u2018If the Buddha were to question me all day on this matter in different words and ways, I could answer all day with different words and ways. If he were to question me all night, all day and night, for two days and nights, for three, four, five, six, or seven days and nights, I could answer in different words and ways for seven days and nights.\u2019\u201d Then Ka\u1e37\u0101ra the Aristocrat went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cSir, Venerable S\u0101riputta has roared his lion\u2019s roar!\u201d (And he told the Buddha all that S\u0101riputta had said.) \u201cMendicant, S\u0101riputta has clearly penetrated the principle of the teachings, so that he could answer any questions I might ask him in different words and ways up to the seventh day and night.\u201d","title":"With Ka\u1e37\u0101ra the Aristocrat","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":972}