{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn12.70/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn12.70","id":"suttacentral_sn12.70","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn12.70/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. Now at that time the Buddha was honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And he received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha was also honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. But the wanderers who followed other religions were not honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they didn\u2019t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Now at that time the wanderer Sus\u012bma was residing at R\u0101jagaha together with a large community of wanderers. Then his community said to Sus\u012bma, \u201cReverend Sus\u012bma, please lead the spiritual life with the ascetic Gotama. Memorize that teaching and have us recite it with you. When we\u2019ve memorized it we\u2019ll recite it to the laity. In this way we too will be honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And we\u2019ll receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.\u201d \u201cYes, reverends,\u201d replied Sus\u012bma to his own assembly. Then he went to Venerable \u0100nanda, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to \u0100nanda, \u201cReverend \u0100nanda, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.\u201d Then \u0100nanda took Sus\u012bma to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cSir, this wanderer Sus\u012bma says that he wishes to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.\u201d \u201cWell then, \u0100nanda, give Sus\u012bma the going forth.\u201d And the wanderer Sus\u012bma received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence. Now at that time several mendicants had declared their enlightenment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cWe 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 Venerable Sus\u012bma heard about this. He went up to those mendicants, and exchanged greetings with them. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to those mendicants, \u201cIs it really true that the venerables have declared enlightenment in the Buddha\u2019s presence?\u201d \u201cYes, reverend.\u201d \u201cBut knowing and seeing thus, do you wield the many kinds of psychic power? That is, multiplying yourselves and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful. Do you control the body as far as the realm of divinity?\u201d \u201cNo, reverend.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus do you, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far?\u201d \u201cNo, reverend.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with your mind? Do you understand mind with greed as \u2018mind with greed\u2019, and mind without greed as \u2018mind without greed\u2019? Do you understand mind with hate as \u2018mind with hate\u2019, and mind without hate as \u2018mind without hate\u2019? Do you understand mind with delusion as \u2018mind with delusion\u2019, and mind without delusion as \u2018mind without delusion\u2019? Do you understand constricted mind as \u2018constricted mind\u2019, and scattered mind as \u2018scattered mind\u2019? Do you understand expansive mind as \u2018expansive mind\u2019, and unexpansive mind as \u2018unexpansive mind\u2019? Do you understand mind that is not supreme as \u2018mind that is not supreme\u2019, and mind that is supreme as \u2018mind that is supreme\u2019? Do you understand mind immersed in sam\u0101dhi as \u2018mind immersed in sam\u0101dhi\u2019, and mind not immersed in sam\u0101dhi as \u2018mind not immersed in sam\u0101dhi\u2019? Do you understand freed mind as \u2018freed mind\u2019, and unfreed mind as \u2018unfreed mind\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, reverend.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you recollect many kinds of 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? Do you remember: \u2018There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.\u2019 Do you recollect your many kinds of past lives, with features and details?\u201d \u201cNo, reverend.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, see sentient beings passing away and being reborn\u2014inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place\u2014and understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds? \u2018These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.\u2019 And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, do you see sentient beings passing away and being reborn\u2014inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. And do you understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds?\u201d \u201cNo, reverend.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you have direct meditative experience of the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form?\u201d \u201cNo, reverend.\u201d \u201cWell now, venerables, how could there be such a declaration when these things are not attained?\u201d \u201cReverend Sus\u012bma, we are freed by wisdom.\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t understand the detailed meaning of what you have said in brief. Please teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.\u201d \u201cReverend Sus\u012bma, whether you understand or not, we are freed by wisdom.\u201d Then Sus\u012bma went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all he had discussed with those mendicants. \u201cSus\u012bma, first comes knowledge of the stability of natural principles. Afterwards there is knowledge of extinguishment.\u201d \u201cSir, I don\u2019t understand the detailed meaning of what you have said in brief. Please teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.\u201d \u201cSus\u012bma, whether you understand or not, first comes knowledge of the stability of natural principles. Afterwards there is knowledge of extinguishment. What do you think, Sus\u012bma? Is form permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIs feeling permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIs perception permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u2026 \u201cAre choices permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if they\u2019re impermanent, are they suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if they\u2019re impermanent, suffering, and perishable, are they fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIs consciousness permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cSo, Sus\u012bma, you should truly see any kind of form at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 You should truly see any kind of feeling at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> feeling\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 You should truly see any kind of perception at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> perception\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 You should truly see any kind of choices at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> choices\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 You should truly see any kind of consciousness at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> consciousness\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they\u2019re freed. When they\u2019re freed, they know they\u2019re freed. They 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 Sus\u012bma, do you see that rebirth is a requirement for old age and death?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you see that continued existence is a requirement for rebirth?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you see that grasping is a requirement for continued existence?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you see that craving is a requirement for grasping?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you see that feeling is a requirement for craving \u2026 contact is a requirement for feeling \u2026 the six sense fields are requirements for contact \u2026 name and form are requirements for the six sense fields \u2026 consciousness is a requirement for name and form \u2026 choices are a requirement for consciousness \u2026 ignorance is a requirement for choices?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you see that when rebirth ceases old age and death cease?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you see that when continued existence ceases rebirth ceases?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you see that when grasping ceases continued existence ceases \u2026 when craving ceases, grasping ceases \u2026 when feeling ceases, craving ceases \u2026 when contact ceases, feeling ceases \u2026 when the six sense fields cease, contact ceases \u2026 when name and form cease, the six sense fields cease \u2026 when consciousness ceases name and form cease \u2026 when choices cease consciousness ceases \u2026 when ignorance ceases choices cease?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cBut knowing and seeing thus, do you wield the many kinds of psychic power? \u2026\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus do you, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with your mind? \u2026\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you recollect many kinds of past lives, with features and details?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, see sentient beings passing away and being reborn \u2026 according to their deeds?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWell, knowing and seeing thus, do you have direct meditative experience of the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWell now, Sus\u012bma, how could there be such a declaration when these things are not attained?\u201d Then Venerable Sus\u012bma bowed with his head to the Buddha\u2019s feet and said, \u201cI made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to go forth as a thief in such a well-explained teaching and training. Please, sir, accept my mistake for what it is, so I will restrain myself in future.\u201d \u201cIndeed, Sus\u012bma, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to go forth as a thief of the teachings in such a well-explained teaching and training. Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to the king, saying: \u2018Your Majesty, this is a bandit, a criminal. Punish him as you will.\u2019 The king would say: \u2018Go, my men, and tie this man\u2019s arms tightly behind his back with a strong rope. Shave his head and march him from street to street and from square to square to the beating of a harsh drum. Then take him out the south gate and there, to the south of the city, chop off his head.\u2019 The king\u2019s men would do as they were told. What do you think, Sus\u012bma? Wouldn\u2019t that man experience pain and distress because of that?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cAlthough that man would experience pain and distress because of that, going forth as a thief of the teachings in such a well-explained teaching and training has a more painful and bitter result. And it even leads to the underworld. But since you have recognized your mistake for what it is, and have dealt with it properly, I accept it. For it is growth in the training of the Noble One to recognize a mistake for what it is, deal with it properly, and commit to restraint in the future.\u201d","title":"The Wanderer Sus\u012bma","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":2315}