{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn4.23/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn4.23","id":"suttacentral_sn4.23","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn4.23/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 Venerable Godhika was staying on the slopes of Isigili at the Black Rock. Then Venerable Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart. But then he fell away from that temporary freedom of heart. For a second \u2026 third \u2026 fourth \u2026 fifth \u2026 sixth time Godhika experienced temporary freedom of heart. But for a sixth time he fell away from it. For a seventh time Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart. Then he thought, \u201cI\u2019ve fallen away from this temporary freedom of heart no less than six times. Why don\u2019t I commit suicide?\u201d And then M\u0101ra the Wicked, knowing Godhika\u2019s train of thought, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse: \u201cO great hero, O greatly wise! Shining with power and glory. You\u2019ve gone beyond all enmities and fears, I bow to your feet, O Clear-eyed One! Great hero, master of death, your disciple longs for death, he\u2019s planning for it. Stop him, O light-bringer! For Blessed One, renowned among men, your disciple who loves your teaching, a trainee who hasn\u2019t achieved their heart\u2019s desire\u2014 how can they kill themselves?\u201d Now at that time Venerable Godhika had already committed suicide. Then the Buddha, knowing that this was M\u0101ra the Wicked, addressed him in verse: \u201cThis is how the attentive act, for they don\u2019t long for life. Having plucked out craving, root and all, Godhika is quenched.\u201d Then the Buddha said to the mendicants, \u201cCome, mendicants, let\u2019s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili where Godhika, who came from a good family, committed suicide.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d they replied. Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili. The Buddha saw Godhika off in the distance on his cot, lying with aggregates cast off. Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between. Then the Buddha said to the mendicants, \u201cMendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s M\u0101ra the Wicked searching for Godhika\u2019s consciousness, wondering: \u2018Where is Godhika\u2019s consciousness established?\u2019 But since his consciousness is not established, Godhika is quenched.\u201d Then M\u0101ra, carrying his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood-apple, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse: \u201cAbove, below, all round, in the four quarters and in-between, I\u2019ve been searching without success: where has that Godhika got to?\u201d \u201cHe was an attentive and steadfast sage, a meditator who loved absorption. By day and by night he applied himself, without concern for his life. He defeated the army of death, and won\u2019t return for any future life. Having plucked out craving, root and all Godhika is quenched.\u201d So stricken with sorrow that his harp dropped from his armpit, that spirit, downcast, vanished right there.","title":"With Godhika","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":508}