{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn41.10/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn41.10","id":"suttacentral_sn41.10","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn41.10/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"Now at that time the householder Citta was sick, suffering, gravely ill. Then several deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees came together and said to Citta, \u201cHouseholder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!\u201d When they said this, Citta said to them, \u201cThat too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!\u201d When he said this, his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin said, \u201cBe mindful, master! Don\u2019t babble.\u201d \u201cWhat have I said that makes you say that?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s because you said: \u2018That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!\u2019\u201d \u201cOh, well, that\u2019s because the deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees said to me: \u2018Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!\u2019 So I said to them: \u2018That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!\u2019\u201d \u201cBut what reason do they see for saying that to you?\u201d \u201cThey think: \u2018This householder Citta is ethical, of good character. If he makes a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future, his heart\u2019s wish will succeed because of the purity of his ethics. And then as a proper, principled king he will provide proper spirit-offerings.\u2019 That\u2019s the reason they see for saying to me: \u2018Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!\u2019 So I said to them: \u2018That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!\u2019\u201d \u201cThen, master, advise us!\u201d \u201cSo you should train like this: We will have experiential confidence in the Buddha: \u2018That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.\u2019 We will have experiential confidence in the teaching: \u2018The teaching is well explained by the Buddha\u2014apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.\u2019 We will have experiential confidence in the Sa\u1e45gha: \u2018The Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s disciples is practicing the way that\u2019s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.\u2019 And we will share without reservation all the gifts available to give in our family with those who are ethical and of good character.\u201d Then, after Citta had encouraged his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin in the Buddha, the teaching, the Sa\u1e45gha, and generosity, he passed away. The Linked Discourses on Citta the Householder are complete.","title":"Seeing the Sick","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":484}