{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn41.9/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn41.9","id":"suttacentral_sn41.9","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn41.9/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"Now at that time the naked ascetic Kassapa, an old friend of Citta in the lay life, had arrived at Macchik\u0101sa\u1e47\u1e0da. Citta the householder heard that he had arrived. So he went up to him, and they exchanged greetings. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the naked ascetic Kassapa, \u201cHonorable Kassapa, how long has it been since you went forth?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s been thirty years, householder.\u201d \u201cBut sir, in these thirty years have you achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, a comfortable meditation?\u201d \u201cI have no such achievement, householder, only nudity, baldness, and pokes in the buttocks.\u201d Citta said to him, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing, how well explained the teaching is. For in thirty years you have achieved no superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, no comfortable meditation, only nudity, baldness, and pokes in the buttocks.\u201d \u201cBut householder, how long have you been a lay follower?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s been thirty years, sir.\u201d \u201cBut householder, in these thirty years have you achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, a comfortable meditation?\u201d \u201cHow, sir, could I not? For whenever I want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. And whenever I want, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled \u2026 I enter and remain in the second absorption. And whenever I want, with the fading away of rapture \u2026 I enter and remain in the third absorption. And whenever I want, giving up pleasure and pain \u2026 I enter and remain in the fourth absorption. If I pass away before the Buddha, it would be no wonder if the Buddha declares of me: \u2018The householder Citta is bound by no fetter that might return him to this world.\u2019\u201d When this was said, Kassapa said to Citta, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing, how well explained the teaching is. For a white-clothed layperson can achieve such a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, a comfortable meditation. Householder, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training?\u201d Then Citta the householder took the naked ascetic Kassapa to see the senior mendicants, and said to them: \u201cSirs, this is the naked ascetic Kassapa, who in lay life was an old friend of mine. May the senior monks give him the going forth, the ordination. I\u2019ll make sure that he\u2019s provided with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.\u201d And the naked ascetic Kassapa received the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training. Not long after his ordination, Venerable Kassapa, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. He understood: \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 And Venerable Kassapa became one of the perfected.","title":"With Kassapa, the Naked Ascetic","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":555}