{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn51.15/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn51.15","id":"suttacentral_sn51.15","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn51.15/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time Venerable \u0100nanda was staying near Kosamb\u012b in Ghosita\u2019s monastery. Then U\u1e47\u1e47\u0101bha the brahmin went up 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 him, \u201cWorthy \u0100nanda, what\u2019s the goal of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?\u201d \u201cThe goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha, brahmin, is to give up desire.\u201d \u201cBut is there a path and a practice for giving up that desire?\u201d \u201cThere is.\u201d \u201cWhat is that path?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm \u2026 energy \u2026 mental development \u2026 inquiry, and active effort. This is the path and the practice for giving up that desire.\u201d \u201cThis being the case, worthy \u0100nanda, the path is endless, not finite. For it\u2019s not possible to give up desire by means of desire.\u201d \u201cWell then, brahmin, I\u2019ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, brahmin? Have you ever had a desire to walk to the park, but when you arrived at the park, the corresponding desire faded away?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cHave you ever had the energy to walk to the park, but when you arrived at the park, the corresponding energy faded away?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cHave you ever had the idea to walk to the park, but when you arrived at the park, the corresponding idea faded away?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cHave you ever inquired regarding a walk to the park, but when you arrived at the park, the corresponding inquiry faded away?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, take a mendicant who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment. They formerly had the desire to attain perfection, but when they attained perfection the corresponding desire faded away. They formerly had the energy to attain perfection, but when they attained perfection the corresponding energy faded away. They formerly had the idea to attain perfection, but when they attained perfection the corresponding idea faded away. They formerly inquired regarding attaining perfection, but when they attained perfection the corresponding inquiry faded away. What do you think, brahmin? This being the case, is the path endless or finite?\u201d \u201cClearly, worthy \u0100nanda, this being the case, the path is finite, not endless. Excellent, worthy \u0100nanda! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what\u2019s there, the worthy \u0100nanda has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the worthy \u0100nanda remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"The Brahmin U\u1e47\u1e47\u0101bha","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":510}