{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_snp3.6/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_snp3.6","id":"suttacentral_snp3.6","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/snp3.6/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka 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 wanderer Sabhiya had been presented with several questions by a deity who was a former blood relation, saying: \u201cSabhiya, you should live the spiritual life with whatever ascetic or brahmin answers these questions.\u201d Then Sabhiya, after learning those questions in the presence of that deity, approached those ascetics and brahmins who led an order and a community, and taught a community, who were well-known and famous religious founders, deemed holy by many people. That is, P\u016bra\u1e47a Kassapa, the bamboo-staffed ascetic Gos\u0101la, Ajita of the hair blanket, Pakudha Kacc\u0101yana, Sa\u00f1jaya Bela\u1e6d\u1e6dhiputta, and the Jain ascetic of the \u00d1\u0101tika clan. And he asked them those questions, but they were stumped by them. Displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness, they questioned Sabhiya in return. Then Sabhiya thought, \u201cThose famous ascetics and brahmins were stumped by my questions. Displaying annoyance, hate, and bitterness, they questioned me in return on that matter. Why don\u2019t I return to a lesser life so I can enjoy sensual pleasures?\u201d Then Sabhiya thought, \u201cThis ascetic Gotama also leads an order and a community, and tutors a community. He\u2019s a well-known and famous religious founder, deemed holy by many people. Why don\u2019t I ask him these questions?\u201d Then he thought, \u201cEven those ascetics and brahmins who are elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; who are senior, long standing, long gone forth; who lead an order and a community, and tutor a community; who are well-known and famous religious founders, deemed holy by many people\u2014that is P\u016bra\u1e47a Kassapa and the rest\u2014 were stumped by my questions. They displayed annoyance, hate, and bitterness, and even questioned me in return. How can the ascetic Gotama possibly answer my questions, since he is so young in age and newly gone forth?\u201d Then he thought, \u201cAn ascetic should not be looked down upon or disparaged because they are young. Though young, the ascetic Gotama has great psychic power and might. Why don\u2019t I ask him these questions?\u201d Then Sabhiya set out for R\u0101jagaha. Traveling stage by stage, he came to R\u0101jagaha, the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. He went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and addressed the Buddha in verse: \u201cI\u2019ve come full of doubts and uncertainties,\u201d said Sabhiya, \u201cwishing to ask some questions. Please solve them for me. Answer my questions in turn, in accordance with the truth.\u201d \u201cYou have come from afar, Sabhiya,\u201d said the Buddha, \u201cwishing to ask some questions. I shall solve them for you, answering your questions in turn, in accordance with the truth. Ask me your question, Sabhiya, whatever you want. I\u2019ll solve each and every question you have.\u201d Then Sabhiya thought, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing! Where those other ascetics and brahmins didn\u2019t even give me a chance, the Buddha has invited me.\u201d Uplifted and elated, full of rapture and happiness, he asked this question. \u201cWhat must one attain to be called a mendicant?\u201d said Sabhiya, \u201cHow is one \u2018gentle\u2019, how said to be \u2018tamed\u2019? How is one declared to be \u2018awakened\u2019? May the Buddha please answer my question.\u201d \u201cWhen by the path they have walked themselves,\u201d said the Buddha to Sabhiya, \u201cthey reach extinguishment, with doubt overcome; giving up desire for existence or nonexistence, their journey complete, their rebirths ended: that is a mendicant. Equanimous toward everything, mindful, they don\u2019t harm anyone in the world. An ascetic who has crossed over, unclouded, who has no pretensions, is gentle. Their faculties have been developed inside and out in the whole world. Having pierced through this world and the next, tamed, they await their time. They have examined the eons in their entirety, and both sides of transmigration\u2014passing away and rebirth. Rid of dust, unblemished, purified: the one they call \u2018awakened\u2019 has attained the end of rebirth.\u201d And then, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, uplifted and elated, full of rapture and happiness, Sabhiya asked another question: \u201cWhat must one attain to be called \u2018brahmin\u2019?\u201d said Sabhiya. \u201cWhy is one an \u2018ascetic\u2019, and how a \u2018bathed initiate\u2019? How is one declared to be a \u2018giant\u2019? May the Buddha please answer my question.\u201d \u201cHaving banished all bad things,\u201d said the Buddha to Sabhiya, \u201cimmaculate, well-composed, steadfast, consummate, they\u2019ve left transmigration behind: unattached, one such is called \u2018brahmin\u2019. An assuaged one who has given up good and evil, stainless, understanding this world and the next, gone beyond rebirth and death: one such is rightly called \u2018ascetic\u2019. Having washed off all bad things inside and out in the whole world, among gods and humans bound to creations, the one they call \u2018washed\u2019 does not return to creation. They do nothing monstrous at all in the world, discarding all yokes and bonds, everywhere not stuck, freed: one such is rightly called \u2018giant\u2019.\u201d And then Sabhiya asked another question: \u201cWho is a \u2018field-victor\u2019 according to the Buddhas?\u201d said Sabhiya, \u201cWhy is one \u2018skillful\u2019, and how \u2018an astute scholar\u2019? How is one declared to be a \u2018sage\u2019? May the Buddha please answer my question.\u201d \u201cThey are victors on the fields of deeds in their entirety,\u201d said the Buddha to Sabhiya, \u201cthe fields of gods, humans, and divinities; released from the root bondage to all fields: one such is rightly called \u2018field-victor\u2019. They have examined the coffers in their entirety, the coffers of gods, humans, and divinities; released from the root bondage to all coffers: one such is rightly called \u2018skillful\u2019. They have examined whiteness both inside and out; understanding purity, they have left dark and bright behind: one such is rightly called \u2018an astute scholar\u2019. Understanding the nature of the bad and the good inside and out in the whole world; one worthy of honor by gods and humans, who has escaped from the net and the chain: that is a sage.\u201d And then Sabhiya asked another question: \u201cWhat must one attain to be called \u2018knowledge master\u2019?\u201d said Sabhiya, \u201cWhy is one \u2018studied\u2019, and how is one \u2018heroic\u2019? How to gain the name \u2018thoroughbred\u2019? May the Buddha please answer my question.\u201d \u201cThey have examined knowledges in their entirety,\u201d said the Buddha to Sabhiya, \u201cthose that are current among ascetics and brahmins; rid of greed for all feelings, having left all knowledges behind: that is a knowledge master. Having studied proliferation and name & form inside and out\u2014the root of disease; released from the root bondage to all disease: one such is rightly called \u2018studied\u2019. Refraining from all evil here, heroic, he escapes from the suffering of hell; he is heroic and energetic: one such is rightly called \u2018hero\u2019. Whoever\u2019s bonds are cut, the root of clinging inside and out; released from the root bondage to all clinging: one such is rightly called \u2018thoroughbred\u2019.\u201d And then Sabhiya asked another question: \u201cWhat must one attain to be called \u2018scholar\u2019?\u201d said Sabhiya, \u201cWhy is one \u2018noble\u2019, and how is one \u2018well conducted\u2019? How to gain the name \u2018wanderer\u2019? May the Buddha please answer my question.\u201d \u201cOne who has learned every teaching,\u201d said the Buddha to Sabhiya, \u201cand has known for themselves what in the world is blameworthy and blameless; a vanquisher, decided, liberated, untroubled everywhere: they call them \u2018scholar\u2019. Having cut off defilements and clingings, being wise, they enter no womb. They\u2019ve cast aside the bog of the three perceptions, the one they call \u2018noble\u2019 does not return to creation. One here who is accomplished and skillful in all forms of good conduct; always understanding the teaching, everywhere not stuck, freed in mind, who has no aversion: they are \u2018well-conducted\u2019. They wander full of wisdom, having banished any deed that results in suffering, deceit and conceit, as well as greed and anger, above, below, all round, between. They have made a limit on name and form; the one they call a \u2018wanderer\u2019 has reached their destination.\u201d And then, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, uplifted and elated, full of rapture and happiness, Sabhiya rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses: \u201cO one of vast wisdom, there are three and sixty opinions based on the doctrines of ascetics: they are expressions of perception, based on perception. Having dispelled them all, you passed over the dark flood. You have gone to the end, gone beyond suffering, you are perfected, a fully awakened Buddha; I think you have ended defilements. Brilliant, thoughtful, abounding in wisdom, ender of suffering\u2014you brought me across! When you understood my uncertainty, you brought me beyond doubt\u2014homage to you! A sage, accomplished in the ways of sagacity, you are gentle, not hardhearted, O Kinsman of the Sun. Any doubts that I once had, you have answered for me, O Clear-eyed One. Clearly you are a sage, an Awakened One, there are no hindrances in you. All your distress is blown away and mown down. Cooled, tamed, steadfast: truth is your strength. O giant among giants, O great hero, when you are speaking all the gods rejoice, including both N\u0101rada and Pabbata. Homage to you, O thoroughbred! Homage to you, supreme among men! In the world with its gods, you have no rival. You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher, you are the sage who has overcome M\u0101ra; you have cut off the underlying tendencies, you\u2019ve crossed over, and you bring humanity across. You have transcended attachments, your defilements are shattered; you are a lion free of grasping, with fear and dread given up. Like a graceful lotus to which water does not stick, so both good and evil do not stick to you. Stretch out your feet, great hero: Sabhiya bows to the Teacher.\u201d Then the wanderer Sabhiya bowed with his head to the Buddha\u2019s feet and said, \u201cExcellent, sir! Excellent! \u2026 I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. Sir, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence?\u201d \u201cSabhiya, if someone formerly ordained in another sect wishes to take the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training, they must spend four months on probation. When four months have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, they\u2019ll give the going forth, the ordination into monkhood. However, I recognize individual differences in this matter.\u201d \u201cSir, if four months probation are required in such a case, I\u2019ll spend four years on probation. When four years have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, let them give me the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.\u201d And the wanderer Sabhiya received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence. And Venerable Sabhiya became one of the perfected.","title":"With Sabhiya","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1810}