{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_ud3.2/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_ud3.2","id":"suttacentral_ud3.2","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/ud3.2/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Now at that time Venerable Nanda, the Buddha\u2019s brother and maternal cousin, informed several mendicants: \u201cI lead the spiritual life dissatisfied. I am unable to keep up the spiritual life. I shall resign the training and return to a lesser life.\u201d Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was happening. So the Buddha addressed one of the monks, \u201cPlease, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Nanda that the Teacher summons him.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d that monk replied. He went to Nanda and said to him, \u201cReverend Nanda, the Teacher summons you.\u201d \u201cYes, reverend,\u201d Nanda replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: \u201cIs it really true, Nanda, that you informed several mendicants that you are unable to keep up the spiritual life; that you shall resign the training and return to a lesser life?\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d he replied. \u201cBut why are you so dissatisfied with the spiritual life?\u201d \u201cAs I left my house, sir, the finest lady of the Sakyan land, her hair half-combed, glanced at me and said, \u2018Hurry back, master.\u2019 Recalling that, I am dissatisfied and shall resign the training.\u201d Then the Buddha took Nanda by the arm and, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Jeta\u2019s Grove and reappeared among the gods of the thirty-three. Now at that time five hundred dove-footed nymphs had come to attend to Sakka, the lord of gods. Then the Buddha said to Nanda, \u201cNanda, do you see these five hundred dove-footed nymphs?\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d he replied. \u201cWhat do you think, Nanda? Who is more attractive, good-looking, and lovely\u2014the finest lady of the Sakyan land, or these five hundred dove-footed nymphs?\u201d \u201cCompared to these five hundred dove-footed nymphs, the finest lady of the Sakyan land is like a deformed monkey with its ears and nose cut off. She doesn\u2019t count, there\u2019s no comparison, she\u2019s not worth a fraction. These five hundred dove-footed nymphs are far more attractive, good-looking, and lovely.\u201d \u201cRejoice, Nanda, rejoice! I guarantee you five hundred dove-footed nymphs.\u201d \u201cIf, sir, you guarantee me five hundred dove-footed nymphs, I shall happily lead the spiritual life under the Buddha.\u201d Then the Buddha took Nanda by the arm and, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the gods of the thirty-three and reappeared at Jeta\u2019s Grove. The mendicants heard, \u201cIt seems Venerable Nanda\u2014who is both the Buddha\u2019s half-brother and maternal cousin\u2014leads the spiritual life for the sake of nymphs. And it seems that the Buddha guaranteed him five hundred dove-footed nymphs.\u201d Monks who were his friends accused him of being a hireling and a lackey, \u201cIt seems Nanda is a hireling, it seems he is a lackey: he leads the spiritual life for the sake of nymphs. And it seems that the Buddha guaranteed him five hundred dove-footed nymphs.\u201d Then Nanda\u2014embarrassed, ashamed, and disgusted at being called a hireling and a lackey\u2014living 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 Venerable Nanda became one of the perfected. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta\u2019s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him: \u201cSir, Venerable Nanda\u2014who is both the Buddha\u2019s half-brother and maternal cousin\u2014has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. He lives having realized it with his own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.\u201d And the knowledge also came to the Buddha: \u201cNanda has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. He lives having realized it with his own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.\u201d Then, when the night had passed, Nanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cWorthy sir, you guaranteed me five hundred dove-footed nymphs. I release you from that promise.\u201d \u201cNanda, I encompassed your mind and knew that you had realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And deities also told me about this. As soon as your mind was freed from defilements by not grasping, I was released from that promise.\u201d Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: \u201cThe mendicant who has crossed over the bog, who has crushed the thorn of sensuality, who has reached the end of delusion, trembles not at pleasure and pain.\u201d","title":"With Nanda","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":824}