{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_ud7.9/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_ud7.9","id":"suttacentral_ud7.9","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/ud7.9/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Mallas together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants when he arrived at a brahmin town of the Mallas named Th\u016b\u1e47a. The brahmins and householders of Th\u016b\u1e47a heard: \u201cIt seems the ascetic Gotama\u2014a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family\u2014while wandering in the land of the Mallas has arrived at Th\u016b\u1e47a, together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants.\u201d They filled the well with grass and hay right to the top, thinking, \u201cDon\u2019t let these shavelings, these fake ascetics drink the water.\u201d And then the Buddha left the road, went to the root of a tree, and sat down on the seat spread out. When he was seated he said to Venerable \u0100nanda: \u201cGo on then, \u0100nanda, fetch me some water from that well.\u201d When he said this, Venerable \u0100nanda said to the Buddha, \u201cJust now, sir, the brahmins and householders of Th\u016b\u1e47a filled the well with grass and hay right to the top, thinking, \u2018Don\u2019t let these shavelings, these fake ascetics drink the water.\u2019\u201d For a second time \u2026 For a third time, the Buddha said to \u0100nanda: \u201cGo on then, \u0100nanda, fetch me some water from that well.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied \u0100nanda. Taking his bowl he went to the well. As he approached the well, all the grass and hay erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow. Then Venerable \u0100nanda thought, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might! For when I approached this well, all the grass and hay erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow.\u201d Gathering a bowl of drinking water he went back to the Buddha, and said to him, \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, sir, it\u2019s amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might! For when I approached that well, all the grass and hay erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow. Drink the water, Blessed One! Drink the water, Holy One!\u201d Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: \u201cWhat difference would a well make if water is there all the time? Having cut off craving at the root, who would go out on a quest?\u201d","title":"The Well","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":407}