iti.38 Itivuttaka

Often Occurring Thoughts

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, two thoughts often occur to the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One: the thought of security (for beings) and the thought of solitude.

“The Tathāgata, bhikkhus, is one who delights in and enjoys non-ill will. As the Tathāgata delights in and enjoys non-ill will, this thought often occurs to him: ‘By this behaviour I do not oppress anyone either frail or firm.’The Tathāgata, bhikkhus, is one who delights in and enjoys solitude. As the Tathāgata delights in and enjoys solitude, this thought often occurs to him: ‘What is unwholesome has been abandoned.’

“Therefore, bhikkhus, I say, you too must live delighting in and enjoying non-ill will. As you so live this thought will often occur to you: ‘By this behaviour we do not oppress anyone either frail or firm.’

“Bhikkhus, you too must live delighting in and enjoying solitude. As you so live this thought will often occur to you: ‘What is unwholesome? What has not been abandoned? What have we abandoned?’”

Two thoughts occur to him,
The Tathāgata, the Awakened One
Who endured what is beyond endurance:
Security (for beings) was the first thought spoken of,
Solitude was the second announced.

The dispeller of darkness, gone beyond,
The great sage who has reached attainment,
Become a master, freed from taints,
Who has crossed over entirely,
Released by the destruction of craving—
That sage bears his final body,
And having left behind Māra, I say,
He has gone beyond decay.

As one standing on a mountain peak
Might see all round the people down below,
So having ascended the Dhamma-palace,
The vastly wise one, all-seeing,
Views the people of the world.
The sorrowless one views below
Those still immersed in sorrow,
Overwhelmed by birth and decay.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Thoughts

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Two thoughts, mendicants, often occur to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha:
the thought of sanctuary, and that of seclusion.
The Realized One loves kindness and delights in it,
so this thought often occurs to him:
‘Through this behavior, I shall not hurt any creature firm or frail.’
The Realized One loves seclusion and delights in it,
so this thought often occurs to him:
‘What is unskillful has been given up.’
So, mendicants, you too should love kindness and delight in it,
then this thought will often occur to you:
‘Through this behavior, I shall not hurt any creature firm or frail.’
You too should love seclusion and delight in it,
then this thought will often occur to you:
‘What is unskillful? What is not given up? What should I give up?’”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Two thoughts occur to him,
the Realized One, the bearer of the unbearable:
first mentioned was thought of sanctuary,
then the second made clear was seclusion.
Dispeller of darkness, the great hermit has crossed over:
the attained, the master, the undefiled.
In the midst of it all, he is freed in the ending of craving;
that sage bears his final body.
He has disposed of Māra, I declare, and gone beyond old age.
Standing high on a rocky mountain,
you can see the people all around.
In just the same way, the all-seer, wise one,
having ascended the Temple of Truth,
rid of sorrow, looks upon the people
swamped with sorrow, oppressed by rebirth and old age.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.