Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’ Sanctuary.
Now on that occasion a number of well-known wanderers were staying at the Peacocks’ Sanctuary, the wanderers’ park—that is, Annabhāra, Varadhara, and the wanderer Sakuludāyin, as well as other well-known wanderers.
Then, when it was morning, the Blessed One dressed, and taking his bowl and outer robe, went into Rājagaha for alms. Then he thought: “It is still too early to wander for alms in Rājagaha. Suppose I went to the wanderer Sakuludāyin in the Peacocks’ Sanctuary, the wanderers’ park.”
Then the Blessed One went to the Peacocks’ Sanctuary, the wanderers’ park. Now on that occasion the wanderer Sakuludāyin was seated with a large assembly of wanderers who were making an uproar, loudly and noisily talking many kinds of pointless talk, such as talk of kings…as Sutta 76, §4 … whether things are so or are not so. Then the wanderer Sakuludāyin saw the Blessed One coming in the distance. Seeing him, he quieted his own assembly thus: “Sirs, be quiet; sirs, make no noise. Here comes the recluse Gotama. This venerable one likes quiet and commends quiet. Perhaps if he finds our assembly a quiet one, he will think to join us.” Then the wanderers became silent.
The Blessed One went to the wanderer Sakuludāyin, who said to him: “Let the Blessed One come, venerable sir! Welcome to the Blessed One! It is long since the Blessed One found an opportunity to come here. Let the Blessed One be seated; this seat is ready.”
The Blessed One sat down on the seat made ready, and the wanderer Sakuludāyin took a low seat and sat down at one side. When he had done so, the Blessed One asked him: “For what discussion are you sitting together here now, Udāyin? And what was your discussion that was interrupted?”
“Venerable sir, let be the discussion for which we are now sitting together here. The Blessed One can well hear about it later. In recent days, venerable sir, when recluses and brahmins of various sects have been gathering together and sitting together in the debating hall, this topic has arisen: ‘It is a gain for the people of Anga and Magadha, it is a great gain for the people of Anga and Magadha that these recluses and brahmins, heads of orders, heads of groups, teachers of groups, well-known and famous founders of sects regarded by many as saints, have come to spend the Rains at Rājagaha. There is this Pūraṇa Kassapa, the head of an order, the head of a group, the teacher of a group, the well-known and famous founder of a sect regarded by many as a saint: he has come to spend the Rains at Rājagaha. There is also this Makkhali Gosāla…this Ajita Kesakambalin… this Pakudha Kaccāyana…this Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta…this Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta, the head of an order, the head of a group, the teacher of a group, the well-known and famous founder of a sect regarded by many as a saint: he too has come to spend the Rains at Rājagaha. There is also this recluse Gotama, the head of an order, the head of a group, the teacher of a group, the well-known and famous founder of a sect regarded by many as a saint: he too has come to spend the Rains at Rājagaha. Now among these worthy recluses and brahmins, heads of orders…regarded by many as saints, who is honoured, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples? And how, honouring and respecting him, do they live in dependence on him?’
“Thereupon some said this: ‘This Pūraṇa Kassapa is the head of an order…regarded by many as a saint, yet he is not honoured, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples, nor do his disciples live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him. Once Pūraṇa Kassapa was teaching his Dhamma to an assembly of several hundred followers. Then a certain disciple of his made a noise thus: “Sirs, do not ask Pūraṇa Kassapa this question. He does not know that. We know that. Ask us that question. We will answer that for you, sirs.” It happened that Pūraṇa Kassapa did not get his way, though he waved his arms and wailed: “Be quiet, sirs, make no noise, sirs. They are not asking you, sirs. They are asking us. We will answer them.” Indeed, many of his disciples left him after refuting his doctrine thus: “You do not understand this Dhamma and Discipline. I understand this Dhamma and Discipline. How could you understand this Dhamma and Discipline? Your way is wrong. My way is right. I am consistent. You are inconsistent. What should have been said first, you said last. What should have been said last, you said first. What you had so carefully thought up has been turned inside out. Your doctrine is refuted. You are proved wrong. Go and learn better, or disentangle yourself if you can!” Thus Pūraṇa Kassapa is not honoured, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples, nor do his disciples live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him. Indeed, he is scorned by the scorn shown to his Dhamma.’
“And some said this: ‘This Makkhali Gosāla…this Ajita Kesakambalin…this Pakudha Kaccāyana…this Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta…this Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta is the head of an order…but he is not honoured, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples, nor do his disciples live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him. Indeed, he is scorned by the scorn shown to his Dhamma.’
“And some said this: ‘This recluse Gotama is the head of an order, the head of a group, the teacher of a group, the well-known and famous founder of a sect regarded by many as a saint. He is honoured, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples, and his disciples live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him. Once the recluse Gotama was teaching his Dhamma to an assembly of several hundred followers and there a certain disciple of his cleared his throat. Thereupon one of his companions in the holy life nudged him with his knee to indicate: “Be quiet, venerable sir, make no noise; the Blessed One, the Teacher, is teaching us the Dhamma.” When the recluse Gotama is teaching the Dhamma to an assembly of several hundred followers, on that occasion there is no sound of his disciples’ coughing or clearing their throats. For then that large assembly is poised in expectancy: “Let us hear the Dhamma the Blessed One is about to teach.” Just as though a man were at a crossroads pressing out pure honey and a large group of people were poised in expectancy, so too, when the recluse Gotama is teaching the Dhamma to an assembly of several hundred followers, on that occasion there is no sound of his disciples’ coughing or clearing their throats. For then that large assembly is poised in expectancy: “Let us hear the Dhamma the Blessed One is about to teach.” And even those disciples of his who fall out with their companions in the holy life and abandon the training to return to the low life—even they praise the Master and the Dhamma and the Sangha; they blame themselves instead of others, saying: “We were unlucky, we have little merit; for though we went forth into homelessness in such a well-proclaimed Dhamma, we were unable to live the perfect and pure holy life for the rest of our lives.” Having become monastery attendants or lay followers, they undertake and observe the five precepts. Thus the recluse Gotama is honoured, respected, revered, and venerated by his disciples, and his disciples live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him.’”
“But, Udāyin, how many qualities do you see in me because of which my disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate me, and live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me?”
“Venerable sir, I see five qualities in the Blessed One because of which his disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate him, and live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him. What are the five? First, venerable sir, the Blessed One eats little and commends eating little; this I see as the first quality of the Blessed One because of which his disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate him, and live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him. Again, venerable sir, the Blessed One is content with any kind of robe and commends contentment with any kind of robe; this I see as the second quality of the Blessed One…Again, venerable sir, the Blessed One is content with any kind of almsfood and commends contentment with any kind of almsfood; this I see as the third quality of the Blessed One…Again, venerable sir, the Blessed One is content with any kind of resting place and commends contentment with any kind of resting place; this I see as the fourth quality of the Blessed One…Again, venerable sir, the Blessed One is secluded and commends seclusion; this I see as the fifth quality of the Blessed One…Venerable sir, these are the five qualities I see in the Blessed One because of which his disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate him, and live in dependence on him, honouring and respecting him.”
“Suppose, Udāyin, my disciples honoured, respected, revered, and venerated me, and lived in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me, with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama eats little and commends eating little.’ Now there are disciples of mine who live on a cupful or half a cupful of food, a bilva fruit’s or half a bilva fruit’s quantity of food, while I sometimes eat the full contents of my almsbowl or even more. So if my disciples honoured me…with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama eats little and commends eating little,’ then those disciples of mine who live on a cupful of food…should not honour, respect, revere, and venerate me for this quality, nor should they live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.
“Suppose, Udāyin, my disciples honoured, respected, revered, and venerated me, and lived in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me, with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of robe and commends contentment with any kind of robe.’ Now there are disciples of mine who are refuse-rag wearers, wearers of coarse robes; they collect rags from the charnel ground, rubbish heaps, or shops, make them into patched robes, and wear them. But I sometimes wear robes given by householders, robes so fine that pumpkin hair is coarse in comparison. So if my disciples honoured me…with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of robe and commends contentment with any kind of robe,’ then those disciples of mine who are refuse-rag wearers, wearers of coarse robes…should not honour, respect, revere, and venerate me for this quality, nor should they live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.
“Suppose, Udāyin, my disciples honoured, respected, revered, and venerated me, and lived in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me, with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of almsfood and commends contentment with any kind of almsfood.’ Now there are disciples of mine who are almsfood eaters, who go on unbroken almsround from house to house, who delight in gathering their food; when they have entered among the houses they will not consent even when invited to sit down. But I sometimes eat on invitation meals of choice rice and many sauces and curries. So if my disciples honoured me…with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of almsfood and commends contentment with any kind of almsfood,’ then those disciples of mine who are almsfood eaters…should not honour, respect, revere, and venerate me for this quality, nor should they live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.
“Suppose, Udāyin, my disciples honoured, respected, revered, and venerated me, and lived in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me, with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of resting place and commends contentment with any kind of resting place.’ Now there are disciples of mine who are tree-root dwellers and open-air dwellers, who do not use a roof for eight months of the year, while I sometimes live in gabled mansions plastered within and without, protected against the wind, secured by door bolts, with shuttered windows. So if my disciples honoured me…with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of resting place and commends contentment with any kind of resting place,’ then those disciples of mine who are tree-root dwellers and open-air dwellers…should not honour, respect, revere, and venerate me for this quality, nor should they live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.
“Suppose, Udāyin, my disciples honoured, respected, revered, and venerated me, and lived in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me, with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is secluded and commends seclusion.’ Now there are disciples of mine who are forest dwellers, dwellers in remote resting places, who live withdrawn in remote jungle-thicket resting places and return to the midst of the Sangha once each half-month for the recitation of the Pātimokkha. But I sometimes live surrounded by bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, by men and women lay followers, by kings and kings’ ministers, by other sectarians and their disciples. So if my disciples honoured me…with the thought: ‘The recluse Gotama is secluded and commends seclusion,’ then those disciples of mine who are forest dwellers…should not honour, respect, revere, and venerate me for this quality, nor should they live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me. Thus, Udāyin, it is not because of these five qualities that my disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate me, and live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.
“However, Udāyin, there are five other qualities because of which my disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate me, and live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me. What are the five?
i. The Higher Virtue
“Here, Udāyin, my disciples esteem me for the higher virtue thus: ‘The recluse Gotama is virtuous, he possesses the supreme aggregate of virtue.’ This is the first quality because of which my disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate me, and live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.
ii. Knowledge and Vision
“Again, Udāyin, my disciples esteem me for my excellent knowledge and vision thus: ‘When the recluse Gotama says “I know,” he truly knows; when he says “I see,” he truly sees. The recluse Gotama teaches the Dhamma through direct knowledge, not without direct knowledge; he teaches the Dhamma with a sound basis, not without a sound basis; he teaches the Dhamma in a convincing manner, not in an unconvincing manner.’ This is the second quality because of which my disciples honour me…
iii. The Higher Wisdom
“Again, Udāyin, my disciples esteem me for the higher wisdom thus: ‘The recluse Gotama is wise; he possesses the supreme aggregate of wisdom. It is impossible that he should not foresee the implications of an assertion or that he should not be able to confute with reasons the current doctrines of others.’ What do you think, Udāyin? Would my disciples, knowing and seeing thus, break in and interrupt me?”—“No, venerable sir.”—“I do not expect instruction from my disciples; invariably, it is my disciples who expect instruction from me. This is the third quality because of which my disciples honour me…
iv. The Four Noble Truths
“Again, Udāyin, when my disciples have met with suffering and become victims of suffering, prey to suffering, they come to me and ask me about the noble truth of suffering. Being asked, I explain to them the noble truth of suffering, and I satisfy their minds with my explanation. They ask me about the noble truth of the origin of suffering…about the noble truth of the cessation of suffering…about the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering. Being asked, I explain to them the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering, and I satisfy their minds with my explanation. This is the fourth quality because of which my disciples honour me…
V. The Way to Develop Wholesome States
1. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the four foundations of mindfulness. Here a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. He abides contemplating feelings as feelings…He abides contemplating mind as mind…He abides contemplating mind-objects as mind-objects, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
2. The Four Right Kinds of Striving
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the four right kinds of striving. Here a bhikkhu awakens zeal for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, and he makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. He awakens zeal for the abandoning of arisen evil unwholesome states…He awakens zeal for the arising of unarisen wholesome states…He awakens zeal for the continuance, non-disappearance, strengthening, increase, and fulfilment by development of arisen wholesome states, and he makes effort, arouses energy, exerts his mind, and strives. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
3. The Four Bases for Spiritual Power
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the four bases for spiritual power. Here a bhikkhu develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to zeal and determined striving. He develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to energy and determined striving. He develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to purity of mind and determined striving. He develops the basis for spiritual power consisting in concentration due to investigation and determined striving. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
4. The Five Faculties
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the five spiritual faculties. Here a bhikkhu develops the faculty of faith, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. He develops the faculty of energy…the faculty of mindfulness… the faculty of concentration…the faculty of wisdom, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
5. The Five Powers
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the five powers. Here a bhikkhu develops the power of faith, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. He develops the power of energy…the power of mindfulness…the power of concentration…the power of wisdom, which leads to peace, leads to enlightenment. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
6. The Seven Enlightenment Factors
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the seven enlightenment factors. Here a bhikkhu develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor, which is supported by seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and results in relinquishment. He develops the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor…the energy enlightenment factor…the rapture enlightenment factor…the tranquillity enlightenment factor… the concentration enlightenment factor…the equanimity enlightenment factor, which is supported by seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and results in relinquishment. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
7. The Noble Eightfold Path
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the Noble Eightfold Path. Here a bhikkhu develops right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
8. The Eight Liberations
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the eight liberations. Possessed of material form, one sees forms: this is the first liberation. Not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally: this is the second liberation. One is resolved only upon the beautiful: this is the third liberation. With the complete surmounting of perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of sensory impact, with non-attention to perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite,’ one enters upon and abides in the base of infinite space: this is the fourth liberation. By completely surmounting the base of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite,’ one enters upon and abides in the base of infinite consciousness: this is the fifth liberation. By completely surmounting the base of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing,’ one enters upon and abides in the base of nothingness: this is the sixth liberation. By completely surmounting the base of nothingness, one enters upon and abides in the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception: this is the seventh liberation. By completely surmounting the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, one enters upon and abides in the cessation of perception and feeling: this is the eighth liberation. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
9. The Eight Bases for Transcendence
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the eight bases for transcendence. Perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, limited, fair and ugly; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the first base for transcendence . Perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, immeasurable, fair and ugly; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the second base for transcendence. Not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, limited, fair and ugly; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the third base for transcendence . Not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, immeasurable, fair and ugly; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the fourth base for transcendence. Not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, blue, of blue colour, blue in appearance, with blue luminosity. Just like a flax flower, which is blue, of blue colour, blue in appearance, with blue luminosity, or just like Benares cloth smoothened on both sides, which is blue, of blue colour, blue in appearance, with blue luminosity; so too, not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally…with blue luminosity; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the fifth base for transcendence. Not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, yellow, of yellow colour, yellow in appearance, with yellow luminosity. Just like a kaṇṇikāra flower, which is yellow, of yellow colour, yellow in appearance, with yellow luminosity, or just like Benares cloth smoothened on both sides, which is yellow, of yellow colour, yellow in appearance, with yellow luminosity; so too, not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally…with yellow luminosity; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the sixth base for transcendence. Not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, red, of red colour, red in appearance, with red luminosity. Just like a hibiscus flower, which is red, of red colour, red in appearance, with red luminosity, or just like Benares cloth smoothened on both sides, which is red, of red colour, red in appearance, with red luminosity; so too, not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally…with red luminosity; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the seventh base for transcendence. Not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally, white, of white colour, white in appearance, with white luminosity. Just like the morning star, which is white, of white colour, white in appearance, with white luminosity, or just like Benares cloth smoothened on both sides, which is white, of white colour, white in appearance, with white luminosity; so too, not perceiving form internally, one sees forms externally…with white luminosity; by transcending them, one perceives thus: ‘I know, I see.’ This is the eighth base for transcendence. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
10. The Ten Kasiṇas
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the ten kasiṇa bases. One contemplates the earthkasiṇa above, below, and across, undivided and immeasurable. Another contemplates the water-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the fire-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the air-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the blue-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the yellow-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the red-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the white-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the space-kasiṇa…Another contemplates the consciousness-kasiṇa above, below, and across, undivided and immeasurable. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the perfection and consummation of direct knowledge.
11. The Four Jhānas
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to develop the four jhānas. Here, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, a bhikkhu enters upon and abides in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. He makes the rapture and pleasure born of seclusion drench, steep, fill, and pervade this body, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. Just as a skilled bath man or a bath man’s apprentice heaps bath powder in a metal basin and, sprinkling it gradually with water, kneads it till the moisture wets his ball of bath powder, soaks it and pervades it inside and out, yet the ball itself does not ooze; so too, a bhikkhu makes the rapture and pleasure born of seclusion drench, steep, fill, and pervade this body, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the rapture and pleasure born of seclusion.
“Again, with the stilling of applied and sustained thought, a bhikkhu enters upon and abides in the second jhāna, which has self-confidence and singleness of mind without applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of concentration. He makes the rapture and pleasure born of concentration drench, steep, fill, and pervade this body, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the rapture and pleasure born of concentration. Just as though there were a lake whose waters welled up from below and it had no inflow from east, west, north, or south and would not be replenished from time to time by showers of rain, then the cool fount of water welling up in the lake would make the cool water drench, steep, fill, and pervade the lake, so that there would be no part of the whole lake unpervaded by cool water; so too, a bhikkhu makes the rapture and pleasure born of concentration drench, steep, fill, and pervade this body, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the rapture and pleasure born of concentration.
“Again, with the fading away as well of rapture, a bhikkhu abides in equanimity, and mindful and fully aware, still feeling pleasure with the body, he enters upon and abides in the third jhāna, on account of which noble ones announce: ‘He has a pleasant abiding who has equanimity and is mindful.’ He makes the pleasure divested of rapture drench, steep, fill, and pervade this body, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the pleasure divested of rapture. Just as in a pond of blue or red or white lotuses, some lotuses that are born and grow in the water thrive immersed in the water without rising out of it, and cool water drenches, steeps, fills, and pervades them to their tips and their roots, so that there is no part of all those lotuses unpervaded by cool water; so too, a bhikkhu makes the pleasure divested of rapture drench, steep, fill, and pervade this body, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the pleasure divested of rapture.
“Again, with the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, a bhikkhu enters upon and abides in the fourth jhāna, which has neither-pain-nor-pleasure and purity of mindfulness due to equanimity. He sits pervading this body with a pure bright mind, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the pure bright mind. Just as though a man were sitting covered from the head down with a white cloth, so that there would be no part of his whole body not covered by the white cloth; so too, a bhikkhu sits pervading this body with a pure bright mind, so that there is no part of his whole body unpervaded by the pure bright mind. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
12. Insight Knowledge
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to understand thus : ‘This body of mine, made of material form, consisting of the four great elements, procreated by a mother and father, and built up out of boiled rice and porridge, is subject to impermanence, to being worn and rubbed away, to dissolution and disintegration, and this consciousness of mine is supported by it and bound up with it.’ Suppose there were a beautiful beryl gem of purest water, eight-faceted, well cut, clear and limpid, possessed of all good qualities, and through it a blue, yellow, red, white, or brown thread would be strung. Then a man with good sight, taking it in his hand, might review it thus: ‘This is a beautiful beryl gem of purest water, eight-faceted, well cut, clear and limpid, possessed of all good qualities, and through it is strung a blue, yellow, red, white, or brown thread.’ So too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to understand thus: ‘This body of mine…is subject to impermanence, to being worn and rubbed away, to dissolution and disintegration, and this consciousness of mine is supported by it and bound up with it.’ And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
13. The Mind-Made Body
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to create from this body another body having form, mind-made, with all its limbs, lacking no faculty. Just as though a man were to pull out a reed from its sheath and think thus: ‘This is the sheath, this is the reed; the sheath is one, the reed is another; it is from the sheath that the reed has been pulled out’; or just as though a man were to pull out a sword from its scabbard and think thus: ‘This is the sword, this is the scabbard; the sword is one, the scabbard another; it is from the scabbard that the sword has been pulled out’; or just as though a man were to pull a snake out of its slough and think thus: ‘This is the snake, this is the slough; the snake is one, the slough another; it is from the slough that the snake has been pulled out.’ So too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to create from this body another body having form, mind-made, with all its limbs, lacking no faculty. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
14. The Kinds of Supernormal Power
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to wield the various kinds of supernormal power: having been one, they become many; having been many, they become one; they appear and vanish; they go unhindered through walls, through enclosures, through mountains, as though through space; they dive in and out of the earth as though it were water; they walk on water without sinking as though it were earth; seated cross-legged, they travel in space like birds; with their hands they touch and stroke the moon and sun so powerful and mighty; they wield bodily mastery even as far as the Brahma-world. Just as a skilled potter or his apprentice might create and fashion out of well-prepared clay any shape of pot he wished; or just as a skilled ivory-worker or his apprentice might create and fashion out of well-prepared ivory any ivory work of art he wished; or just as a skilled goldsmith or his apprentice might create and fashion out of well-prepared gold any gold work of art he wished; so too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to wield the various kinds of supernormal power… …they wield bodily mastery even as far as the Brahma-world. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
15. The Divine Ear Element
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the divine ear element, which is purified and surpasses the human, they hear both kinds of sounds, the divine and the human, those that are far as well as near. Just as a vigorous trumpeter might make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters; so too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the divine ear element…far as well as near. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
16. Understanding the Minds of Others
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to understand the minds of other beings, of other persons, having encompassed them with their own minds. They understand a mind affected by lust as affected by lust and a mind unaffected by lust as unaffected by lust; they understand a mind affected by hate as affected by hate and a mind unaffected by hate as unaffected by hate; they understand a mind affected by delusion as affected by delusion and a mind unaffected by delusion as unaffected by delusion; they understand a contracted mind as contracted and a distracted mind as distracted; they understand an exalted mind as exalted and an unexalted mind as unexalted; they understand a surpassed mind as surpassed and an unsurpassed mind as unsurpassed; they understand a concentrated mind as concentrated and an unconcentrated mind as unconcentrated; they understand a liberated mind as liberated and an unliberated mind as unliberated. Just as a man or a woman—young, youthful, and fond of ornaments—on viewing the image of his or her own face in a clean bright mirror or in a bowl of clear water, would know if there were a spot thus: ‘There is a spot,’ or would know if there were no spot thus: ‘There is no spot’; so too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to understand…an unliberated mind as unliberated. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
17. The Recollection of Past Lives
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to recollect their manifold past lives, that is, one birth, two births, three births, four births, five births, ten births, twenty births, thirty births, forty births, fifty births, a hundred births, a thousand births, a hundred thousand births, many aeons of world-contraction, many aeons of world-expansion, many aeons of world-contraction and expansion: ‘There I was so named, of such a clan, with such an appearance, such was my nutriment, such my experience of pleasure and pain, such my life-term; and passing away from there, I reappeared elsewhere; and there too I was so named…and passing away from there, I reappeared here.’ Thus with their aspects and particulars they recollect their manifold past lives. Just as a man might go from his own village to another village and then back again to his own village. He might think: ‘I went from my own village to that village, and there I stood in such a way, sat in such a way, spoke in such a way, kept silent in such a way; and from that village I went to that other village and there I stood in such a way…kept silent in such a way; and from that village I came back again to my own village.’ So too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way to recollect their manifold lives…Thus with their aspects and particulars they recollect their manifold past lives. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
18. The Divine Eye
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, they see beings passing away and reappearing, inferior and superior, fair and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate. They understand how beings pass on according to their actions thus: ‘These worthy beings who were ill conducted in body, speech, and mind, revilers of noble ones, wrong in their views, giving effect to wrong view in their actions, on the dissolution of the body, after death, have reappeared in a state of deprivation, in a bad destination, in perdition, even in hell; but these worthy beings who were well conducted in body, speech, and mind, not revilers of noble ones, right in their views, giving effect to right view in their actions, on the dissolution of the body, after death, have reappeared in a good destination, even in the heavenly world.’ Thus with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, they see beings passing away and reappearing, inferior and superior, fair and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate, and they understand how beings pass on according to their actions. Just as though there were two houses with doors and a man with good sight standing there between them saw people entering the houses and coming out and passing to and fro. So too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the divine eye…They understand how beings pass on according to their actions. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
19. The Destruction of the Taints
“Again, Udāyin, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby by realising for themselves with direct knowledge, they here and now enter upon and abide in the deliverance of mind and deliverance by wisdom that are taintless with the destruction of the taints. Just as if there were a lake in a mountain recess, clear, limpid, and undisturbed, so that a man with good sight standing on the bank could see shells, gravel, and pebbles, and also shoals of fish swimming about and resting. He might think: ‘There is this lake, clear, limpid, and undisturbed, and there are these shells, gravel, and pebbles, and also these shoals of fish swimming about and resting.’ So too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby by realising for themselves with direct knowledge, they here and now enter upon and abide in the deliverance of mind and deliverance by wisdom that are taintless with the destruction of the taints. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and perfection of direct knowledge.
“This, Udāyin, is the fifth quality because of which my disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate me, and live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.
“These, Udāyin, are the five qualities because of which my disciples honour, respect, revere, and venerate me, and live in dependence on me, honouring and respecting me.”
That is what the Blessed One said. The wanderer Udāyin was satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One’s words.
Thus have I heard: at one time the Lord was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove at the squirrels’ feeding place. Now at that time a number of very celebrated wanderers, such as Anugāra, Varadhara and the wanderer Sakuludāyin, and other celebrated wanderers, were staying in the wanderers’ park at the peacocks’ feeding place. Then the Lord, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for almsfood. Then it occurred to the Lord: “It is too early to walk for almsfood in Rājagaha. Suppose I were to approach the wanderers’ park, the peacocks’ feeding place and the wanderer Sakuludāyin?” Then the Lord approached the peacocks’ feeding place in the wanderers’ park.
Now at that time the wanderer Sakuludāyin was sitting down with the great company of wanderers shouting out with a loud noise, a great noise, talking various kinds of inferior talk that is to say: talk on kings, thieves, great ministers, armies, fears, battles, food, drink, clothes, beds, garlands, scents, relations, vehicles, villages, market towns, towns, the country, women, heroes, streets, wells, those departed before, talk of diversity, speculation about the world, speculation about the sea, talk about becoming or not becoming thus or thus.
The wanderer Sakuludāyin saw the Lord coming in the distance; seeing him, he called his own company to order, saying: “Good sirs, let there be little noise; do not, good sirs, make a noise; this is the recluse Gotama who is coming. The recluse Gotama wishes for little noise, is trained to little noise, praises little noise. So he may consider approaching, if he knows that this is a company of little noise.” Then these wanderers fell silent.
Then the Lord approached the wanderer Sakuludāyin. The wanderer Sakuludāyin spoke thus to the Lord: “Let the revered Gotama come, there is a welcome for the revered Gotama; it is long since the revered Gotama made this opportunity! That is to say for coming here. Let the revered Gotama sit down, this seat is ready.” Then the Lord sat down on the seat that was ready. And the wanderer Sakuludāyin, having taken a low seat, sat down at a respectful distance.
The Lord spoke thus to the wanderer Sakuludāyin as he was sitting down at a respectful distance: “What is the talk for which you are now gathered together here, Udāyin? And what was your talk that was interrupted?” “Let be that talk, revered sir, for which we are now gathered together here. It will not be difficult for the Lord to hear this talk later. Some time ago, revered sir, when divers members of other sects, recluses and brahmans, were gathered together and were sitting down in the debating hall, this chance conversation arose: ‘Indeed it is profitable for the people of Aṅga-Magadha, indeed it is well gotten by the people of Aṅga-Magadha that these leaders in religious life, heads of companies, heads of groups, teachers of groups, well known, famous founders of sects, held in high repute by the manyfolk, have come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence.
[1] This Pūraṇa Kassapa is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk; he has come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence. [2] This Makkhali Gosāla too is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk; he has come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence. [3] This Ajita of the hair-blanket too is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk; he has come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence. [4] This Pakudha Kaccāyana too is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk; he has come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence. [5] This Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son too is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk; he has come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence. [6] This Nātaputta the Jain too, is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk; he has come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence. [7] This recluse Gotama too is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk; he has come to Rājagaha for the rains-residence.
Now of these lords, heads of companies, heads of groups, teachers of groups, well known, famous founders of sects, held in high repute by the manyfolk, which is revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples? And how do disciples, revering and respecting, live in dependence?” Some of those who were there spoke thus: ‘This Pūraṇa Kassapa is the head of a company, head of a group, teacher of a group, well known, a famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk. But he is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting him, live in dependence on Pūraṇa Kassapa. Once upon a time Pūraṇa Kassapa was teaching Dhamma to an innumerable assembly. But a certain disciple of his let it be heard: “Do not, good sirs, ask Pūraṇa Kassapa about this matter; he does not know about it, we know about it. Ask us about this matter, we can explain it to the good sirs.”
Once upon a time Pūraṇa Kassapa, with outstretched arms and wailing, did not get the chance (to say): “Let the good sirs be quiet; do not, good sirs, make a noise. These are not asking the good sirs, they are asking us, we will explain to them.” Then many of Pūraṇa Kassapa's disciples, having refuted him, on seceding, said: “You do not understand this Dhamma and discipline, I understand this Dhamma and discipline. How can you understand this Dhamma and discipline? You are faring along wrongly, I am faring along rightly. There is sense in what I say, no sense in what you say. You said at the end what should have been said at the beginning, and said at the beginning what should have been said at the end. Your method is reversed, you are refuted, you are caught out, go away and think out your words, or unravel them if you can.” So Pūraṇa Kassapa is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting, live in dependence on Pūraṇa Kassapa. On the contrary, Pūraṇa Kassapa is reviled with abuse for his behaviour.’
Some spoke thus: ‘This Makkhali Gosāla too is the head of a company, head of a group, teacher of a group, well known, a famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk. But he is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting him, live in dependence on Makkhali Gosāla. Once upon a time Makkhali Gosāla was teaching Dhamma to an innumerable assembly. But a certain disciple of his let it be heard: “Do not, good sirs, ask Makkhali Gosāla about this matter; he does not know about it, we know about it. Ask us about this matter, we can explain it to the good sirs.”
Once upon a time Makkhali Gosāla, with outstretched arms and wailing, did not get the chance (to say): “Let the good sirs be quiet; do not, good sirs, make a noise. These are not asking the good sirs, they are asking us, we will explain to them.” Then many of Makkhali Gosāla's disciples, having refuted him, on seceding, said: “You do not understand this Dhamma and discipline, I understand this Dhamma and discipline. How can you understand this Dhamma and discipline? You are faring along wrongly, I am faring along rightly. There is sense in what I say, no sense in what you say. You said at the end what should have been said at the beginning, and said at the beginning what should have been said at the end. Your method is reversed, you are refuted, you are caught out, go away and think out your words, or unravel them if you can.” So Makkhali Gosāla is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting, live in dependence on Makkhali Gosāla. On the contrary, Makkhali Gosāla is reviled with abuse for his behaviour.’
Some spoke thus: This Ajita of the hair blanket too is the head of a company, head of a group, teacher of a group, well known, a famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk. But he is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting him, live in dependence on Ajita of the hair blanket.
Once upon a time Ajita of the hair blanket was teaching dhamma to an innumerable assembly. But a certain disciple of his let it be heard: “Do not, good sirs, ask Ajita of the hair blanket about this matter; he does not know about it, we know about it. Ask us about this matter, we can explain it to the good sirs.”
Once upon a time Ajita of the hair blanket, with outstretched arms and wailing, did not get the chance (to say): “Let the good sirs be quiet; do not, good sirs, make a noise. These are not asking the good sirs, they are asking us, we will explain to them.” Then many of Ajita of the hair blanket disciples, having refuted him, on seceding, said: “You do not understand this dhamma and discipline, I understand this dhamma and discipline. How can you understand this dhamma and discipline? You are faring along wrongly, I am faring along rightly. There is sense in what I say, no sense in what you say. You said at the end what should have been said at the beginning, and said at the beginning what should have been said at the end. Your method is reversed, you are refuted, you are caught out, go away and think out your words, or unravel them if you can.” So Ajita of the hair blanket is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting, live in dependence on Ajita of the hair blanket. On the contrary, Ajita of the hair blanket is reviled with abuse for his behaviour.’
Some spoke thus: This Pakudha Kaccāyana too is the head of a company, head of a group, teacher of a group, well known, a famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk. But he is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting him, live in dependence on Pakudha Kaccāyana.
Once upon a time Pakudha Kaccāyana was teaching dhamma to an innumerable assembly. But a certain disciple of his let it be heard: “Do not, good sirs, ask Pakudha Kaccāyana about this matter; he does not know about it, we know about it. Ask us about this matter, we can explain it to the good sirs.”
Once upon a time Pakudha Kaccāyana, with outstretched arms and wailing, did not get the chance (to say): “Let the good sirs be quiet; do not, good sirs, make a noise. These are not asking the good sirs, they are asking us, we will explain to them.” Then many of Pakudha Kaccāyana's disciples, having refuted him, on seceding, said: “You do not understand this dhamma and discipline, I understand this dhamma and discipline. How can you understand this dhamma and discipline? You are faring along wrongly, I am faring along rightly. There is sense in what I say, no sense in what you say. You said at the end what should have been said at the beginning, and said at the beginning what should have been said at the end. Your method is reversed, you are refuted, you are caught out, go away and think out your words, or unravel them if you can.” So Pakudha Kaccāyana is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting, live in dependence on Pakudha Kaccāyana. On the contrary, Pakudha Kaccāyana is reviled with abuse for his behaviour.’
Some spoke thus: This Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son too is the head of a company, head of a group, teacher of a group, well known, a famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk. But he is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting him, live in dependence on Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son. Once upon a time Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son was teaching dhamma to an innumerable assembly. But a certain disciple of his let it be heard: “Do not, good sirs, ask Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son about this matter; he does not know about it, we know about it. Ask us about this matter, we can explain it to the good sirs.”
Once upon a time Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son, with outstretched arms and wailing, did not get the chance (to say): “Let the good sirs be quiet; do not, good sirs, make a noise. These are not asking the good sirs, they are asking us, we will explain to them.” Then many of Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son's disciples, having refuted him, on seceding, said: “You do not understand this dhamma and discipline, I understand this dhamma and discipline. How can you understand this dhamma and discipline? You are faring along wrongly, I am faring along rightly. There is sense in what I say, no sense in what you say. You said at the end what should have been said at the beginning, and said at the beginning what should have been said at the end. Your method is reversed, you are refuted, you are caught out, go away and think out your words, or unravel them if you can.” So Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting, live in dependence on Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son. On the contrary, Sañjaya Belaṭṭhi's son is reviled with abuse for his behaviour.’
Some spoke thus: This Nātaputta the Jain too is the head of a company, head of a group, teacher of a group, well known, a famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk. But he is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting him, live in dependence on Nātaputta the Jain.
Once upon a time Nātaputta the Jain was teaching dhamma to an innumerable assembly. But a certain disciple of his let it be heard: “Do not, good sirs, ask Nātaputta the Jain about this matter; he does not know about it, we know about it. Ask us about this matter, we can explain it to the good sirs.”
Once upon a time Nātaputta the Jain, with outstretched arms and wailing, did not get the chance (to say): “Let the good sirs be quiet; do not, good sirs, make a noise. These are not asking the good sirs, they are asking us, we will explain to them.” Then many of Nātaputta the Jain's disciples, having refuted him, on seceding, said: “You do not understand this dhamma and discipline, I understand this dhamma and discipline. How can you understand this dhamma and discipline? You are faring along wrongly, I am faring along rightly. There is sense in what I say, no sense in what you say. You said at the end what should have been said at the beginning, and said at the beginning what should have been said at the end. Your method is reversed, you are refuted, you are caught out, go away and think out your words, or unravel them if you can.” So Nātaputta the Jain is not revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, nor do disciples, revering and respecting, live in dependence on Nātaputta the Jain. On the contrary, Nātaputta the Jain is reviled with abuse for his behaviour.’
Some spoke thus: ‘This recluse Gotama is the head of a company, head of a group, the teacher of a group, he is well known, the famous founder of a sect, held in high repute by the manyfolk. He is revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples; and disciples, revering and respecting the recluse Gotama, live in dependence on him.
Once upon a time the recluse Gotama was teaching Dhamma to an innumerable assembly. Then a certain disciple of the recluse Gotama coughed. A fellow Brahma-farer touched him with his knee and said: “Let the venerable one be quiet; let the venerable one make no noise. The Teacher, our Lord, is teaching Dhamma.”
At the time when the recluse Gotama was teaching Dhamma to an innumerable assembly, there was the sound neither of expectoration nor of coughing among his disciples. Any group of people who were waiting were ready for him, thinking: “We will hear that Dhamma that the Lord will teach us.”
It is as though a man at a crossing on a high road might press out a little pure honey, and any group of people who were waiting might be ready for him. Even so at the time when the recluse Gotama was teaching Dhamma to an innumerable assembly, there was the sound neither of expectoration nor of coughing among his disciples. Any group of people who were waiting were ready for him, thinking: “We will hear that Dhamma that the Lord will teach us.”
And those disciples of the recluse Gotama who, quarrelling with fellow Brahma-farers and disavowing the training, return to the secular life, even these are speakers in praise of the Teacher, they are speakers in praise of Dhamma and speakers in praise of the Order. They censure only themselves, they do not censure others, but say: “It is we ourselves that are unfortunate, it is we that are of little merit, in that we, although we have gone forth thus in this Dhamma and discipline that are well taught, are unable for as long as life lasts to fare the Brahma-faring wholly complete, wholly purified.” These, becoming monastery attendants or lay-disciples, live undertaking the five rules of training.
Thus it is that the recluse Gotama is revered, respected, esteemed, honoured by disciples, and that disciples, revering and respecting the recluse Gotama, live in dependence on him.’”
“But how many things do you behold in me, Udāyin, for which my disciples revere, respect, esteem and honour me, and revering and respecting, live in dependence (on me)?” “I, revered sir, behold five things for which disciples revere, respect, and honour the Lord, and, revering and respecting, live in dependence. What are the five?
[1] Revered sir, the Lord eats little and speaks in praise of eating little. That the Lord eats little and speaks in praise of eating little, this is the first thing that I, revered sir, behold in the Lord for which disciples revere, respect, and honour the Lord, and, revering and respecting, live in dependence. [2] And again, revered sir, the Lord is contented with any kind of robe-material and speaks in praise of content with any kind of robe-material. This is the second thing that I, revered sir, behold in the Lord for which disciples revere, respect, and honour the Lord, and, revering and respecting, live in dependence. [3] And again, revered sir, the Lord is contented with any kind of almsfood and speaks in praise of content with any kind of almsfood. This is the third thing that I, revered sir, behold in the Lord for which disciples revere, respect, and honour the Lord, and, revering and respecting, live in dependence. [4] And again, revered sir, the Lord is contented with any kind of lodgings and speaks in praise of content with any kind of lodgings. This is the fourth thing that I, revered sir, behold in the Lord for which disciples revere, respect, and honour the Lord, and, revering and respecting, live in dependence. [5] And again, revered sir, the Lord is aloof and speaks in praise of aloofness. That the Lord is aloof and speaks in praise of aloofness, this is the fifth that I, revered sir, behold in the Lord for which disciples revere, respect, and honour the Lord, and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.
These, revered sir, are the five things I behold in the Lord for which disciples revere, respect, and honour the Lord, and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.”
“‘The recluse Gotama eats little and speaks in praise of eating little”, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, there are disciples of mine, Udāyin, who live on a saucer of food and on half a saucer of food and on a fruit of the vilva tree and on half a fruit of the vilva tree. But I, Udāyin, sometimes eat to the full of this bowl, and I eat more than that. ‘The recluse Gotama eats little and speaks in praise of eating little’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, it would not be, Udāyin, those of my disciples who live on a saucer of food and on half a saucer of food and on a fruit of the vilva tree and on half a fruit of the vilva tree who would revere, respect, esteem and honour me for this behaviour (of mine) and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence.
‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of robe-material and speaks in praise of content with any kind of robe-material’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, there are disciples of mine, Udāyin, who are wearers of rag-robes taken from a dust-heap, and who wear robes that are worn thin; collecting shreds of cloth from a cemetery, a rubbish heap or shop and having made up an outer cloak, they wear it. I, Udāyin, sometimes wear householders’ robe-material, strengthening it if it is worn thin with thread from the white gourd. ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of robe-material and speaks in praise of content with any kind of robe-material’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, it would not be, Udāyin, those of my disciples who are wearers of rag-robes taken from a dust-heap, and who wear robes that are worn thin; or those who, collecting shreds of cloth from a cemetery, a rubbish heap or shop and who, having made up an outer cloak, wear it, who would revere, respect, esteem, honour me for this behaviour (of mine) and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence.
‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of almsfood and speaks in praise of content with any kind of almsfood’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, there are disciples of mine, Udāyin, who eat only what is received into the begging bowl, who walk on an uninterrupted alms-round, pleased with scraps of food; these, having gone in amid the houses, even if offered a seat do not consent (to accept it). But I, Udāyin, sometimes eat where I am invited: rice, rice-gruel, rice from which the black grains have been removed, a variety of curries, a variety of condiments. ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of almsfood and speaks in praise of content with any kind of almsfood’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, it would not be, Udāyin, those of my disciples who eat only what is received into the begging-bowl, who walk on an uninterrupted alms-round, pleased with scrap of food, and who, having gone in amid the houses, even if offered a seat do not consent (to accept it), who would revere, respect, esteem and honour me for this behaviour (of mine) and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence.
‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of lodging and speaks in praise of content with any kind of lodging’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, there are disciples of mine, Udāyin, who live at the roots of trees, in the open air, and who for eight months do not go under a roof. But I, Udāyin, sometimes stay in gabled houses, smeared inside and out, sheltered from the winds, having door-bolts that fasten and windows that close. ‘The recluse Gotama is content with any kind of lodging and speaks in praise of content with any kind of lodging’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, it would not be, Udāyin, those of my disciples who live at the roots of trees, in the open air, and who for eight months do not go under a roof, who would revere, respect, esteem and honour me for this behaviour (of mine) and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence.
‘The recluse Gotama is aloof and speaks in praise of aloofness’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, there are disciples of mine, Udāyin, who have gone to remote lodgings in the forest and who, having plunged into remote lodgings in forest and jungle, stay there; these return to the midst of the Order every half-month for the recitation of the Obligations. But I, Udāyin, sometimes stay crowded round by monks and nuns, men and women lay-disciples, by kings and kings’ chief ministers, by leaders and disciples of other sects.’ ‘The recluse Gotama is aloof and speaks in praise of aloofness’, if it were for this, Udāyin, that disciples would revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence, it would not be, Udāyin, those of my disciples who have gone to remote lodgings in the forest and who, having plunged into remote lodgings in forest and jungle, stay there, but who return to the midst of the Order every half-month for the recitation of the Obligations, who would revere, respect, esteem and honour me for this behaviour (of mine) and, revering and respecting, would live in dependence.
It is thus, Udāyin, for these five ways of behaving, that disciples do not revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence. But there are, Udāyin, five other things for which disciples revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence. What are the five?
[1] As to this, Udāyin, disciples of mine admire the higher morality, and think: ‘The recluse Gotama is of moral habit, he is possessed of the most excellent body of moral habit.’ Inasmuch, Udāyin, as disciples of mine admire the higher morality, and think: ‘The recluse Gotama is of moral habit, he is possessed of the most excellent body of moral habit.’ This is the first thing, Udāyin, for which disciples of mine revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.
[2] And again, Udāyin, disciples of mine admire the surpassing knowledge-and-vision, and think: ‘When the recluse Gotama says: “I know, I see”, it is because he does know, does see. The recluse Gotama teaches Dhamma from super-knowledge, not without super-knowledge; the recluse Gotama teaches Dhamma that has a causal basis, not without a causal basis; the recluse Gotama teaches Dhamma that is convincing, not unconvincing.’ Inasmuch, Udāyin, as disciples of mine admire the surpassing knowledge-and-vision, and think: ‘When the recluse Gotama says: “I know, I see”, it is because he does know, does see. The recluse Gotama teaches Dhamma from super-knowledge, not without super-knowledge; the recluse Gotama teaches Dhamma that has a causal basis, not without a causal basis; the recluse Gotama teaches Dhamma that is convincing, not unconvincing.’ This is the second thing, Udāyin, for which disciples of mine revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.
[3] And again, Udāyin, disciples of mine admire the higher wisdom, and the situation does not occur when they think: ‘The recluse Gotama is wise; he is endowed with the most excellent body of wisdom. (Yet) he will not see (in advance) a future way of speech nor will he refute with Dhamma a present opposed teaching that is rightly (to be) refuted.’ What do you think about this, Udāyin? Could disciples of mine, knowing thus, seeing thus, interrupt a chance conversation?” “No, revered sir.” “It is not I, Udāyin, that expect instruction from disciples; on the contrary, it is the disciples themselves that expect instruction from me. So that, Udāyin, the situation does not occur when disciples of mine who admire the higher wisdom think: ‘He would neither see (in advance) a future way of speech nor would he refute with Dhamma a present opposed teaching that is rightly (to be) refuted.’ This is the third thing, Udāyin, for which disciples of mine revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.
[4] And again, Udāyin, those disciples of mine who are beset by some anguish, overwhelmed by anguish, having approached me, ask about the ariyan truth of anguish. On being asked by them about the ariyan truth of anguish, I explain. I bend my mind to the answer to their question. And again, Udāyin, those disciples of mine who are beset by some anguish, overwhelmed by anguish, having approached me, ask about the ariyan truth of the uprising of anguish. On being asked by them about the ariyan truth of anguish, I explain. I bend my mind to the answer to their question. And again, Udāyin, those disciples of mine who are beset by some anguish, overwhelmed by anguish, having approached me, ask about the ariyan truth of the stopping of anguish. On being asked by them about the ariyan truth of anguish, I explain. I bend my mind to the answer to their question. And again, Udāyin, those disciples of mine who are beset by some anguish, overwhelmed by anguish, having approached me, ask about the ariyan truth of the course leading to the stopping of anguish. On being asked by them about the ariyan truth leading to the stopping of anguish, I explain. I bend my mind to the answer to their question. This is the fourth thing, Udāyin, for which disciples of mine revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.
[5] And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the four applications of mindfulness. Herein, Udāyin, a monk fares along contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly conscious (of it), mindful (of it), so as to control the covetousness and dejection in the world. He fares along contemplating the feelings in the feelings, ardent, clearly conscious (of it), mindful (of it), so as to control the covetousness and dejection in the world. He fares along contemplating the mind in the mind, ardent, clearly conscious (of it), mindful (of it), so as to control the covetousness and dejection in the world. He fares along contemplating fares along contemplating mental objects in mental objects, ardent, clearly conscious (of it), mindful (of it), so as to control the covetousness and dejection in the world.
As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge. And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the four right strivings. Herein, Udāyin, a monk generates desire, he endeavours, stirs up energy, exerts his mind and strives for the non-arising of evil unskilled states of mind that have not arisen; he generates desire, he endeavours, stirs up energy, exerts his mind and strives for the getting rid of evil unskilled states of mind that have arisen; he generates desire, he endeavours, stirs up energy, exerts his mind and strives for the arising of skilled states of mind that have not arisen; he generates desire, he endeavours, stirs up energy, exerts his mind and strives for the maintenance, preservation, increase, maturity, development and completion of skilled states of mind that have arisen. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the four bases of psychic power. Herein, Udāyin, a monk cultivates the basis of psychic power that is possessed of concentration of intention with activities of striving; he cultivates the basis of psychic power that is possessed of concentration of energy with activities of striving; he cultivates the basis of psychic power that is possessed of concentration of consciousness with activities of striving; he cultivates the basis of psychic power that is possessed of concentration of investigation with activities of striving. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the five controlling faculties. Herein, Udāyin, a monk develops the controlling faculty of faith, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the controlling faculty of energy, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the controlling faculty of mindfulness, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the controlling faculty of concentration, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the controlling faculty of wisdom, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the five powers. Herein, Udāyin, a monk develops the power of faith, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the power of energy, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the power of mindfulness, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the power of concentration, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening; he develops the power of wisdom, leading to tranquillity, leading to awakening. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the seven limbs of awakening. Herein, Udāyin, a monk develops mindfulness as a limb of awakening and which is dependent on aloofness, dependent on dispassion, dependent on stopping, ending in renunciation; he develops investigation of Dhamma as a limb of awakening and which is dependent on aloofness, dependent on dispassion, dependent on stopping, ending in renunciation; he develops energy as a limb of awakening and which is dependent on aloofness, dependent on dispassion, dependent on stopping, ending in renunciation; he develops rapture as a limb of awakening and which is dependent on aloofness, dependent on dispassion, dependent on stopping, ending in renunciation; he develops serenity as a limb of awakening and which is dependent on aloofness, dependent on dispassion, dependent on stopping, ending in renunciation; he develops concentration as a limb of awakening and which is dependent on aloofness, dependent on dispassion, dependent on stopping, ending in renunciation; he develops even-mindedness as a limb of awakening and which is dependent on aloofness, dependent on dispassion, dependent on stopping, ending in renunciation. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the ariyan eightfold Way. Herein, Udāyin, a monk develops perfect view, he develops perfect intention, he develops perfect speech, he develops perfect action, he develops perfect mode of livelihood, he develops perfect endeavour, he develops perfect mindfulness, he develops perfect concentration. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the eight Deliverances. Being in the fine-material sphere, he sees material shapes; this is the first deliverance. Not perceiving material shape internally he sees external material shapes; this is the second deliverance. By thinking of the Fair, he is intent on it; this is the third deliverance. By passing quite beyond perceptions of material shapes, by the going down of perceptions of sensory reactions, by not attending to perceptions of variety, thinking: ‘Ether is unending’ entering on the plane of infinite ether, he abides in it; this is the fourth deliverance. By passing quite beyond the plane of infinite ether, thinking: ‘Consciousness is unending,’ entering on the plane of infinite consciousness, he abides in it; this is the fifth deliverance. By passing quite beyond the plane of infinite consciousness, thinking: ‘There is not anything,’ entering on the plane of no-thing, he abides in it; this is the sixth deliverance. By passing quite beyond the plane of no-thing, entering on the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he abides in it; this is the seventh deliverance. By passing quite beyond the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, entering on the stopping of perception and feeling, he abides in it; this is the eighth deliverance. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the eight spheres of mastery. [1] Perceiving material shape internally, one sees external material shapes, small, comely, ugly, and he is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’; this is the first sphere of mastery. [2] Perceiving material shape internally, another sees external material shapes, illimitable, comely, ugly, and he is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’; this is the second sphere of mastery. [3] Not perceiving material shape internally, another sees external material shapes, small, comely, ugly, and he is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’; this is the third sphere of mastery. [4] Not perceiving material shape internally, another sees external material shapes, illimitable, comely, ugly, and he is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’; this is the fourth sphere of mastery. [5] Not perceiving material shape internally, another sees external material shapes that are blue-green, blue-green in colour, blue-green in appearance, reflecting blue-green. As the flax blossom is blue-green, blue-green in colour, blue-green in appearance, reflecting blue-green; or again, as that fine muslin of Benares, of delicate finish on both sides, is blue-green, blue-green in colour, blue-green in appearance, reflecting blue-green, even so anyone who, not perceiving material shape internally, sees external material shapes that are blue-green, blue-green in colour, blue-green in appearance, reflecting blue-green, is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’ this is the fifth sphere of mastery. [6] Not perceiving material shape internally, another sees external material shapes that are yellow, yellow in colour, yellow in appearance, reflecting yellow. As the kaṇṇikār blossom is yellow, yellow in colour, yellow in appearance, reflecting yellow, or again, as that fine muslin of Benares, of delicate finish on both sides, is yellow, yellow in colour, yellow in appearance, reflecting yellow, even so anyone who, not perceiving material shape internally, sees external material shapes that are yellow, yellow in colour, yellow in appearance, reflecting yellow, is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’ this is the sixth sphere of mastery. [7] Not perceiving material shape internally, another sees external material shapes that are red, red in colour, red in appearance, reflecting red. As the bandhujīvak blossom is red, red in colour, red in appearance, reflecting red or again, as that fine muslin of Benares, of delicate finish on both sides, is red, red in colour, red in appearance, reflecting red even so anyone who, not perceiving material shape internally, sees external material shapes that are red, red in colour, red in appearance, reflecting red, is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’ this is the seventh sphere of mastery. [8] Not perceiving material shape internally, another sees external material shapes that are white, white in colour, white in appearance, reflecting white. As the morning star is white, white in colour, white in appearance, reflecting white, or again, as that fine muslin of Benares, of delicate finish on both sides, is white, white in colour, white in appearance, reflecting white, even so anyone who, not perceiving material shape internally, sees external material shapes that are white, white in colour, white in appearance, reflecting white, is one perceiving thus: ‘Having mastered them, I know, I see’; this is the eighth sphere of mastery. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the ten spheres of the devices. [1] One is aware of the earth-device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [2] another is aware of the water-device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [3] another is aware of the fire-device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [4] another is aware of the wind-device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [5] another is aware of the blue-green device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [6] another is aware of the yellow device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [7] another is aware of the red device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [8] another is aware of the white device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [9] another is aware of the space device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable; [10] another is aware of the consciousness device above, below, across, undivided, illimitable. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine develop the four meditations. [1] Herein, Udāyin, a monk, aloof from pleasures of the senses, aloof from unskilled states of mind, enters and abides in the first meditation which is accompanied by initial thought and discursive thought, is born of aloofness, and is rapturous and joyful. He drenches, saturates, permeates, suffuses this very body with the rapture and joy that are born of aloofness; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused with the rapture and joy that are born of aloofness. Udāyin, as a skilled bath-attendant or his apprentice, having sprinkled bath-powder into a bronze vessel, might knead it together with drops of water until the ball of lather has taken up moisture, is drenched with moisture, suffused with moisture inside and out, but there is no oozing, even so, Udāyin, does a monk drench, saturate, permeate, suffuse this very body with the rapture and joy that are born of aloofness; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused with the rapture and joy that are born of aloofness. [2] And again, Udāyin, a monk, by allaying initial and discursive thought, with the mind subjectively tranquillised and fixed on one point, enters on and abides in the second meditation which is devoid of initial and discursive thought, is born of concentration and is rapturous and joyful. He drenches, saturates, permeates, suffuses this very body with the rapture and joy that are born of concentration; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused with the rapture and joy that are born of concentration. Udāyin, as a pool of water with water welling up within it, but which has no inlet for water from the eastern side, no inlet for water from the western side, no inlet for water from the northern side, no inlet for water from the southern side, and even if the god did not send down showers upon it from time to time, yet a current of cool water having welled up from that pool would drench, saturate, permeate, suffuse that pool with cool water; there would be no part of that pool that was not suffused with cool water. Even so, Udāyin, does a monk drench, saturate, permeate, suffuse this very body with the rapture and joy that are born of concentration; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused with the rapture and joy that are born of concentration. [3] And again, Udāyin, a monk by the fading out of rapture, dwells with equanimity, attentive and clearly conscious and experiences in his person that joy of which the ariyans say: ‘Joyful lives he who has equanimity and is mindful,’ and he enters on and abides in the third meditation. He drenches, saturates, permeates, suffuses this very body with the joy that has no rapture; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused with the joy that has no rapture. As in a pond of white lotuses or a pond of red lotuses or a pond of blue lotuses, some white lotuses or red lotuses or blue lotuses are born in the water, grow up in the water, never rising above the surface but flourishing beneath it, these from their roots to their tips are drenched, saturated, permeated, suffused by cool water. Even so, Udāyin, a monk drenches, saturates, permeates, suffuses this very body with the joy that has no rapture; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused with the joy that has no rapture. [4] And again, Udāyin, a monk by getting rid of joy and by getting rid of anguish, by the going down of his former pleasures and sorrows, enters on and abides in the fourth meditation which has neither anguish nor joy, and which is entirely purified by equanimity and mindfulness. He, having suffused this very body with a mind that is utterly pure, utterly clean, comes to be sitting down; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused with a mind that is utterly pure, utterly clean. Udāyin, as a monk might be sitting down who has clothed himself including his head with a white cloth, no part of his whole body would not be suffused with the white cloth. Even so, Udāyin, a monk, having suffused this very body with a mind that is utterly pure, utterly clean, comes to be sitting down; there is no part of his whole body that is not suffused by a mind that is utterly pure, utterly clean. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine comprehend thus: ‘This body of mine, having material shape, made of the four great elements, originated from mother and father, nourished on gruel and sour milk, is of a nature to be constantly rubbed away, pounded away, broken up and scattered, but this consciousness of mine is fastened there, bound there. Udāyin, as an emerald jewel, of lovely water, well cut into eight facets, translucent, flawless, having all good qualities, might be strung on a thread, blue-green or yellow or red or white or orange-coloured; and a man with vision, having put it in his hand, might reflect: ‘This emerald jewel of lovely water, well cut into eight facets, translucent, flawless, having all good qualities, might be strung on a thread, blue-green or yellow or red or white or orange-coloured.’ Even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine know thus: ‘This body of mine, having material shape, made of the four great elements, originated from mother and father, nourished on gruel and sour milk, is of a nature to be constantly rubbed away, pounded away, broken up and scattered, but this consciousness of mine is fastened there, bound there.’ As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine from this body (mentally) produce (another) body, having material shape, mind-made, having all its major and minor parts, not deficient in any sense-organ. As, Udāyin, a man might draw an arrow from a reed and might think thus: ‘This is the reed, this the arrow, the reed is one thing, the arrow another; it is from the reed that the arrow has been drawn’; or again, Udāyin, as a man might draw a sword from the scabbard and might think thus: ‘This is the sword, this the scabbard, the sword is one thing, the scabbard another; it is from the scabbard that the sword has been drawn’; or again, Udāyin, as a man might take a snake out of the slough and might think thus: ‘This is the snake, this the slough, the snake is one thing, the slough another; it is from the slough that the snake has been taken out.’ Even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which my disciples from this body (mentally) produce (another) body, having material shape, mind-made, having all its major and minor parts, not deficient in any sense-organ. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine experience the various forms of psychic power; [1] having been one they become manifold; [2] having been manifold they become one; [3] manifest or invisible they go unhindered through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain as if through air; [4] they plunge into the ground and up again as if in water; [5] they walk upon the water without parting it as if on the ground; [6] sitting cross-legged they travel through the air like a bird on the wing; [7] and with their hands they rub and stroke this moon and sun which are of such power and majesty, and even as far as the Brahma-world they have power with the person. As, Udāyin, a skilled potter or potter's apprentice from properly prepared clay could make whatever shaped clay vessel he wished; or as a skilled ivory-worker or ivory-worker's apprentice from properly prepared ivory could make whatever shaped ivory vessel he wished; or as a skilled goldsmith or goldsmith's apprentice from properly prepared gold could make whatever shaped gold vessel he wished, even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine experience the various forms of psychic power experience the various forms of psychic power; [1] having been one they become manifold; [2] having been manifold they become one; [3] manifest or invisible they go unhindered through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain as if through air; [4] they plunge into the ground and up again as if in water; they walk upon the water without parting it as if on the ground; [5] sitting cross-legged they travel through the air like a bird on the wing; [6] and with their hands they rub and stroke this moon and sun which are of such power and majesty, and even as far as the Brahma-world they have power with the person. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine, through the purified deva-element of hearing, surpassing that of men, hear both sounds; the deva-like and the human, those that are distant and those that are near. As, Udāyin, a powerful conch-blower could, without trouble, inform the four quarters, even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine through the purified deva-element of hearing surpassing that of men, hear both sounds; the deva-like and the human, those that are distant and those that are near. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine comprehend with the mind the minds of other beings, of other individuals; they comprehend the mind with attachment as a mind with attachment; they comprehend the mind without attachment as a mind without attachment; they comprehend the mind with aversion as a mind with aversion; they comprehend the mind without aversion as a mind without aversion; they comprehend the mind with confusion as a mind with confusion; they comprehend the mind without confusion as a mind without confusion; they comprehend the mind that is contracted as a mind that is contracted; they comprehend the mind that is distracted as a mind that is distracted; they comprehend the mind that has become great as a mind that has become great; they comprehend the mind that has not become great as a mind that has not become great; they comprehend the mind with (some other mental state) superior to it as a mind with (some other mental state) superior to it; they comprehend the mind with no (other mental state) superior to it as a mind with no (other mental state) superior to it; they comprehend the mind that is composed as a mind that is composed; they comprehend the mind that is not composed as a mind that is not composed; they comprehend the mind that is freed as a mind that is freed; they comprehend the mind that is not freed as a mind that is not freed. Udāyin, it is like a woman or a man, young and of tender years, fond of adornment, who, regarding the reflection of (her or his) own face in a perfectly pure and perfectly clean mirror or in a bowl of clear water would, if it had a mole on it, know that it had, and if not, would know that it had not. Even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine comprehend with the mind the mind of other beings, of other individuals; they comprehend the mind with attachment as a mind with attachment; they comprehend the mind without attachment as a mind without attachment; they comprehend the mind with aversion as a mind with aversion; they comprehend the mind without aversion as a mind without aversion; they comprehend the mind with confusion as a mind with confusion; they comprehend the mind without confusion as a mind without confusion; they comprehend the mind that is contracted as a mind that is contracted; they comprehend the mind that is distracted as a mind that is distracted; they comprehend the mind that has become great as a mind that has become great; they comprehend the mind that has not become great as a mind that has not become great; they comprehend the mind with (some other mental state) superior to it as a mind with (some other mental state) superior to it; they comprehend the mind with no (other mental state) superior to it as a mind with no (other mental state) superior to it; they comprehend the mind that is composed as a mind that is composed; they comprehend the mind that is not composed as a mind that is not composed; they comprehend the mind that is freed as a mind that is freed; they comprehend the mind that is not freed as a mind that is not freed. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine recollect a variety of former habitations, that is to say: one birth, two births, three births, four births, five births, ten births, twenty births, forty births, fifty births, a hundred births, a thousand births, a hundred thousand births, many an eon of integration, many an eon of disintegration, many an eon of integration-disintegration; such a one was I by name, having such and such a clan, such and such a colour, so was I nourished, such and such pleasant and painful experiences were mine, so did the span of life end. Passing from this, I came to be in another state where such a one was I by name, having such and such a clan, such and such a colour, so was I nourished, such and such pleasant and painful experiences were mine, so did the span of life end. Passing from this I arose here. Thus may I remember (my) divers former habitations in all their modes and detail,’ Udāyin, it is like a man who might go from his own village to another village, and who from that village might go to another village and from that village might return to his own village. This might occur to him: ‘I went from my own village to a certain other village where I stood thus, sat down thus, spoke thus, was silent thus; and from that village I went to another village where too I stood thus, sat down thus, spoke thus, was silent thus; then from that village I returned to my own village.’ Even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine recollect a variety of former habitations, that is to say: one birth, two births, three births, four births, five births, ten births, twenty births, forty births, fifty births, a hundred births, a thousand births, a hundred thousand births, many an eon of integration, many an eon of disintegration, many an eon of integration-disintegration; such a one was I by name, having such and such a clan, such and such a colour, so was I nourished, such and such pleasant and painful experiences were mine, so did the span of life end. Passing from this, I came to be in another state where such a one was I by name, having such and such a clan, such and such a colour, so was I nourished, such and such pleasant and painful experiences were mine, so did the span of life end. Passing from this I arose here. Thus may I remember (my) divers former habitations in all their modes and detail,’ As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine with the purified deva-vision surpassing that of men, see beings as they are passing hence and coming to be, and they comprehend that beings are mean, excellent, comely, ugly, well-going, ill-going, according to the consequences of deeds and they think: Indeed these worthy beings were possessed of wrong conduct in body, speech and thought, they were scoffers at the ariyans, holding a wrong view, incurring deeds consequent on a wrong view, these, at the breaking up of the body after dying, have arisen in a sorrowful state, a bad bourn, the abyss, Niraya Hell. But these worthy beings who were possessed of good conduct in body, speech and thought, who were not scoffers at the ariyans, holding a right view, incurring deeds consequent on a right view, these at the breaking up of the body after dying have arisen in a good bourn, a heaven world. Thus with the purified deva-vision surpassing that of men, see beings as they are passing hence and coming to be, and they comprehend that beings are mean, excellent, comely, ugly, well-going, ill-going, according to the consequences of deeds. It is as if, Udāyin, there might be two houses with doors, and if a man with vision were standing there between them he might see people entering and leaving the houses, visiting and strolling about. Even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine with the purified deva-vision surpassing that of men, see beings as they are passing hence and coming to be, and they comprehend that beings are mean, excellent, comely, ugly, well-going, ill-going, according to the consequences of deeds and they think: Indeed these worthy beings were possessed of wrong conduct in body, speech and thought, they were scoffers at the ariyans, holding a wrong view, incurring deeds consequent on a wrong view, these, at the breaking up of the body after dying, have arisen in a sorrowful state, a bad bourn, the abyss, Niraya Hell. But these worthy beings who were possessed of good conduct in body, speech and thought, who were not scoffers at the ariyans, holding a right view, incurring deeds consequent on a right view, these at the breaking up of the body after dying have arisen in a good bourn, a heaven world. Thus with the purified deva-vision surpassing that of men, see beings as they are passing hence and coming to be, and they comprehend that beings are mean, excellent, comely, ugly, well-going, ill-going, according to the consequences of deeds. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
And again, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine by the destruction of the cankers, having realised here-now through their own super-knowledge the freedom of mind and the freedom through intuitive wisdom that are cankerless, enter and abide therein. Udāyin, it is like a pure, limpid, serene pool of water where, if a man with vision were standing on the bank, he might see oysters and shells, and gravel and pebbles, and shoals of fish moving about and keeping still. It might occur to him: ‘This pool of water is pure, limpid, serene, here these oysters and shells, and the gravel and pebbles, and shoals of fish are moving about and keeping still.’ Even so, Udāyin, a course has been pointed out by me for disciples, practising which disciples of mine by the destruction of the cankers, having realised here-now through their own super-knowledge the freedom of mind and the freedom through wisdom that are cankerless, enter and abide therein. As to this, many of my disciples abide attained to accomplishment and to going beyond through super-knowledge.
This, Udāyin, is the fifth thing for which disciples of mine revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.
These, Udāyin, are the five things for which disciples of mine revere, respect, esteem and honour me and, revering and respecting, live in dependence.”
Thus spoke the Lord. Delighted, the wanderer Sakuludāyin rejoiced in what the Lord had said.
Greater Discourse to Sakuludāyin: The Seventh
- Translator: I.B. Horner
