sn.1.34 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

There Are None

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.
Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the Satullapa Group, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.
Standing to one side, one deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
“Among humans there are no sensual pleasures that are permanent.
Here there are sensuous things, bound to which,
drunk on which, there’s no coming back.
That person doesn’t return here from Death’s domain.”
“Misery is born of desire; suffering is born of desire;
when desire is removed, misery is removed;
when misery is removed, suffering is removed.”
“The world’s pretty things aren’t sensual pleasures.
Greedy intention is a person’s sensual pleasure.
The world’s pretty things stay just as they are,
but a wise one removes desire for them.
Give up anger, get rid of conceit,
and get past all the fetters.
Sufferings don’t torment the one who has nothing,
not clinging to name and form.
Judging’s given up, conceit rejected;
craving for name and form is cut off right here.
They’ve cut the ties, untroubled, with no need for hope.
Though gods and humans search for them
in this world and the world beyond, they never find them,
not in heaven nor in any abode.”
“If neither gods nor humans see one freed in this way,”
said Venerable Mogharājā,
“in this world or the world beyond,
are those who revere that supreme person,
who lives for the good of mankind, also worthy of praise?”
“The mendicants who revere one freed in this way,”
said the Buddha,
“are also worthy of praise, Mogharājā.
But having understood the teaching and given up doubt,
those mendicants can escape their chains.”