Discourse sn.35.88 - buddha.co.za

Puṇṇa

Then the Venerable Puṇṇa approached the Blessed One … and said to him: “Venerable sir, it would be good if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute.”

“Puṇṇa, there are forms cognizable by the eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tantalizing. If a bhikkhu seeks delight in them, welcomes them, and remains holding to them, delight arises in him. With the arising of delight, Puṇṇa, there is the arising of suffering, I say. There are, Puṇṇa, sounds cognizable by the ear … mental phenomena cognizable by the mind that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tantalizing. If a bhikkhu seeks delight in them, welcomes them, and remains holding to them, delight arises in him. With the arising of delight, Puṇṇa, there is the arising of suffering, I say.

“Puṇṇa, there are forms cognizable by the eye … mental phenomena cognizable by the mind that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tantalizing. If a bhikkhu does not seek delight in them, does not welcome them, and does not remain holding to them, delight ceases in him. With the cessation of delight, Puṇṇa, there is the cessation of suffering, I say.

“Now that you have received this brief exhortation from me, Puṇṇa, in which country will you dwell?”

“There is, venerable sir, a country named Sunaparanta. I will dwell there.”

“Puṇṇa, the people of Sunaparanta are wild and rough. If they abuse and revile you, what will you think about that?”

“Venerable sir, if the people of Sunaparanta abuse and revile me, then I will think: ‘These people of Sunaparanta are excellent, truly excellent, in that they do not give me a blow with the fist.’ Then I will think thus, Blessed One; then I will think thus, Fortunate One.”

“But, Puṇṇa, if the people of Sunaparanta do give you a blow with the fist, what will you think about that?”

“Venerable sir, if the people of Sunaparanta give me a blow with the fist, then I will think: ‘These people of Sunaparanta are excellent, truly excellent, in that they do not give me a blow with a clod.’ Then I will think thus, Blessed One; then I will think thus, Fortunate One.”

“But, Puṇṇa, if the people of Sunaparanta do give you a blow with a clod, what will you think about that?”

“Venerable sir, if the people of Sunaparanta give me a blow with a clod, then I will think: ‘These people of Sunaparanta are excellent, truly excellent, in that they do not give me a blow with a rod.’ Then I will think thus, Blessed One; then I will think thus, Fortunate One.”

“But, Puṇṇa, if the people of Sunaparanta do give you a blow with a rod, what will you think about that?”

“Venerable sir, if the people of Sunaparanta give me a blow with a rod, then I will think: ‘These people of Sunaparanta are excellent, truly excellent, in that they do not stab me with a knife.’ Then I will think thus, Blessed One; then I will think thus, Fortunate One.”

“But, Puṇṇa, if the people of Sunaparanta do stab you with a knife, what will you think about that?”

“Venerable sir, if the people of Sunaparanta stab me with a knife, then I will think: ‘These people of Sunaparanta are excellent, truly excellent, in that they do not take my life with a sharp knife.’ Then I will think thus, Blessed One; then I will think thus, Fortunate One.”

“But, Puṇṇa, if the people of Sunaparanta do take your life with a sharp knife, what will you think about that?”

“Venerable sir, if the people of Sunaparanta take my life with a sharp knife, then I will think: ‘There have been disciples of the Blessed One who, being repelled, humiliated, and disgusted by the body and by life, sought for an assailant. But I have come upon this assailant even without a search.’ Then I will think thus, Blessed One; then I will think thus, Fortunate One.”

“Good, good, Puṇṇa! Endowed with such self-control and peacefulness, you will be able to dwell in the Sunaparanta country. Now, Puṇṇa, you may go at your own convenience.”

Then, having delighted and rejoiced in the Blessed One’s statement, the Venerable Puṇṇa rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, and departed, keeping him on his right. He then set his lodging in order, took his bowl and outer robe, and set out to wander towards the Sunaparanta country. Wandering by stages, he eventually arrived in the Sunaparanta country, where he dwelt. Then, during that rains, the Venerable Puṇṇa established five hundred male lay followers and five hundred female lay followers in the practice, and he himself, during that same rains, realized the three true knowledges. And during that same rains he attained final Nibbāna.

Then a number of bhikkhus approached the Blessed One … and said to him: “Venerable sir, the clansman named Puṇṇa, who was given a brief exhortation by the Blessed One, has died. What is his destination? What is his future bourn?”

“Bhikkhus, the clansman Puṇṇa was wise. He practised in accordance with the Dhamma and did not trouble me on account of the Dhamma. The clansman Puṇṇa has attained final Nibbāna.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

With Puṇṇa

this gives rise to relishing.
If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them,
And then Venerable Puṇṇa went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”
“Puṇṇa, there are sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them,
this gives rise to relishing.
Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say.
There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches …
There are thoughts known by the mind that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say.
There are sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases.
When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say. …
There are thoughts known by the mind that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases.
When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say.
Puṇṇa, now that I’ve given you this brief advice, what country will you live in?”
“Sir, there’s a country called Sunāparanta; I will live there.”
“The people of Sunāparanta are wild and rough, Puṇṇa.

If they abuse and insult you, what will you think of them?”
“If they abuse and insult me, I will think:
‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t hit me with their fists.’
That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.
That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”
“But if they do hit you with their fists, what will you think of them then?”
“If they hit me with their fists, I’ll think:
‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t throw stones at me.’
That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.
That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”
“But if they do throw stones at you, what will you think of them then?”
“If they throw stones at me, I’ll think:
‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t beat me with a club.’
That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.
That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”
“But if they do beat you with a club, what will you think of them then?”
“If they beat me with a club, I’ll think:
‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t stab me with a knife.’
That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.
That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”
“But if they do stab you with a knife, what will you think of them then?”
“If they stab me with a knife, I’ll think:
‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t take my life with a sharp knife.’
That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.
That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”
“But if they do take your life with a sharp knife, what will you think of them then?”
“If they take my life with a sharp knife, I’ll think:
‘There are disciples of the Buddha who looked for someone to assist with slitting their wrists because they were horrified, repelled, and disgusted with the body and with life. And I have found this without looking!’
That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.
That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”
“Good, good Puṇṇa!
Having such self-control and peacefulness, you will be quite capable of living in Sunāparanta.
Now, Puṇṇa, go at your convenience.”
And then Puṇṇa welcomed and agreed with the Buddha’s words. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, set out for Sunāparanta.
Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Sunāparanta,
and stayed there.
Within that rainy season he confirmed around five hundred male and five hundred female lay followers. And within that same rainy season he realized the three knowledges.

And within that same rainy season he became completely extinguished.
Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … and asked him,
“Sir, the gentleman named Puṇṇa, who was advised in brief by the Buddha, has passed away.
Where has he been reborn in his next life?”
“Mendicants, Puṇṇa was astute. He practiced in line with the teachings, and did not trouble me about the teachings.
Puṇṇa has become completely extinguished.”

sn.35.88 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Puṇṇa

With Puṇṇa