snp.5.2 Suttanipata

The Young Man Ajita’s Questions

“By what is the world enveloped?” said venerable Ajita,
“Why does it not become clear?
What do you say is its defilement? What is the world’s great fear?”

“The world is enveloped by ignorance, Ajita,” said the Gracious One,
“because of heedlessness and meanness it does not become clear.
Hunger is its defilement, I say; suffering is the world’s great fear.”

“Streams are flowing everywhere,” said venerable Ajita,
“What is the constraint for streams?
Tell me the restraint for streams; by what are the streams shut off?”

“Whatever streams there are in the world, Ajita,” said the Gracious One,
“mindfulness is the constraint for them.
That is the restraint for streams, I say; by wisdom they are shut off.”

“Wisdom and also mindfulness,” said venerable Ajita,
“and mind and body, dear Sir,
please tell me this when asked: where does this cease?”

“This question that was asked, Ajita, I can answer it! As to where mind and body ceases without remainder:
with the cessation of consciousness, in this place it ceases.”

“Those who have discerned the Teaching, and the many in training here,
when I ask the prudent one, please tell me their conduct, dear Sir.”

“He should not be greedy for sense pleasures, or be disturbed in mind.
Skilful in all things, the monk should wander mindfully.”

The Young Man Ajita’s Questions are Finished

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Ajita’s Questions

Ajita
The world, by what it’s wrapped?
and why it shines not forth?
say too with what it’s smeared?
and what’s its greatest fear?

Buddha
The world is wrapped by Ignorance;
It shines not forth due to doubt and negligence;
Its smeared by longing,
And suffering is its greatest fear.

Ajita
The streams are flowing everywhere,
how can the streams be blocked,
say how the streams may be restrained?
by what the streams are dammed?

Buddha
Whatever streams are in the world,
they may be blocked by mindfulness—
that I say is streams’ restraint;
by wisdom they are dammed.

Ajita
So wisdom it is and mindfulness!
Now, sir, I ask you, tell me this:
the namer-mind, the bodily form—
where does it cease to be?

Buddha
That question asked by you
I tell about it now,
the namer-mind and bodily form
where they cease to be:
by cessation of the consciousness,
they wholly cease to be.

Ajita
Who have the Dharma measured up,
who train themselves, the multitude,
how, sir, do they behave themselves?
please answer what I speak.

Buddha
No greediness in pleasures of sense,
having a tranquil mind and clear,
skilled in all the Dharma’s ways—
that mindful bhikkhu who’s left home.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

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The Questions of Ajita

“By what is the world shrouded?”
said Venerable Ajita.
“Why does it not shine?
Tell me, what is its tar pit?
What is its greatest fear?”
“The world is shrouded in ignorance.”
replied the Buddha.
“Avarice and negligence make it not shine.
Prayer is its tar pit.
Suffering is its greatest fear.”
“The streams flow everywhere,”
said Venerable Ajita.
“What is there to block them?
And tell me the restraint of streams—
by what are they locked out?”
“The streams in the world,”
replied the Buddha,
“are blocked by mindfulness.
I tell you the restraint of streams—
they are locked out by wisdom.”
“That wisdom and mindfulness,”
said Venerable Ajita,
“and that which is name and form, good sir;
when questioned, please tell me of this:
where does this all cease?”
“This question which you have asked,
I shall answer you, Ajita.
Where name and form
cease with nothing left over—
with the cessation of consciousness,
that’s where they cease.”
“There are those who have assessed the teaching,
and many kinds of trainees here.
Tell me about their behavior, good sir,
when asked, for you are alert.”
“Not greedy for sensual pleasures,
their mind would be unclouded.
Skilled in all things,
a mendicant would wander mindful.”