So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Aṅguttarāpans, near the town of theirs named Āpaṇa. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Āpaṇa for alms. He wandered for alms in Āpaṇa. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to a certain forest grove for the day’s meditation.
Having plunged deep into it, he sat at the root of a certain tree to meditate. Venerable Udāyī also robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Āpaṇa for alms. He wandered for alms in Āpaṇa. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to that forest grove for the day’s meditation. Having plunged deep into it, he sat at the root of a certain tree to meditate.
Then as Venerable Udāyī was in private retreat this thought came to his mind: “The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!”
PL
Atha kho āyasmato udāyissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā dukkhadhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā sukhadhammānaṁ upahattā; bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upahattā”ti.
EN
Then in the late afternoon, Udāyī came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind:
‘The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!’ For we used to eat at dusk, at daybreak, and at the wrong time of day. But then there came a time when the Buddha addressed the mendicants, saying,
PL
‘bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā dukkhadhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā sukhadhammānaṁ upahattā; bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upahattā’ti. Mayañhi, bhante, pubbe sāyañceva bhuñjāma pāto ca divā ca vikāle. Ahu kho so, bhante, samayo yaṁ bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
EN
‘Please, mendicants, give up that meal at the wrong time of day.’ At that, sir, we became sad and upset, ‘But these faithful householders give us delicious fresh and cooked foods at the wrong time of day. And the Blessed One tells us to give it up! The Holy One tells us to let it go!’ But when we considered our fondness and respect for the Buddha, and our sense of conscience and prudence, we gave up that meal at the wrong time of day.
Then we ate at dusk and daybreak. But then there came a time when the Buddha addressed the mendicants, saying, ‘Please, mendicants, give up that meal at the wrong time of night.’ At that, sir, we became sad and upset,
PL
Te mayaṁ, bhante, sāyañceva bhuñjāma pāto ca. Ahu kho so, bhante, samayo yaṁ bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: ‘iṅgha tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ rattiṁvikālabhojanaṁ pajahathā’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, ahudeva aññathattaṁ ahudeva domanassaṁ:
EN
‘But that’s considered the more delicious of the two meals. And the Blessed One tells us to give it up! The Holy One tells us to let it go!’ Once it so happened that a certain person got some soup during the day. He said, ‘Come, let’s set this aside; we’ll enjoy it together this evening.’ Nearly all meals are prepared at night, only a few in the day.
PL
‘yampi no imesaṁ dvinnaṁ bhattānaṁ paṇītasaṅkhātataraṁ tassapi no bhagavā pahānamāha, tassapi no sugato paṭinissaggamāhā’ti. Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhante, aññataro puriso divā sūpeyyaṁ labhitvā evamāha: ‘handa ca imaṁ nikkhipatha, sāyaṁ sabbeva samaggā bhuñjissāmā’ti. Yā kāci, bhante, saṅkhatiyo sabbā tā rattiṁ, appā divā.
EN
But when we considered our love and respect for the Buddha, and our sense of conscience and prudence, we gave up that meal at the wrong time of night. In the past, mendicants went wandering for alms in the dark of the night. They walked into a swamp, or fell into a sewer, or collided with a thorn bush, or collided with a sleeping cow, or encountered youths escaping a crime or on their way to commit one, or were invited by a lady to commit a lewd act.
Once it so happened that I was wandering for alms in the dark of the night. A woman washing a pot saw me by a flash of lightning. Startled, she cried out, ‘Woe is me! It’s a damn goblin!’
Better to have your belly sliced open with a sharp meat cleaver than to wander for alms in the dark of night for the sake of your belly!’ Recollecting that, I thought, ‘The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!’”
PL
Varaṁ te, bhikkhu, tiṇhena govikantanena kucchi parikanto, na tveva varaṁ yaṁ rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ kucchihetu piṇḍāya carasī’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, tadanussarato evaṁ hoti: ‘bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā dukkhadhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā sukhadhammānaṁ upahattā; bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upahattā’”ti.
EN
“This is exactly what happens when some futile people are told by me to give something up. They say, ‘What, such a trivial, trifling thing as this? This ascetic is much too strict!’ They don’t give it up, and they nurse bitterness toward me; and for the mendicants who want to train, that becomes a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke.
PL
“Evameva panudāyi, idhekacce moghapurisā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa adhisallikhatevāyaṁ samaṇo’ti. Te tañceva nappajahanti, mayi ca appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā tesaṁ taṁ, udāyi, hoti balavaṁ bandhanaṁ, daḷhaṁ bandhanaṁ, thiraṁ bandhanaṁ, apūtikaṁ bandhanaṁ, thūlo, kaliṅgaro—
EN
Suppose a quail was tied with a vine, and was waiting there to be injured, caged, or killed. Would it be right to say that, for that quail, that vine is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial?”
“In the same way, when some futile people are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, such a trivial, trifling thing as this? This ascetic is much too strict!’ They don’t give it up, and they nurse bitterness toward me; and for the mendicants who want to train, that becomes a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke.
PL
“Evameva kho, udāyi, idhekacce moghapurisā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa adhisallikhatevāyaṁ samaṇo’ti? Te tañceva nappajahanti, mayi ca appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā tesaṁ taṁ, udāyi, hoti balavaṁ bandhanaṁ, daḷhaṁ bandhanaṁ, thiraṁ bandhanaṁ, apūtikaṁ bandhanaṁ, thūlo, kaliṅgaro.
EN
But when some gentlemen are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, we just have to give up such a trivial, trifling thing as this, when the Blessed One tells us to give it up, the Holy One tells us to let it go?’ They give it up, and they don’t nurse bitterness toward me; and when the mendicants who want to train have given that up, they live relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer.
PL
Idha panudāyi, ekacce kulaputtā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa pahātabbassa yassa no bhagavā pahānamāha, yassa no sugato paṭinissaggamāhā’ti? Te tañceva pajahanti, mayi ca na appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā te taṁ pahāya appossukkā pannalomā paradattavuttā migabhūtena cetasā viharanti.
EN
For them, that bond is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial. Suppose there was a royal bull elephant with tusks like draft-poles, able to draw a heavy load, pedigree and battle-hardened. And it was bound with a strong harness. But just by twisting its body a little, it would break apart its bonds and go wherever it wants.
Would it be right to say that, for that bull elephant, that strong harness is a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke?”
“In the same way, when some gentlemen are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, we just have to give up such a trivial, trifling thing as this, when the Blessed One tells us to give it up, the Holy One tells us to let it go?’ They give it up, and they don’t nurse bitterness toward me; and when the mendicants who want to train have given that up, they live relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer.
PL
“Evameva kho, udāyi, idhekacce kulaputtā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa pahātabbassa yassa no bhagavā pahānamāha, yassa no sugato paṭinissaggamāhā’ti? Te tañceva pajahanti, mayi ca na appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā te taṁ pahāya appossukkā pannalomā paradattavuttā migabhūtena cetasā viharanti.
EN
For them, that bond is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial. Suppose there was a poor man, with few possessions and little wealth. He had a single broken-down hovel open to the crows, not the best sort; a single broken-down couch, not the best sort; a single pot for storing grain, not the best sort; and a single wifey, not the best sort.
He’d see a mendicant sitting in meditation in the cool shade, their hands and feet well washed after eating a satisfying meal. He’d think, ‘The ascetic life is so very pleasant! The ascetic life is so very healthy! If only I could shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’
But he’s not able to give up his broken-down hovel, his broken-down couch, his pot for storing grain, or his wifey—none of which are the best sort—in order to go forth.
they are a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke.” “In the same way, when some futile people are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, such a trivial, trifling thing as this? This ascetic is much too strict!’ They don’t give it up, and they nurse bitterness toward me;
and for the mendicants who want to train, that becomes a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke. Suppose there was a rich householder or householder’s child, affluent, and wealthy. He had a vast amount of gold ingots, grain, fields, lands, wives, and male and female bondservants.
He’d see a mendicant sitting in meditation in the cool shade, their hands and feet well washed after eating a satisfying meal. He’d think, ‘The ascetic life is so very pleasant! The ascetic life is so very healthy! If only I could shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’
those bonds are weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial.” “In the same way, when some gentlemen are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, we just have to give up such a trivial, trifling thing as this, when the Blessed One tells us to give it up, the Holy One tells us to let it go?’
They give it up, and they don’t nurse bitterness toward me; and when the mendicants who want to train have given that up, they live relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer. For them, that bond is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial. Udāyī, these four individuals are found in the world.
PL
Te tañceva pajahanti, mayi ca na appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā te taṁ pahāya appossukkā pannalomā paradattavuttā migabhūtena cetasā viharanti. Tesaṁ taṁ, udāyi, hoti abalaṁ bandhanaṁ, dubbalaṁ bandhanaṁ, pūtikaṁ bandhanaṁ, asārakaṁ bandhanaṁ. Cattārome, udāyi, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
EN
What four? Take a certain individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments. As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them. They tolerate them and don’t give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.
PL
Katame cattāro? Idhudāyi, ekacco puggalo upadhipahānāya paṭipanno hoti upadhipaṭinissaggāya. Tamenaṁ upadhipahānāya paṭipannaṁ upadhipaṭinissaggāya upadhipaṭisaṁyuttā sarasaṅkappā samudācaranti. So te adhivāseti, nappajahati, na vinodeti, na byantīkaroti, na anabhāvaṁ gameti.
EN
I call this individual ‘fettered’, not ‘detached’. Why is that? Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. Take another individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments.
As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them. They don’t tolerate them, but give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them. I also call this individual ‘fettered’, not ‘detached’. Why is that?
PL
Tamenaṁ upadhipahānāya paṭipannaṁ upadhipaṭinissaggāya upadhipaṭisaṁyuttā sarasaṅkappā samudācaranti. So te nādhivāseti, pajahati, vinodeti, byantīkaroti, anabhāvaṁ gameti. Imampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, puggalaṁ ‘saṁyutto’ti vadāmi no ‘visaṁyutto’. Taṁ kissa hetu?
EN
Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. Take another individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments. As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them every so often, due to the loss of mindfulness. Slowly mindfulness arises,
then they quickly give up, dispel, eliminate, and obliterate those thoughts. Suppose there was an iron cauldron that had been heated all day, and a person let two or three drops of water fall onto it. Slowly the drops fall, but then they quickly dry up and evaporate. In the same way, take an individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments.
As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them every so often, due to the loss of mindfulness. Slowly mindfulness arises, but then they quickly give up, dispel, eliminate, and obliterate those thoughts. I also call this individual ‘fettered’, not ‘detached’.
Why is that? Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. Take another individual who, understanding that attachment is the root of suffering, is freed with the ending of attachments.
I call this individual ‘detached’, not ‘fettered’. Why is that? Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. These are the four individuals found in the world.
PL
Imaṁ kho ahaṁ, udāyi, puggalaṁ ‘visaṁyutto’ti vadāmi no ‘saṁyutto’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Indriyavemattatā hi me, udāyi, imasmiṁ puggale viditā. Ime kho, udāyi, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
EN
Udāyī, these are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds known by the ear …
Smells known by the nose … Tastes known by the tongue … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called sensual pleasure—a filthy, ordinary, ignoble pleasure. Such pleasure should not be cultivated or developed, but should be feared, I say. Take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption …
PL
Yaṁ kho, udāyi, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ idaṁ vuccati kāmasukhaṁ miḷhasukhaṁ puthujjanasukhaṁ anariyasukhaṁ, na sevitabbaṁ, na bhāvetabbaṁ, na bahulīkātabbaṁ; ‘bhāyitabbaṁ etassa sukhassā’ti vadāmi. Idhudāyi, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati
EN
second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. This is called the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening. Such pleasure should be cultivated and developed, and should not be feared, I say.
Take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption. This belongs to the perturbable, I say. And what there belongs to the perturbable? Whatever placing of the mind and keeping it connected has not ceased there is what belongs to the perturbable.
Take a mendicant who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption. This belongs to the perturbable, I say. And what there belongs to the perturbable? Whatever rapture and bliss has not ceased there is what belongs to the perturbable.
Take a mendicant who, with the fading away of rapture, enters and remains in the third absorption. This belongs to the perturbable. And what there belongs to the perturbable? Whatever bliss with equanimity has not ceased there is what belongs to the perturbable.
Take a mendicant who, giving up pleasure and pain, enters and remains in the fourth absorption. This belongs to the imperturbable, I say. Take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption. But this is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it.
And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it?
PL
Ko ca tassa samatikkamo? Idhudāyi, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo; idampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, ‘analan’ti vadāmi, ‘pajahathā’ti vadāmi, ‘samatikkamathā’ti vadāmi. Ko ca tassa samatikkamo?
EN
Take a mendicant who, with the fading away of rapture, enters and remains in the third absorption. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, giving up pleasure and pain, enters and remains in the fourth absorption. That goes beyond it.
PL
Idhudāyi, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo; idampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, ‘analan’ti vadāmi, ‘pajahathā’ti vadāmi, ‘samatikkamathā’ti vadāmi. Ko ca tassa samatikkamo? Idhudāyi, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo;
EN
But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. That goes beyond it.
But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it.
And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it?
PL
Ko ca tassa samatikkamo? Idhudāyi, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo; idampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, ‘analan’ti vadāmi, ‘pajahathā’ti vadāmi, ‘samatikkamathā’ti vadāmi. Ko ca tassa samatikkamo?
EN
Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. That goes beyond it.
So, Udāyī, I even recommend giving up the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. Do you see any fetter, large or small, that I don’t recommend giving up?” “No, sir.” That is what the Buddha said.
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Aṅguttarāpans, near the town of theirs named Āpaṇa. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Āpaṇa for alms. He wandered for alms in Āpaṇa. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to a certain forest grove for the day’s meditation.
Having plunged deep into it, he sat at the root of a certain tree to meditate. Venerable Udāyī also robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Āpaṇa for alms. He wandered for alms in Āpaṇa. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to that forest grove for the day’s meditation. Having plunged deep into it, he sat at the root of a certain tree to meditate.
Then as Venerable Udāyī was in private retreat this thought came to his mind: “The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!”
PL
Atha kho āyasmato udāyissa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā dukkhadhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā sukhadhammānaṁ upahattā; bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upahattā”ti.
EN
Then in the late afternoon, Udāyī came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind:
‘The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!’ For we used to eat at dusk, at daybreak, and at the wrong time of day. But then there came a time when the Buddha addressed the mendicants, saying,
PL
‘bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā dukkhadhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā sukhadhammānaṁ upahattā; bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upahattā’ti. Mayañhi, bhante, pubbe sāyañceva bhuñjāma pāto ca divā ca vikāle. Ahu kho so, bhante, samayo yaṁ bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
EN
‘Please, mendicants, give up that meal at the wrong time of day.’ At that, sir, we became sad and upset, ‘But these faithful householders give us delicious fresh and cooked foods at the wrong time of day. And the Blessed One tells us to give it up! The Holy One tells us to let it go!’ But when we considered our fondness and respect for the Buddha, and our sense of conscience and prudence, we gave up that meal at the wrong time of day.
Then we ate at dusk and daybreak. But then there came a time when the Buddha addressed the mendicants, saying, ‘Please, mendicants, give up that meal at the wrong time of night.’ At that, sir, we became sad and upset,
PL
Te mayaṁ, bhante, sāyañceva bhuñjāma pāto ca. Ahu kho so, bhante, samayo yaṁ bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: ‘iṅgha tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ rattiṁvikālabhojanaṁ pajahathā’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, ahudeva aññathattaṁ ahudeva domanassaṁ:
EN
‘But that’s considered the more delicious of the two meals. And the Blessed One tells us to give it up! The Holy One tells us to let it go!’ Once it so happened that a certain person got some soup during the day. He said, ‘Come, let’s set this aside; we’ll enjoy it together this evening.’ Nearly all meals are prepared at night, only a few in the day.
PL
‘yampi no imesaṁ dvinnaṁ bhattānaṁ paṇītasaṅkhātataraṁ tassapi no bhagavā pahānamāha, tassapi no sugato paṭinissaggamāhā’ti. Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhante, aññataro puriso divā sūpeyyaṁ labhitvā evamāha: ‘handa ca imaṁ nikkhipatha, sāyaṁ sabbeva samaggā bhuñjissāmā’ti. Yā kāci, bhante, saṅkhatiyo sabbā tā rattiṁ, appā divā.
EN
But when we considered our love and respect for the Buddha, and our sense of conscience and prudence, we gave up that meal at the wrong time of night. In the past, mendicants went wandering for alms in the dark of the night. They walked into a swamp, or fell into a sewer, or collided with a thorn bush, or collided with a sleeping cow, or encountered youths escaping a crime or on their way to commit one, or were invited by a lady to commit a lewd act.
Once it so happened that I was wandering for alms in the dark of the night. A woman washing a pot saw me by a flash of lightning. Startled, she cried out, ‘Woe is me! It’s a damn goblin!’
Better to have your belly sliced open with a sharp meat cleaver than to wander for alms in the dark of night for the sake of your belly!’ Recollecting that, I thought, ‘The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!’”
PL
Varaṁ te, bhikkhu, tiṇhena govikantanena kucchi parikanto, na tveva varaṁ yaṁ rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ kucchihetu piṇḍāya carasī’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, tadanussarato evaṁ hoti: ‘bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā dukkhadhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā sukhadhammānaṁ upahattā; bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ apahattā, bahūnaṁ vata no bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upahattā’”ti.
EN
“This is exactly what happens when some futile people are told by me to give something up. They say, ‘What, such a trivial, trifling thing as this? This ascetic is much too strict!’ They don’t give it up, and they nurse bitterness toward me; and for the mendicants who want to train, that becomes a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke.
PL
“Evameva panudāyi, idhekacce moghapurisā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa adhisallikhatevāyaṁ samaṇo’ti. Te tañceva nappajahanti, mayi ca appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā tesaṁ taṁ, udāyi, hoti balavaṁ bandhanaṁ, daḷhaṁ bandhanaṁ, thiraṁ bandhanaṁ, apūtikaṁ bandhanaṁ, thūlo, kaliṅgaro—
EN
Suppose a quail was tied with a vine, and was waiting there to be injured, caged, or killed. Would it be right to say that, for that quail, that vine is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial?”
“In the same way, when some futile people are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, such a trivial, trifling thing as this? This ascetic is much too strict!’ They don’t give it up, and they nurse bitterness toward me; and for the mendicants who want to train, that becomes a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke.
PL
“Evameva kho, udāyi, idhekacce moghapurisā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa adhisallikhatevāyaṁ samaṇo’ti? Te tañceva nappajahanti, mayi ca appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā tesaṁ taṁ, udāyi, hoti balavaṁ bandhanaṁ, daḷhaṁ bandhanaṁ, thiraṁ bandhanaṁ, apūtikaṁ bandhanaṁ, thūlo, kaliṅgaro.
EN
But when some gentlemen are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, we just have to give up such a trivial, trifling thing as this, when the Blessed One tells us to give it up, the Holy One tells us to let it go?’ They give it up, and they don’t nurse bitterness toward me; and when the mendicants who want to train have given that up, they live relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer.
PL
Idha panudāyi, ekacce kulaputtā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa pahātabbassa yassa no bhagavā pahānamāha, yassa no sugato paṭinissaggamāhā’ti? Te tañceva pajahanti, mayi ca na appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā te taṁ pahāya appossukkā pannalomā paradattavuttā migabhūtena cetasā viharanti.
EN
For them, that bond is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial. Suppose there was a royal bull elephant with tusks like draft-poles, able to draw a heavy load, pedigree and battle-hardened. And it was bound with a strong harness. But just by twisting its body a little, it would break apart its bonds and go wherever it wants.
Would it be right to say that, for that bull elephant, that strong harness is a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke?”
“In the same way, when some gentlemen are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, we just have to give up such a trivial, trifling thing as this, when the Blessed One tells us to give it up, the Holy One tells us to let it go?’ They give it up, and they don’t nurse bitterness toward me; and when the mendicants who want to train have given that up, they live relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer.
PL
“Evameva kho, udāyi, idhekacce kulaputtā ‘idaṁ pajahathā’ti mayā vuccamānā te evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ panimassa appamattakassa oramattakassa pahātabbassa yassa no bhagavā pahānamāha, yassa no sugato paṭinissaggamāhā’ti? Te tañceva pajahanti, mayi ca na appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā te taṁ pahāya appossukkā pannalomā paradattavuttā migabhūtena cetasā viharanti.
EN
For them, that bond is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial. Suppose there was a poor man, with few possessions and little wealth. He had a single broken-down hovel open to the crows, not the best sort; a single broken-down couch, not the best sort; a single pot for storing grain, not the best sort; and a single wifey, not the best sort.
He’d see a mendicant sitting in meditation in the cool shade, their hands and feet well washed after eating a satisfying meal. He’d think, ‘The ascetic life is so very pleasant! The ascetic life is so very healthy! If only I could shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’
But he’s not able to give up his broken-down hovel, his broken-down couch, his pot for storing grain, or his wifey—none of which are the best sort—in order to go forth.
they are a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke.” “In the same way, when some futile people are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, such a trivial, trifling thing as this? This ascetic is much too strict!’ They don’t give it up, and they nurse bitterness toward me;
and for the mendicants who want to train, that becomes a strong, firm, stout bond, a tie that has not rotted, and a heavy yoke. Suppose there was a rich householder or householder’s child, affluent, and wealthy. He had a vast amount of gold ingots, grain, fields, lands, wives, and male and female bondservants.
He’d see a mendicant sitting in meditation in the cool shade, their hands and feet well washed after eating a satisfying meal. He’d think, ‘The ascetic life is so very pleasant! The ascetic life is so very healthy! If only I could shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’
those bonds are weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial.” “In the same way, when some gentlemen are told by me to give something up, they say, ‘What, we just have to give up such a trivial, trifling thing as this, when the Blessed One tells us to give it up, the Holy One tells us to let it go?’
They give it up, and they don’t nurse bitterness toward me; and when the mendicants who want to train have given that up, they live relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer. For them, that bond is weak, feeble, rotten, and insubstantial. Udāyī, these four individuals are found in the world.
PL
Te tañceva pajahanti, mayi ca na appaccayaṁ upaṭṭhāpenti. Ye ca bhikkhū sikkhākāmā te taṁ pahāya appossukkā pannalomā paradattavuttā migabhūtena cetasā viharanti. Tesaṁ taṁ, udāyi, hoti abalaṁ bandhanaṁ, dubbalaṁ bandhanaṁ, pūtikaṁ bandhanaṁ, asārakaṁ bandhanaṁ. Cattārome, udāyi, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
EN
What four? Take a certain individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments. As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them. They tolerate them and don’t give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.
PL
Katame cattāro? Idhudāyi, ekacco puggalo upadhipahānāya paṭipanno hoti upadhipaṭinissaggāya. Tamenaṁ upadhipahānāya paṭipannaṁ upadhipaṭinissaggāya upadhipaṭisaṁyuttā sarasaṅkappā samudācaranti. So te adhivāseti, nappajahati, na vinodeti, na byantīkaroti, na anabhāvaṁ gameti.
EN
I call this individual ‘fettered’, not ‘detached’. Why is that? Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. Take another individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments.
As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them. They don’t tolerate them, but give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them. I also call this individual ‘fettered’, not ‘detached’. Why is that?
PL
Tamenaṁ upadhipahānāya paṭipannaṁ upadhipaṭinissaggāya upadhipaṭisaṁyuttā sarasaṅkappā samudācaranti. So te nādhivāseti, pajahati, vinodeti, byantīkaroti, anabhāvaṁ gameti. Imampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, puggalaṁ ‘saṁyutto’ti vadāmi no ‘visaṁyutto’. Taṁ kissa hetu?
EN
Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. Take another individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments. As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them every so often, due to the loss of mindfulness. Slowly mindfulness arises,
then they quickly give up, dispel, eliminate, and obliterate those thoughts. Suppose there was an iron cauldron that had been heated all day, and a person let two or three drops of water fall onto it. Slowly the drops fall, but then they quickly dry up and evaporate. In the same way, take an individual practicing to give up and let go of attachments.
As they do so, memories and thoughts connected with attachments beset them every so often, due to the loss of mindfulness. Slowly mindfulness arises, but then they quickly give up, dispel, eliminate, and obliterate those thoughts. I also call this individual ‘fettered’, not ‘detached’.
Why is that? Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. Take another individual who, understanding that attachment is the root of suffering, is freed with the ending of attachments.
I call this individual ‘detached’, not ‘fettered’. Why is that? Because I understand the disparity of faculties as it applies to this individual. These are the four individuals found in the world.
PL
Imaṁ kho ahaṁ, udāyi, puggalaṁ ‘visaṁyutto’ti vadāmi no ‘saṁyutto’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Indriyavemattatā hi me, udāyi, imasmiṁ puggale viditā. Ime kho, udāyi, cattāro puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
EN
Udāyī, these are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds known by the ear …
Smells known by the nose … Tastes known by the tongue … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called sensual pleasure—a filthy, ordinary, ignoble pleasure. Such pleasure should not be cultivated or developed, but should be feared, I say. Take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption …
PL
Yaṁ kho, udāyi, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ idaṁ vuccati kāmasukhaṁ miḷhasukhaṁ puthujjanasukhaṁ anariyasukhaṁ, na sevitabbaṁ, na bhāvetabbaṁ, na bahulīkātabbaṁ; ‘bhāyitabbaṁ etassa sukhassā’ti vadāmi. Idhudāyi, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati
EN
second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. This is called the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening. Such pleasure should be cultivated and developed, and should not be feared, I say.
Take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption. This belongs to the perturbable, I say. And what there belongs to the perturbable? Whatever placing of the mind and keeping it connected has not ceased there is what belongs to the perturbable.
Take a mendicant who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption. This belongs to the perturbable, I say. And what there belongs to the perturbable? Whatever rapture and bliss has not ceased there is what belongs to the perturbable.
Take a mendicant who, with the fading away of rapture, enters and remains in the third absorption. This belongs to the perturbable. And what there belongs to the perturbable? Whatever bliss with equanimity has not ceased there is what belongs to the perturbable.
Take a mendicant who, giving up pleasure and pain, enters and remains in the fourth absorption. This belongs to the imperturbable, I say. Take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption. But this is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it.
And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it?
PL
Ko ca tassa samatikkamo? Idhudāyi, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo; idampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, ‘analan’ti vadāmi, ‘pajahathā’ti vadāmi, ‘samatikkamathā’ti vadāmi. Ko ca tassa samatikkamo?
EN
Take a mendicant who, with the fading away of rapture, enters and remains in the third absorption. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, giving up pleasure and pain, enters and remains in the fourth absorption. That goes beyond it.
PL
Idhudāyi, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo; idampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, ‘analan’ti vadāmi, ‘pajahathā’ti vadāmi, ‘samatikkamathā’ti vadāmi. Ko ca tassa samatikkamo? Idhudāyi, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo;
EN
But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. That goes beyond it.
But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it.
And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it?
PL
Ko ca tassa samatikkamo? Idhudāyi, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ tassa samatikkamo; idampi kho ahaṁ, udāyi, ‘analan’ti vadāmi, ‘pajahathā’ti vadāmi, ‘samatikkamathā’ti vadāmi. Ko ca tassa samatikkamo?
EN
Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. That goes beyond it. But this too is not enough, I say: give it up, go beyond it. And what goes beyond it? Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. That goes beyond it.
So, Udāyī, I even recommend giving up the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. Do you see any fetter, large or small, that I don’t recommend giving up?” “No, sir.” That is what the Buddha said.
Sutraya