Khuddaka
Nikaya
---o0o---
Udana
Exclamations
---o0o---
Udana III.1
Kamma Sutta
Action
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi,
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that
time a certain monk was sitting not far from the Blessed One, his legs
crossed, his body held erect, enduring sharp, piercing, racking pains that
were the result of old kamma -- mindful, alert, without suffering. The
Blessed One saw him sitting not far away, his legs crossed, his body held
erect, enduring sharp, piercing, racking pains that were the result of old
kamma -- mindful, alert, without suffering.
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that
occasion exclaimed:
For the monk who has left
all kamma
behind,
shaking off the dust of the past,
steady, without longing,
Such*:
there's no point in telling
anyone else.
(*tadi)
---o0o---
Udana III.1
Kamma Sutta
Former Action
Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland.
Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi in the
Jeta Wood at Anathapindika's monastery. On that occasion a certain bhikkhu
was sitting cross-legged not far from the Lord, holding his body erect,
mindful and clearly comprehending, enduring without complaint feelings
that were painful, acute, sharp and severe, the ripening of former action.
The Lord saw that bhikkhu sitting cross-legged not far away ...
enduring without complaint feelings that were painful, acute, sharp and
severe, the ripening of former action.
Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion
this inspired utterance:
A bhikkhu who has left behind all action,
Shaking off the dust of former deeds.
The stable one, unselfish, steady,
Has no need to address people.
---o0o---
Udana III.2
Nanda Sutta
About Nanda
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi,
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that
time Ven. Nanda -- the Blessed One's brother, son of
his maternal aunt -- told a large number of monks, "I don't enjoy
leading the holy life, my friends. I can't endure the holy life. Giving up
the training, I will return to the common life."
Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having
bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he told the
Blessed One: "Lord, Ven. Nanda -- the Blessed One's brother, son of
his maternal aunt -- has told a large number of monks, 'I don't enjoy
leading the holy life, my friends. I can't endure the holy life. Giving up
the training, I will return to the common life.'"
Then the Blessed One told a certain monk, "Come, monk. In my name,
call Nanda, saying, 'The Teacher calls you, my friend.'"
"As you say, lord," the monk answered and, having gone to
Ven. Nanda, on arrival he said, "The Teacher calls you, my
friend."
"As you say, my friend," Ven. Nanda replied. Then he went to
the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one
side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him, "Is it
true, Nanda, that you have told a large number of monks, 'I don't enjoy
leading the holy life, my friends. I can't endure the holy life. Giving up
the training, I will return to the common life.'?"
"Yes, lord."
"But why, Nanda, don't you enjoy leading the holy life?"
"Lord, as I was leaving home, a Sakyan girl -- the envy of the
countryside -- glanced up at me, with her hair half-combed, and said,
'Hurry back, master.' Recollecting that, I don't enjoy leading the holy
life. I can't endure the holy life. Giving up the training, I will return
to the common life."
Then, taking Ven. Nanda by the arm -- as a strong man might flex his
extended arm or extend his flexed arm -- the Blessed One disappeared from
Jeta's Grove and reappeared among the devas of the Tavatimsa Heaven. Now
at that time about 500 dove-footed nymphs had come to wait upon Sakka, the
ruler of the devas. And the Blessed One said to Ven. Nanda, "Nanda,
do you see those 500 dove-footed nymphs?"
"Yes, lord."
"What do you think, Nanda: Which is lovelier, better looking, more
charming -- the Sakyan girl, the envy of the countryside, or these 500
dove-footed nymphs?"
"Lord, compared to these 500 dove-footed nymphs, the Sakyan girl,
the envy of the countryside, is like a cauterized monkey with its ears and
nose cut off. She doesn't count. She's not even a small fraction. There's
no comparison. The 500 dove-footed nymphs are lovelier, better looking,
more charming."
"Then take joy, Nanda. Take joy! I am your guarantee for getting
500 dove-footed nymphs."
"If the Blessed One is my guarantee for getting 500 dove-footed
nymphs, I will enjoy leading the holy life under the Blessed One."
Then, taking Ven. Nanda by the arm -- as a strong man might flex his
extended arm or extend his flexed arm -- the Blessed One disappeared from
among the devas of the Tavatimsa Heaven and reappeared in Jeta's Grove.
The monks heard, "They say that Ven. Nanda -- the Blessed One's
brother, son of his maternal aunt -- is leading the holy life for the sake
of nymphs. They say that the Blessed One is his guarantee for getting 500
dove-footed nymphs."
Then the monks who were friends of Ven. Nanda went around addressing
him as they would a hired hand and a dealer: "Our friend Nanda, they
say, is a hired hand. Our friend Nanda, they say, is a dealer. He's
leading the holy life for the sake of nymphs. The Blessed One is his
guarantee for getting 500 dove-footed nymphs."
Then Ven. Nanda -- humiliated, ashamed, and
disgusted that the monks who were his friends were addressing him as they
would a hired hand and a dealer -- went to dwell alone, secluded, heedful,
ardent, and resolute. He in no long time entered and remained in the
supreme goal of the holy life for which clansmen rightly go forth from
home into homelessness, knowing and realizing it for himself in the here
and now. He knew: "Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task
done. There is nothing further for the sake of this world." And thus
Ven. Nanda became another one of the arahants.
Then a certain devata, in the far extreme of the night, her extreme
radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed
One. On arrival, having bowed down to him, she stood to one side. As she
was standing there, she said to the Blessed One: "Lord, Ven. Nanda --
the Blessed One's brother, son of his maternal aunt -- through the ending
of the effluents, has entered and remains in the effluent-free release of
awareness and release of discernment, knowing and realizing it for himself
in the here and now." And within the Blessed One, the knowledge
arose: "Nanda, through the ending of the effluents, has entered and
remains in the effluent-free release of awareness and release of
discernment, knowing and realizing it for himself in the here and
now."
Then, when the night had passed, Ven. Nanda went to the Blessed One
and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was
sitting there, he said to the Blessed One: "Lord, about the Blessed
One's being my guarantee for getting 500 dove-footed nymphs, I hereby
release the Blessed One from that promise."
"Nanda, having comprehended your awareness with my own awareness,
I realized that 'Nanda, through the ending of the effluents, has entered
and remains in the effluent-free release of awareness and release of
discernment, knowing and realizing it for himself in the here and now.'
And a devata informed me that 'Ven. Nanda, through the ending of the
effluents, has entered and remains in the effluent-free release of
awareness and release of discernment, knowing and realizing it for himself
in the here and now.' When your mind, through lack of clinging, was
released from the effluents, I was thereby released from that
promise."
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that
occasion exclaimed:
One who has
crossed over the mire,
crushed the thorn of sensuality,
reached the ending of delusion,
is a monk undisturbed
by bliss & pain.
---o0o---
Udana III.2
Nanda Sutta
Nanda
Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland.
Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi in the
Jeta Wood at Anathapindika's monastery. On that occasion the Venerable
Nanda, the Lord's (half-) brother, the son of his maternal aunt, informed
a number of bhikkhus thus: "I am discontented with leading the holy
life, friends. I am unable to endure the holy life. I will give up the
training and return to the low life."
Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Lord, prostrated himself, sat
down to one side, and said: "The Venerable Nanda, revered sir, the
Lord's (half-) brother, the son of his maternal aunt, informed a number of
bhikkhus thus: 'I am discontented with leading the holy life.... I will
give up the training and return to the low life.'"
Then the Lord addressed a certain bhikkhu: "Come, bhikkhu, in my
name tell the bhikkhu Nanda, 'The Teacher calls you, friend Nanda.'"
"Very well, revered sir," that bhikkhu replied, and
approaching the Venerable Nanda, he said, "The Teacher calls you,
friend Nanda."
"Very well friend," the Venerable Nanda replied, and
approaching the Lord he prostrated himself and sat down to one side. The
Lord then said to him: "Is it true, Nanda, that you informed a number
of bhikkhus thus: 'I am discontented with leading the holy life ... I will
return to the low life'?"
"Yes, revered sir."
"But why, Nanda, are you discontented with leading the holy
life?"
"On departing from home, revered sir, a Sakyan girl, the loveliest
in the land, with her hair half-combed, looked up at me and said, 'May you
return soon, master.' Recollecting that, revered sir, I am discontented
with leading the holy life.... I am unable to endure the holy life. I will
give up the training and return to the low life."
Then the Lord took the Venerable Nanda by the arm, and just as a strong
man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm, even so did they
vanish from the Jeta Wood and appear among the devas of the Tavatimsa
heaven. Now on that occasion about five hundred pink-footed nymphs had
come to minister to Sakka, ruler of the devas. And the Lord said to the
Venerable Nanda, "Do you see those five hundred pink-footed
nymphs?"
"Yes, revered sir."
"What do you think, Nanda, who is more beautiful, more fair to
behold, and more alluring -- that Sakyan girl, the loveliest in the land,
or these five hundred pink-footed nymphs?"
"Revered sir, compared to these five hundred pink-footed nymphs,
that Sakyan girl, the loveliest in the land, is like a mutilated
she-monkey that has had its ears and nose chopped off. She does not count;
she is not worth a fraction compared to them; there is no comparison.
These five hundred nymphs are far more beautiful, more fair to behold, and
more alluring."
"Rejoice, Nanda, rejoice, Nanda! I guarantee that you will obtain
five hundred pink-footed nymphs."
"If, revered sir, the Lord guarantees that I will obtain five
hundred pink-footed nymphs, I shall be content in living the holy life
under the Lord."
Then the Lord took the Venerable Nanda by the arm ... even so did they
vanish from among the devas of the Tavatimsa heaven and appear in the Jeta
Wood.
The bhikkhus heard: "It is said that the Venerable Nanda, the
Lord's (half-) brother, the son of his maternal aunt, is living the holy
life for the sake of nymphs. It is said that the Lord has guaranteed that
he will obtain five hundred pink-footed nymphs."
Then the bhikkhu-friends of the Venerable Nanda went about calling him
"hireling" and "menial," saying: "The Venerable
Nanda is a hireling! The Venerable Nanda is a menial! He is living the
holy life for the sake of nymphs! It is said that the Lord has guaranteed
that he will obtain five hundred pink-footed nymphs!"
Then the Venerable Nanda was humiliated, ashamed, and dismayed by his
friends calling him "hireling" and "menial." Living
alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, and resolute, he soon realized even
here and now through his own direct knowledge that unequalled goal of the
holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from
home to the homeless state, and entering into it he abode in it. And he
knew: "Finished is birth, lived is the holy life, done is what had to
be done, there is no more of this state." And the Venerable Nanda
became one of the arahats.
Then, when the night was far advanced, a certain devata of surpassing
beauty, illuminating the whole Jeta Wood, approached the Lord, prostrated
himself and stood to one side. Standing there that devata said to the
Lord: "The Venerable Nanda, revered sir, the Lord's (half-) brother,
the son of his maternal aunt, by the ending of the taints has realized
here and now through his own direct knowledge the taintless
mind-deliverance and wisdom-deliverance, and entering into it, he abides
in it."
The knowledge also arose in the Lord: "Nanda, by the ending of the
taints, has realized here and now the taintless mind-deliverance and
wisdom-deliverance, and entering into it, he abides in it."
When that night had ended the Venerable Nanda approached the Lord,
prostrated himself, sat down to one side, and said to the Lord:
"Revered sir, as to the Lord's guarantee that I will obtain five
hundred pink-footed nymphs, I release the Lord from that promise."
"But, Nanda, comprehending your mind with my mind, I knew: 'Nanda
has realized here and now the taintless mind-
deliverance and wisdom-deliverance.' Also, a devata told me: 'The
Venerable Nanda, revered sir, has realized here and now the taintless
mind-deliverance and wisdom-deliverance.' When, Nanda, your mind was
released from the taints without grasping, I was then released from that
promise."
Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion
this inspired utterance:
That bhikkhu who has crossed the mire,
Crushed the thorn of sensual desire,
And reached the destruction of delusion
Is not perturbed by pleasures and pains.
---o0o---
Udana III.3
Yasoja Sutta
About Yasoja
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that
time approximately 500 monks, headed by Ven. Yasoja,
had arrived in Savatthi to see the Blessed One. As these visiting monks
were exchanging greetings with the resident monks, setting their lodgings
in order, and putting away their robes & bowls, they made a loud
racket, a great racket. Then the Blessed One said to Ven.
Ananda, "Ananda, what is that loud racket, that great racket,
like fishermen with a catch of fish?"
"Lord, those are approximately 500 monks, headed by Ven. Yasoja,
who have arrived in Savatthi to see the Blessed One. As these visiting
monks are exchanging greetings with the resident monks, setting their
lodgings in order, and putting away their robes & bowls, they are
making a loud racket, a great racket."
"In that case, Ananda, tell those monks in my name, 'The Teacher
calls you, friends.'"
Responding, "As you say, lord," Ven. Ananda went to the monks
and said, "The Teacher calls you, friends."
"As you say, friend," the monks responded to Ven. Ananda and
then went to the Blessed One. On arrival they bowed down to him and sat to
one side. As they were sitting there, the Blessed One said to them,
"Monks, why were you making that loud racket, that great racket, like
fishermen with a catch of fish?"
When this was said, Ven. Yasoja said to the Blessed One, "Lord,
these 500 monks have arrived in Savatthi to see the Blessed One. As they
were exchanging greetings with the resident monks, setting their lodgings
in order, and putting away their robes & bowls, they made a loud
racket, a great racket."
"Go away, monks. I dismiss you. You are not to stay in my
vicinity."
Responding, "As you say, lord," the monks got up from their
seats, bowed down to the Blessed One, circumambulated him -- keeping him
to their right -- and left. Putting their lodgings in order and taking
their robes & bowls, they went wandering among the Vajjians.
After wandering by stages among the Vajjians, they came to the River
Vaggamuda. There on the banks of the River Vaggamuda they made
leaf-huts and entered the Rains Retreat.
Then Ven. Yasoja addressed the monks as they entered the Rains Retreat:
"Friends, the Blessed One dismissed us, wishing for our benefit,
seeking our well-being, being sympathetic, and acting out of sympathy.
Let's live in such a way that the Blessed One will be gratified by our way
of living."
"As you say, friend," the monks responded to Ven. Yasoja. And
so, living secluded, ardent, & resolute, every one of them realized
the Three Knowledges [remembrance of past lives, knowledge of the arising
& passing away of living beings, and knowledge of the ending of mental
fermentations] in the course of that very Rains Retreat.
Then the Blessed One, having stayed as long as he liked in Savatthi,
went wandering in the direction of Vesali. After wandering by stages, he
arrived in Vesali and stayed there in the Peaked Roof Pavilion in the
Great Wood. Then, encompassing with his awareness the awareness of the
monks staying on the banks of the River Vaggamuda, he said to Ven. Ananda,
"This direction seems bright to me, Ananda. This direction seems
dazzling to me. It's not at all repugnant for me to go & pay attention
to where the monks on the banks of the River Vaggamuda are staying. Send a
messenger into their presence to say, 'The Teacher calls you, friends. The
Teacher wants to see you.'"
Responding, "As you say, lord," Ven. Ananda went to a certain
monk and said, "Come now, friend. Go to the monks on the banks of the
River Vaggamuda and say to them, 'The Teacher calls you, friends. The
Teacher wants to see you.'"
"As you say, friend," the monk responded to Ven. Ananda. Then
-- just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended
arm -- he disappeared from the Peaked Roof Pavilion in the Great Wood and
appeared in front of the monks on the bank of the River Vaggamuda. Then he
said to them, "The Teacher calls you, friends. The Teacher wants to
see you."
"As you say, friend," the monks responded to him. Putting
their lodgings in order and taking their robes & bowls, they
disappeared from the bank of the River Vaggamuda -- just as a strong man
might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm -- and appeared in
the presence of the Blessed One in the Peaked Roof Pavilion in the Great
Wood.
Now, at that time the Blessed One was sitting in imperturbable
concentration [either in the fourth jhana, the sphere of the infinitude of
space or the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness]. The thought
occurred to the monks, "Now, in what mental dwelling is the Blessed
One now residing?" Then they realized, "He is residing in the
imperturbable dwelling." So they all sat in imperturbable
concentration.
Then Ven. Ananda -- when the night was far advanced, at the end of the
first watch -- arose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder,
stood facing the Blessed One with his hands placed palm-to-palm over his
heart, and said to him: "The night, lord, is far advanced. The first
watch has ended. The visiting monks have been sitting here a long time.
May the Blessed One greet them." When this was said, the Blessed One
remained silent.
Then a second time, when the night was far advanced, at the end of the
second watch, Ven. Ananda arose from his seat, arranged his robe over one
shoulder, stood facing the Blessed One with his hands placed palm-to-palm
over his heart, and said to him: "The night, lord, is far advanced.
The second watch has ended. The visiting monks have been sitting here a
long time. May the Blessed One greet them." When this was said, the
Blessed One remained silent.
Then a third time, when the night was far advanced, at the end of the
third watch, as dawn was approaching and the face of the night was
beaming, Ven. Ananda arose from his seat, arranged his robe over one
shoulder, stood facing the Blessed One with his hands placed palm-to-palm
over his heart, and said to him: "The night, lord, is far advanced.
The third watch has ended. Dawn is approaching and the face of the night
is beaming. The visiting monks have been sitting here a long time. May the
Blessed One greet them."
Then the Blessed One, emerging from his imperturbable concentration,
said to Ven. Ananda, "Ananda, if you had known, you would not have
spoken like that. I, along with all 500 of these monks, have been sitting
in imperturbable concentration."
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that
occasion exclaimed:
In whom they're defeated --
the thorn of sensuality,
insult,
assault,
& imprisonment:
like a mountain, he stands unperturbed,
undisturbed by pleasures or pains
: a monk.
---o0o---
Udana III.4
Sariputta Sutta
About Sariputta
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi,
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that
time Ven. Sariputta was sitting not far from the Blessed One, his legs
crossed, his body held erect, having mindfulness established to the fore.
The Blessed One saw Ven. Sariputta sitting not far away, his legs crossed,
his body held erect, having mindfulness established to the fore.
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that
occasion exclaimed:
Just as a mountain of rock,
is unwavering, well-settled,
so the monk whose delusion is ended,
like a mountain, is undisturbed.
---o0o---
Udana III.5
Kolita Sutta
About Kolita (Maha Moggallana)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi,
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that
time Ven. Maha Moggallana was sitting not far
from the Blessed One, his legs crossed, his body held erect, having
mindfulness immersed in the body well established within. The Blessed One
saw Ven. Maha Moggallana sitting not far away, his legs crossed, his body
held erect, having mindfulness immersed in the body well established
within.
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that
occasion exclaimed:
With mindfulness immersed in the body
well established, restrained
with regard to the six media of contact --
always centered, the monk
can know Unbinding* for himself.
(*nibbana)
---o0o---
Udana III.10
Loka Sutta
(Surveying) the World
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
I have heard that on one occasion, when the Blessed One was newly Awakened
-- staying at Uruvela by the banks of the Nerañjara
River in the shade of the Bodhi tree, the tree of Awakening -- he sat
in the shade of the Bodhi tree for seven days in one session, sensitive to
the bliss of release. At the end of seven days, after emerging from that
concentration, he surveyed the world with the eye of an Awakened One. As
he did so, he saw living beings burning with the many fevers and aflame
with the many fires born of passion, aversion, and delusion. Then, on
realizing the significance of that, he on that occasion exclaimed:
This world is burning.
Afflicted by contact,
it calls disease a "self."
By whatever it construes [things],
that's always otherwise.
Becoming otherwise,
the world is
held by becoming
afflicted by becoming
and yet delights
in that very becoming.
Where there's delight,
there is fear.
What one fears
is stressful.
This holy life is lived
for the abandoning of becoming.
Whatever priests or contemplatives say that liberation from becoming is by
means of becoming, all of them are not released from becoming, I say.
And whatever priests or contemplatives say that escape from becoming is
by means of non-becoming, all of them have not escaped from becoming, I
say.
This stress comes into play
in dependence on all acquisitions.
With the ending of all clinging/sustenance,
there's no stress coming into play.
Look at this world:
Beings, afflicted with thick ignorance,
are unreleased
from delight in what has come to be.
All levels of becoming,
anywhere,
in any way,
are inconstant, stressful, subject to change.
Seeing this -- as it's actually present --
with right discernment,
one abandons craving for becoming,
without delighting in non-becoming.
From the total ending of craving
comes fading & cessation without remainder:
Unbinding.
For the monk unbound,
through lack of clinging/sustenance,
there's no further becoming.
He has vanquished Mara,
won the battle.
Having gone beyond all levels of being,
he's Such.
