5: The Book of the Fives
XVII. Resentment — AN 5.166: Cessation
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1There Venerable Sāriputta addressed the mendicants:
“Reverends, take a mendicant who is accomplished in ethics, immersion, and wisdom. They might enter into and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling. That is possible. If they don’t reach enlightenment in this very life, then, surpassing the company of gods that consume solid food, they’re reborn in a certain host of mind-made gods. There they might enter into and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling. That is possible.”
2When he said this, Venerable Udāyī said to him: “This is not possible, Reverend Sāriputta, it cannot happen!”
3But for a second … and a third time Sāriputta repeated his statement.
4And for a third time, Udāyī said to him: “This is not possible, Reverend Sāriputta, it cannot happen!”
5Then Venerable Sāriputta thought: “Venerable Udāyī disagrees with me three times, and not one mendicant agrees with me. Why don’t I go to see the Buddha?”
Then Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the mendicants:
“Reverends, take a mendicant who is accomplished in ethics, immersion, and wisdom. They might enter into and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling. There is such a possibility. If they don’t reach enlightenment in this very life, they’re reborn in the company of a certain host of mind-made gods, who surpass the gods that consume solid food. There they might enter into and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling. That is possible.”
6When he said this, Udāyī said to him: “This is not possible, Reverend Sāriputta, it cannot happen!”
7But for a second … and a third time Sāriputta repeated his statement.
8And for a third time, Udāyī said to him: “This is not possible, Reverend Sāriputta, it cannot happen!”
9Then Venerable Sāriputta thought: “Even in front of the Buddha Venerable Udāyī disagrees with me three times, and not one mendicant agrees with me. I’d better stay silent.” Then Sāriputta fell silent.
10Then the Buddha said to Venerable Udāyī: “But Udāyī, do you believe in a mind-made body?”
“For those gods, sir, who are formless, made of perception.”
“Udāyī, what has an incompetent fool like you got to say? How on earth could you imagine you’ve got something worth saying!”
11Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda: “Ānanda! There’s a senior mendicant being harassed, and you just watch it happening. Don’t you have any compassion for a senior mendicant who is being harassed?”
12Then the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
“Mendicants, take a mendicant who is accomplished in ethics, immersion, and wisdom. They might enter into and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling. That is possible. If they don’t reach enlightenment in this very life, they’re reborn in the company of a certain host of mind-made gods, who surpass the gods that consume solid food. There they might enter into and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling. That is possible.”
That is what the Buddha said. When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.
13Then, not long after the Buddha had left, Venerable Ānanda went to Venerable Upavāṇa and said to him: “Reverend Upavāṇa, they’ve been harassing other senior mendicants, but I didn’t question them. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Buddha makes a statement about this when he comes out of retreat later this afternoon. He might even call upon Venerable Upavāṇa himself. And right now I feel timid.”
Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the assembly hall, where he sat on the seat spread out, and said to Upavāṇa,
14“Upavāṇa, how many qualities should a senior mendicant have to be dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired?”
“Sir, a senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. What five?
It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the code of conduct, with good behavior and supporters. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.
They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s totally full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reciting them, mentally scrutinizing them, and understanding them with right view.
They’re a good speaker, with a polished, clear, and articulate voice that expresses the meaning.
They get the four absorptions — blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind — when they want, without trouble or difficulty.
They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.
A senior mendicant with these five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.”
15“Good, good, Upavāṇa! A senior mendicant with these five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. If these five qualities are not found in a senior mendicant, why would their spiritual companions honor, respect, revere, or venerate them? Because of their broken teeth, gray hair, and wrinkled skin? But since these five qualities are found in a senior mendicant, their spiritual companions honor, respect, revere, or venerate them.”
1Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi … pe …
"idhāvuso, bhikkhu sīlasampanno samādhisampanno paññāsampanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānaṁ. No ce diṭṭheva dhamme aññaṁ ārādheyya, atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
2Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā udāyī āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca: "aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ, āvuso sāriputta, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – natthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
3Dutiyampi kho … pe … tatiyampi kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi: "idhāvuso, bhikkhu sīlasampanno samādhisampanno paññāsampanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānaṁ. No ce diṭṭheva dhamme aññaṁ ārādheyya, atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
4Tatiyampi kho āyasmā udāyī āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca: "aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ, āvuso sāriputta, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – natthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
5Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa etadahosi: "yāvatatiyakampi kho me āyasmā udāyī paṭikkosati, na ca me koci bhikkhu anumodati. Yannūnāhaṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkameyyan"ti.
Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi:
"idhāvuso, bhikkhu sīlasampanno samādhisampanno paññāsampanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānaṁ. No ce diṭṭheva dhamme aññaṁ ārādheyya, atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
6Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā udāyī āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca: "aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ, āvuso sāriputta, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – natthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
7Dutiyampi kho … pe … tatiyampi kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi: "idhāvuso, bhikkhu sīlasampanno samādhisampanno paññāsampanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānaṁ. No ce diṭṭheva dhamme aññaṁ ārādheyya, atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
8Tatiyampi kho āyasmā udāyī āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca: "aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ, āvuso sāriputta, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – natthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
9Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa etadahosi: "bhagavatopi kho me sammukhā āyasmā udāyī yāvatatiyakaṁ paṭikkosati, na ca me koci bhikkhu anumodati. Yannūnāhaṁ tuṇhī assan"ti. Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto tuṇhī ahosi.
10Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ āmantesi: "Kaṁ pana tvaṁ, udāyi, manomayaṁ kāyaṁ paccesī"ti?
"Ye te, bhante, devā arūpino saññāmayā"ti.
"Kiṁ nu kho tuyhaṁ, udāyi, bālassa abyattassa bhaṇitena. Tvampi nāma bhaṇitabbaṁ maññasī"ti.
11Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: "atthi nāma, ānanda, theraṁ bhikkhuṁ vihesiyamānaṁ ajjhupekkhissatha. Na hi nāma, ānanda, kāruññampi bhavissati theramhi bhikkhumhi vihesiyamānamhī"ti.
12Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
"idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno samādhisampanno paññāsampanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānaṁ. No ce diṭṭheva dhamme aññaṁ ārādheyya, atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjeyyāpi vuṭṭhaheyyāpi – atthetaṁ ṭhānan"ti.
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.
13Atha kho āyasmā ānando acirapakkantassa bhagavato yenāyasmā upavāṇo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ upavāṇaṁ etadavoca: "idhāvuso upavāṇa, aññe there bhikkhū vihesenti. Mayaṁ tena na muccāma. Anacchariyaṁ kho, panetaṁ āvuso upavāṇa, yaṁ bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito etadeva ārabbha udāhareyya yathā āyasmantaṁyevettha upavāṇaṁ paṭibhāseyya. Idāneva amhākaṁ sārajjaṁ okkantan"ti.
Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena upaṭṭhānasālā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ upavāṇaṁ etadavoca:
14"Katihi nu kho, upavāṇa, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo cā"ti?
"Pañcahi, bhante, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca. Katamehi pañcahi?
Idha, bhante, thero bhikkhu sīlavā hoti … pe … samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu; bahussuto hoti … pe … diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā;
kalyāṇavāco hoti kalyāṇavākkaraṇo poriyā vācāya samannāgato vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā;
catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī;
āsavānaṁ khayā … pe … sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.
Imehi kho, bhante, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārī naṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo cā"ti.
15"Sādhu sādhu, upavāṇa. Imehi kho, upavāṇa, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca. Ime ce, upavāṇa, pañca dhammā therassa bhikkhuno na saṁvijjeyyuṁ, taṁ sabrahmacārī na sakkareyyuṁ na garuṁ kareyyuṁ na māneyyuṁ na pūjeyyuṁ khaṇḍiccena pāliccena valittacatāya. Yasmā ca kho, upavāṇa, ime pañca dhammā therassa bhikkhuno saṁvijjanti, tasmā taṁ sabrahmacārī sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjentī"ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.