Sutta Pitaka
Dīgha Nikāya – The Long Discourses
DN6: Mahāli Sutta – With Mahāli
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1. On the Brahmin Emissaries
1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Now at that time several brahmin emissaries from Kosala and Magadha were residing in Vesālī on some business. They heard:
“It seems the ascetic Gotama — a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family — is staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ He has realized with his own insight this world — with its gods, Māras and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans — and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”
2Then they went to the hall with the peaked roof in the Great Wood to see the Buddha.
Now, at that time Venerable Nāgita was the Buddha’s attendant. The brahmin emissaries went up to him and said: “Master Nāgita, where is Master Gotama at present? For we want to see him.”
“It’s the wrong time to see the Buddha; he is on retreat.”
So the brahmin emissaries sat down to one side, thinking: “We’ll go only after we’ve seen Master Gotama.”
2. On Oṭṭhaddha the Licchavi
3Oṭṭhaddha the Licchavi together with a large assembly of Licchavis also approached Nāgita at the hall with the peaked roof. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Nāgita: “Master Nāgita, where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha? For we want to see him.”
“It’s the wrong time to see the Buddha; he is on retreat.”
So Oṭṭhaddha also sat down to one side, thinking: “I’ll go only after I’ve seen the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.”
4Then the novice Sīha approached Nāgita. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Nāgita: “Sir, Kassapa, these several brahmin emissaries from Kosala and Magadha, and also Oṭṭhaddha the Licchavi together with a large assembly of Licchavis, have come here to see the Buddha. It would be good if these people got to see the Buddha.”
5“Well then, Sīha, tell the Buddha yourself.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Sīha. He went to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and told him of the people waiting to see him, adding: “Sir, it would be good if these people got to see the Buddha.”
“Well then, Sīha, spread out a seat in the shade of the dwelling.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Sīha, and he did so.
6Then the Buddha came out of his dwelling and sat in the shade of the dwelling on the seat spread out.
Then the brahmin emissaries went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side.
7Oṭṭhaddha the Licchavi together with a large assembly of Licchavis also went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Oṭṭhaddha said to the Buddha: “Sir, a few days ago Sunakkhatta the Licchavi came to me and said: ‘Mahāli, soon I will have been living in dependence on the Buddha for three years. I see heavenly sights that are pleasant, sensual, and arousing, but I don’t hear heavenly sounds that are pleasant, sensual, and arousing.’ The heavenly sounds that Sunakkhatta cannot hear: do such sounds really exist or not?”
2.1. One-Sided Immersion
8“Such sounds really do exist, but Sunakkhatta cannot hear them.”
“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why Sunakkhatta cannot hear them, even though they really do exist?”
9“Mahāli, take a mendicant who has developed one-sided immersion to the eastern quarter so as to see heavenly sights but not to hear heavenly sounds. When they have developed immersion for that purpose, they see heavenly sights but don’t hear heavenly sounds. Why is that? Because that is how it is for a mendicant who develops immersion in that way.
10Furthermore, take a mendicant who has developed one-sided immersion to the southern quarter … western quarter … northern quarter … above, below, across … That is how it is for a mendicant who develops immersion in that way.
11Take a mendicant who has developed one-sided immersion to the eastern quarter so as to hear heavenly sounds but not to see heavenly sights. When they have developed immersion for that purpose, they hear heavenly sounds but don’t see heavenly sights. Why is that? Because that is how it is for a mendicant who develops immersion in that way.
12Furthermore, take a mendicant who has developed one-sided immersion to the southern quarter … western quarter … northern quarter … above, below, across … That is how it is for a mendicant who develops immersion in that way.
13Take a mendicant who has developed two-sided immersion to the eastern quarter so as to both hear heavenly sounds and see heavenly sights. When they have developed immersion for that purpose, they both see heavenly sights and hear heavenly sounds. Why is that? Because that is how it is for a mendicant who develops immersion in that way.
14Furthermore, take a mendicant who has developed two-sided immersion to the southern quarter … western quarter … northern quarter … above, below, across … That is how it is for a mendicant who develops immersion in that way. This is the cause, Mahāli, this is the reason why Sunakkhatta cannot hear heavenly sounds that are pleasant, sensual, and arousing, even though they really do exist.”
15“Surely the mendicants must live the spiritual life under the Buddha for the sake of realizing such a development of immersion?”
“No, Mahāli, the mendicants don’t live the spiritual life under me for the sake of realizing such a development of immersion. There are other things that are finer, for the sake of which the mendicants live the spiritual life under me.”
2.2. The Four Noble Fruits
16“But sir, what are those finer things?”
“Firstly, Mahāli, with the ending of three fetters a mendicant is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, bound for awakening. This is one of the finer things for the sake of which the mendicants live the spiritual life under me.
17Furthermore, a mendicant — with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion — is a once-returner. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. This too is one of the finer things.
18Furthermore, with the ending of the five lower fetters, a mendicant is reborn spontaneously and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world. This too is one of the finer things.
19Furthermore, a mendicant has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and lives having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. This too is one of the finer things.
These are the finer things, for the sake of which the mendicants live the spiritual life under me.”
2.3. The Noble Eightfold Path
20“But, sir, is there a path and a practice for realizing these things?”
“There is, Mahāli.”
21“Well, what is it?”
“It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is the path and the practice for realizing these things.
2.4. On the Two Renunciates
22This one time, Mahāli, I was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita’s Monastery. Then two renunciates — the wanderer Muṇḍiya and Jāliya the pupil of Dārupattika — came and exchanged greetings with me. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they stood to one side and said to me: ‘Reverend Gotama, are the soul and the body the same thing, or they are different things?’
23‘Well then, reverends, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.’
‘Yes, reverend,’ they replied.
I said this: ‘Take the case when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha … That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics. …
24They enter and remain in the first absorption. When a mendicant knows and sees like this, would it be appropriate to say of them: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”?’
‘It would, reverend.’
‘But reverends, I know and see like this. Nevertheless, I do not say: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”. …
They enter and remain in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. When a mendicant knows and sees like this, would it be appropriate to say of them: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”?’
‘It would, reverend.’
‘But reverends, I know and see like this. Nevertheless, I do not say: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”. …
They extend and project the mind toward knowledge and vision … When a mendicant knows and sees like this, would it be appropriate to say of them: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”?’
‘It would, reverend.’
‘But reverends, I know and see like this. Nevertheless, I do not say: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”. …
25They understand: “… there is no return to any state of existence.”
When a mendicant knows and sees like this, would it be appropriate to say of them: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”?’
‘It would not, reverend.’
‘But reverends, I know and see like this. Nevertheless, I do not say: “The soul and the body are the same thing” or “The soul and the body are different things”.’”
26That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Oṭṭhaddha the Licchavi was happy with what the Buddha said.
1. Brāhmaṇadūtavatthu
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā vesāliyaṁ paṭivasanti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Assosuṁ kho te kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā:
"Samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: 'itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā'. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī"ti.
2Atha kho te kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā yena mahāvanaṁ kūṭāgārasālā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.
Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nāgito bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti. Atha kho te kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā yenāyasmā nāgito tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. Upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ etadavocuṁ: "kahaṁ nu kho, bho nāgita, etarahi so bhavaṁ gotamo viharati? Dassanakāmā hi mayaṁ taṁ bhavantaṁ gotaman"ti.
"Akālo kho, āvuso, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, paṭisallīno bhagavā"ti.
Atha kho te kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā tattheva ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu: "disvāva mayaṁ taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ gamissāmā"ti.
2. Oṭṭhaddhalicchavīvatthu
3Oṭṭhaddhopi licchavī mahatiyā licchavīparisāya saddhiṁ yena mahāvanaṁ kūṭāgārasālā yenāyasmā nāgito tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho oṭṭhaddhopi licchavī āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ etadavoca: "kahaṁ nu kho, bhante nāgita, etarahi so bhagavā viharati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho, dassanakāmā hi mayaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan"ti.
"Akālo kho, mahāli, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, paṭisallīno bhagavā"ti.
Oṭṭhaddhopi licchavī tattheva ekamantaṁ nisīdi: "disvāva ahaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ gamissāmi arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan"ti.
4Atha kho sīho samaṇuddeso yenāyasmā nāgito tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sīho samaṇuddeso āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ etadavoca: "ete, bhante kassapa, sambahulā kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā idhūpasaṅkantā bhagavantaṁ dassanāya; oṭṭhaddhopi licchavī mahatiyā licchavīparisāya saddhiṁ idhūpasaṅkanto bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, sādhu, bhante kassapa, labhataṁ esā janatā bhagavantaṁ dassanāyā"ti.
5"Tena hi, sīha, tvaññeva bhagavato ārocehī"ti.
"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho sīho samaṇuddeso āyasmato nāgitassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sīho samaṇuddeso bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ete, bhante, sambahulā kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā idhūpasaṅkantā bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, oṭṭhaddhopi licchavī mahatiyā licchavīparisāya saddhiṁ idhūpasaṅkanto bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Sādhu, bhante, labhataṁ esā janatā bhagavantaṁ dassanāyā"ti.
"Tena hi, sīha, vihārapacchāyāyaṁ āsanaṁ paññapehī"ti.
"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho sīho samaṇuddeso bhagavato paṭissutvā vihārapacchāyāyaṁ āsanaṁ paññapesi.
6Atha kho bhagavā vihārā nikkhamma vihārapacchāyāyaṁ paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Atha kho te kosalakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā māgadhakā ca brāhmaṇadūtā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Oṭṭhaddhopi licchavī mahatiyā licchavīparisāya saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
7Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho oṭṭhaddho licchavī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "purimāni, bhante, divasāni purimatarāni sunakkhatto licchaviputto yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ etadavoca: 'yadagge ahaṁ, mahāli, bhagavantaṁ upanissāya viharāmi, na ciraṁ tīṇi vassāni, dibbāni hi kho rūpāni passāmi piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no ca kho dibbāni saddāni suṇāmi piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyānī'ti. Santāneva nu kho, bhante, sunakkhatto licchaviputto dibbāni saddāni nāssosi piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, udāhu asantānī"ti?
2.1. Ekaṁsabhāvitasamādhi
8"Santāneva kho, mahāli, sunakkhatto licchaviputto dibbāni saddāni nāssosi piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no asantānī"ti.
"Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yena santāneva sunakkhatto licchaviputto dibbāni saddāni nāssosi piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no asantānī"ti?
9"Idha, mahāli, bhikkhuno puratthimāya disāya ekaṁsabhāvito samādhi hoti dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. So puratthimāya disāya ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Puratthimāya disāya dibbāni rūpāni passati piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no ca kho dibbāni saddāni suṇāti piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, mahāli, hoti bhikkhuno puratthimāya disāya ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ.
10Puna caparaṁ, mahāli, bhikkhuno dakkhiṇāya disāya … pe … pacchimāya disāya … uttarāya disāya … uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ekaṁsabhāvito samādhi hoti dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. So uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Uddhamadho tiriyaṁ dibbāni rūpāni passati piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no ca kho dibbāni saddāni suṇāti piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni.
Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, mahāli, hoti bhikkhuno uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ.
11Idha, mahāli, bhikkhuno puratthimāya disāya ekaṁsabhāvito samādhi hoti dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. So puratthimāya disāya ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Puratthimāya disāya dibbāni saddāni suṇāti piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no ca kho dibbāni rūpāni passati piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, mahāli, hoti bhikkhuno puratthimāya disāya ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ.
12Puna caparaṁ, mahāli, bhikkhuno dakkhiṇāya disāya … pe … pacchimāya disāya … uttarāya disāya … uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ekaṁsabhāvito samādhi hoti dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. So uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Uddhamadho tiriyaṁ dibbāni saddāni suṇāti piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no ca kho dibbāni rūpāni passati piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, mahāli, hoti bhikkhuno uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ekaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānaṁ saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, no ca kho dibbānaṁ rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ.
13Idha, mahāli, bhikkhuno puratthimāya disāya ubhayaṁsabhāvito samādhi hoti dibbānañca rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ dibbānañca saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. So puratthimāya disāya ubhayaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānañca rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, dibbānañca saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Puratthimāya disāya dibbāni ca rūpāni passati piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, dibbāni ca saddāni suṇāti piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, mahāli, hoti bhikkhuno puratthimāya disāya ubhayaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānañca rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ dibbānañca saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ.
14Puna caparaṁ, mahāli, bhikkhuno dakkhiṇāya disāya … pe … pacchimāya disāya … uttarāya disāya … uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ubhayaṁsabhāvito samādhi hoti dibbānañca rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, dibbānañca saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. So uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ubhayaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānañca rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ dibbānañca saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Uddhamadho tiriyaṁ dibbāni ca rūpāni passati piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, dibbāni ca saddāni suṇāti piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, mahāli, hoti bhikkhuno uddhamadho tiriyaṁ ubhayaṁsabhāvite samādhimhi dibbānañca rūpānaṁ dassanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, dibbānañca saddānaṁ savanāya piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena santāneva sunakkhatto licchaviputto dibbāni saddāni nāssosi piyarūpāni kāmūpasaṁhitāni rajanīyāni, no asantānī"ti.
15"Etāsaṁ nūna, bhante, samādhibhāvanānaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ carantī"ti.
"Na kho, mahāli, etāsaṁ samādhibhāvanānaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti. Atthi kho, mahāli, aññeva dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca, yesaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ carantī"ti.
2.2. Catuariyaphala
16"Katame pana te, bhante, dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca, yesaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ carantī"ti?
"Idha, mahāli, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo. Ayampi kho, mahāli, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca, yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.
17Puna caparaṁ, mahāli, bhikkhu tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmī hoti, sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karoti. Ayampi kho, mahāli, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca, yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.
18Puna caparaṁ, mahāli, bhikkhu pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti, tattha parinibbāyī, anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. Ayampi kho, mahāli, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca, yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.
19Puna caparaṁ, mahāli, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, mahāli, dhammo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca, yassa sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ caranti.
Ime kho te, mahāli, dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca, yesaṁ sacchikiriyāhetu bhikkhū mayi brahmacariyaṁ carantī"ti.
2.3. Ariyaaṭṭhaṅgikamagga
20"Atthi pana, bhante, maggo atthi paṭipadā etesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāyā"ti?
"Atthi kho, mahāli, maggo atthi paṭipadā etesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāyā"ti.
21"Katamo pana, bhante, maggo katamā paṭipadā etesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāyā"ti?
"Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo. Seyyathidaṁ — sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā sammākammanto sammāājīvo sammāvāyāmo sammāsati sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, mahāli, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā etesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya.
2.4. Dvepabbajitavatthu
22Ekamidāhaṁ, mahāli, samayaṁ kosambiyaṁ viharāmi ghositārāme. Atha kho dve pabbajitā — muṇḍiyo ca paribbājako jāliyo ca dārupattikantevāsī yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. Upasaṅkamitvā mayā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho te dve pabbajitā maṁ etadavocuṁ: 'kiṁ nu kho, āvuso gotama, taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ, udāhu aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti?
23'Tena hāvuso, suṇātha sādhukaṁ manasi karotha bhāsissāmī'ti.
'Evamāvuso'ti kho te dve pabbajitā mama paccassosuṁ.
Ahaṁ etadavocaṁ: 'idhāvuso tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho … pe … Evaṁ kho, āvuso, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti.
24… pe … Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Yo kho, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati, kallaṁ nu kho tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti?
Yo so, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati, kallaṁ tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā, 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti.
Ahaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, evaṁ jānāmi evaṁ passāmi. Atha ca panāhaṁ na vadāmi: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vā
… pe … dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ … tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ … catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Yo kho, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati, kallaṁ nu kho tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti?
Yo so, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati, kallaṁ tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti.
Ahaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, evaṁ jānāmi evaṁ passāmi. Atha ca panāhaṁ na vadāmi: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vā … pe … ñāṇadassanāya cittaṁ abhinīharati abhininnāmeti …
yo kho, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati, kallaṁ nu kho tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti? … pe …
Yo so, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati, kallaṁ tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti.
Ahaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, evaṁ jānāmi evaṁ passāmi. Atha ca panāhaṁ na vadāmi: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vā.
25… pe … Nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāti.
Yo kho, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati, kallaṁ nu kho tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti?
Yo so, āvuso, bhikkhu evaṁ jānāti evaṁ passati na kallaṁ tassetaṁ vacanāya: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vāti.
Ahaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, evaṁ jānāmi evaṁ passāmi. Atha ca panāhaṁ na vadāmi: 'taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran'ti vā 'aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran'ti vā"ti.
26Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano oṭṭhaddho licchavī bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.
Mahālisuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.