1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, where they have a town named Devadaha.

Then several mendicants who were heading for the west went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, we wish to go to a western land to take up residence there.”

“But mendicants, have you consulted with Sāriputta?”

“No, sir, we haven’t.”

“You should consult with Sāriputta. He’s astute, and supports his spiritual companions, the mendicants.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Now at that time Venerable Sāriputta was meditating not far from the Buddha in a clump of golden shower trees. And then those mendicants approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. They got up from their seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right. Then they went up to Venerable Sāriputta, and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and said to him: “Reverend Sāriputta, we wish to go to a western land to take up residence there. We have consulted with the Teacher.”

“Reverends, there are those who question a mendicant who has gone abroad — astute aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and ascetics — for astute people are inquisitive: ‘But what does the venerables’ Teacher teach? What does he explain?’ I trust the venerables have properly heard, learned, attended, and remembered the teachings, and penetrated them with wisdom. That way, when answering you will repeat what the Buddha has said and not misrepresent him with an untruth. You will explain in line with the teaching, with no legitimate grounds for rebuke and criticism.

“Reverend, we would travel a long way to learn the meaning of this statement in the presence of Venerable Sāriputta. May Venerable Sāriputta himself please clarify the meaning of this.”

“Well then, reverends, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Yes, reverend,” they replied. Sāriputta said this:

“Reverends, there are those who question a mendicant who has gone abroad — astute aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and ascetics — for astute people are inquisitive: ‘But what does the venerables’ Teacher teach? What does he explain?’ When questioned like this, reverends, you should answer: ‘Reverend, our Teacher explained the removal of desire and lust.’

When you answer like this, such astute people may inquire further: ‘But regarding what does the venerables’ teacher explain the removal of desire and lust?’ When questioned like this, reverends, you should answer: ‘Our teacher explains the removal of desire and lust for form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.’

When you answer like this, such astute people may inquire further: ‘But what drawback has he seen that he teaches the removal of desire and lust for form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness?’ When questioned like this, reverends, you should answer: ‘If you’re not free of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for form, when that form decays and perishes it gives rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. If you’re not free of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, when that consciousness decays and perishes it gives rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. This is the drawback our Teacher has seen that he teaches the removal of desire and lust for form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.’

When you answer like this, such astute people may inquire further: ‘But what benefit has he seen that he teaches the removal of desire and lust for form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness?’ When questioned like this, reverends, you should answer: ‘If you are rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for form, when that form decays and perishes it doesn’t give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. If you are rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, when that consciousness decays and perishes it doesn’t give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. This is the benefit our Teacher has seen that he teaches the removal of desire and lust for form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.’

If those who acquired and kept unskillful qualities were to live happily in the present life, free of anguish, distress, and fever; and if, when their body breaks up, after death, they could expect to go to a good place, the Buddha would not praise giving up unskillful qualities. But since those who acquire and keep unskillful qualities live unhappily in the present life, full of anguish, distress, and fever; and since, when their body breaks up, after death, they can expect to go to a bad place, the Buddha praises giving up unskillful qualities.

If those who embraced and kept skillful qualities were to live unhappily in the present life, full of anguish, distress, and fever; and if, when their body breaks up, after death, they could expect to go to a bad place, the Buddha would not praise embracing skillful qualities. But since those who embrace and keep skillful qualities live happily in the present life, free of anguish, distress, and fever; and since, when their body breaks up, after death, they can expect to go to a good place, the Buddha praises embracing skillful qualities.”

This is what Venerable Sāriputta said. Satisfied, the mendicants were happy with what Sāriputta said.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu vihārati devadahaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo. Atha kho sambahulā pacchābhūmagamikā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

"icchāma mayaṁ, bhante, pacchābhūmaṁ janapadaṁ gantuṁ, pacchābhūme janapade nivāsaṁ kappetun"ti.

2"Apalokito pana vo, bhikkhave, sāriputto"ti?

"Na kho no, bhante, apalokito āyasmā sāriputto"ti.

"Apaloketha, bhikkhave, sāriputtaṁ. Sāriputto, bhikkhave, paṇḍito, bhikkhūnaṁ anuggāhako sabrahmacārīnan"ti.

"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

3Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā sāriputto bhagavato avidūre aññatarasmiṁ eḷagalāgumbe nisinno hoti. Atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā sāriputtena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavocuṁ:

"icchāma mayaṁ, āvuso sāriputta, pacchābhūmaṁ janapadaṁ gantuṁ, pacchābhūme janapade nivāsaṁ kappetuṁ. Apalokito no satthā"ti.

4"Santi hāvuso, nānāverajjagataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchitāro – khattiyapaṇḍitāpi brāhmaṇapaṇḍitāpi gahapatipaṇḍitāpi samaṇapaṇḍitāpi. Paṇḍitā hāvuso, manussā vīmaṁsakā: ‘kiṁvādī panāyasmantānaṁ satthā kimakkhāyī’ti, kacci vo āyasmantānaṁ dhammā sussutā suggahitā sumanasikatā sūpadhāritā suppaṭividdhā paññāya, yathā byākaramānā āyasmanto vuttavādino ceva bhagavato assatha, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkheyyātha, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākareyyātha, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgaccheyyā"ti?

5"Dūratopi kho mayaṁ, āvuso, āgaccheyyāma āyasmato sāriputtassa santike etassa bhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ. Sādhu vatāyasmantaṁyeva sāriputtaṁ paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho"ti.

"Tena hāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī"ti.

"Evamāvuso"ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca: 

6"Santi hāvuso, nānāverajjagataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchitāro – khattiyapaṇḍitāpi … pe … samaṇapaṇḍitāpi. Paṇḍitā hāvuso, manussā vīmaṁsakā: ‘kiṁvādī panāyasmantānaṁ satthā kimakkhāyī’ti? Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, āvuso, evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘chandarāgavinayakkhāyī kho no, āvuso, satthā’ti.

7Evaṁ byākatepi kho, āvuso, assuyeva uttariṁ pañhaṁ pucchitāro – khattiyapaṇḍitāpi … pe … samaṇapaṇḍitāpi. Paṇḍitā hāvuso, manussā vīmaṁsakā: ‘kismiṁ panāyasmantānaṁ chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā’ti? Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, āvuso, evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘rūpe kho, āvuso, chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā, vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhāresu … viññāṇe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā’ti.

8Evaṁ byākatepi kho, āvuso, assuyeva uttariṁ pañhaṁ pucchitāro – khattiyapaṇḍitāpi … pe … samaṇapaṇḍitāpi. Paṇḍitā hāvuso, manussā vīmaṁsakā: ‘kiṁ panāyasmantānaṁ ādīnavaṁ disvā rūpe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā, vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhāresu … viññāṇe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā’ti? Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, āvuso, evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘rūpe kho, āvuso, avigatarāgassa avigatacchandassa avigatapemassa avigatapipāsassa avigatapariḷāhassa avigātataṇhassa tassa rūpassa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhāresu avigatarāgassa … pe … avigātataṇhassa tesaṁ saṅkhārānaṁ vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Viññāṇe avigatarāgassa avigatacchandassa avigatapemassa avigatapipāsassa avigatapariḷāhassa avigātataṇhassa tassa viññāṇassa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Idaṁ kho no, āvuso, ādīnavaṁ disvā rūpe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā, vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhāresu … viññāṇe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā’ti.

9Evaṁ byākatepi kho, āvuso, assuyeva uttariṁ pañhaṁ pucchitāro – khattiyapaṇḍitāpi brāhmaṇapaṇḍitāpi gahapatipaṇḍitāpi samaṇapaṇḍitāpi. Paṇḍitā hāvuso, manussā vīmaṁsakā: ‘kiṁ panāyasmantānaṁ ānisaṁsaṁ disvā rūpe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā, vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhāresu … viññāṇe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā’ti? Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, āvuso, evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘rūpe kho, āvuso, vigatarāgassa vigatacchandassa vigatapemassa vigatapipāsassa vigatapariḷāhassa vigātataṇhassa tassa rūpassa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhāresu vigatarāgassa vigatacchandassa vigatapemassa vigatapipāsassa vigatapariḷāhassa vigātataṇhassa tesaṁ saṅkhārānaṁ vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Viññāṇe vigatarāgassa vigatacchandassa vigatapemassa vigatapipāsassa vigatapariḷāhassa vigātataṇhassa tassa viññāṇassa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā nuppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā. Idaṁ kho no, āvuso, ānisaṁsaṁ disvā rūpe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā, vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhāresu … viññāṇe chandarāgavinayakkhāyī satthā’ti.

10Akusale cāvuso, dhamme upasampajja vihārato diṭṭhe ceva dhamme sukho vihāro abhavissa avighāto anupāyāso apariḷāho, kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugati pāṭikaṅkhā, nayidaṁ bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānaṁ vaṇṇeyya. Yasmā ca kho, āvuso, akusale dhamme upasampajja vihārato diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkho vihāro savighāto saupāyāso sapariḷāho, kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā, tasmā bhagavā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānaṁ vaṇṇeti.

11Kusale cāvuso, dhamme upasampajja vihārato diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkho vihāro abhavissa savighāto saupāyāso sapariḷāho, kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā, nayidaṁ bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadaṁ vaṇṇeyya. Yasmā ca kho, āvuso, kusale dhamme upasampajja vihārato diṭṭhe ceva dhamme sukho vihāro avighāto anupāyāso apariḷāho, kāyassa ca bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugati pāṭikaṅkhā, tasmā bhagavā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadaṁ vaṇṇetī"ti.

12Idamavocāyasmā sāriputto. Attamanā te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Dutiyaṁ.