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Udāna 1.10

Bāhiyasutta

With Bāhiya · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā near Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta’s Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa in the monasteryārāme.
at thatTena indeedkho nowpana timesamayena Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo by Suppārakasuppārake was residingpaṭivasati on the ocean shoresamuddatīre honoredsakkato respectedgarukato reveredmānito veneratedpūjito esteemedapacito a receiverlābhī of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sickcīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.
thenAtha indeedkho for Bāhiyabāhiyassa of the Bark Clothdārucīriyassa gone into privacyrahogatassa in retreatpaṭisallīnassa thusevaṁ of mindcetaso a reflectionparivitakko aroseudapādi:
those who“ye indeedkho whoeverkeci in the worldloke perfected onesarahanto orvā the path to perfectionarahattamaggaṁ orvā have entered uponsamāpannā, Iahaṁ of themtesaṁ am one (quote)aññataro”ti.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth was residing by Suppāraka on the ocean shore, where he was honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And he received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I am one of those in the world who are perfected or on the path to perfection.”

thenAtha indeedkho of Bāhiyabāhiyassa of the Bark Clothdārucīriyassa a former blood relativepurāṇasālohitā a deitydevatā sympatheticanukampikā wanting his goodatthakāmā of Bāhiyabāhiyassa of the Bark Clothdārucīriyassa with her mindcetasā having known the reflection in his mindcetoparivitakkamaññāya whereyena Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo there approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā to Bāhiyabāhiyaṁ of the Bark Clothdārucīriyaṁ said thisetadavoca:
neither“neva indeedkho youtvaṁ, Bāhiyabāhiya, a perfected onearahā, nor evennāpi the path to perfectionarahattamaggaṁ orvā one entered uponsamāpanno.
even thatSāpi for youte practicepaṭipadā there is notnatthi by whichyāya youtvaṁ a perfected onearahā eithervā might beassa the path to perfectionarahattamaggaṁ orvā one entered upon (quote)samāpanno”ti.

Then a deity who was a former relative of Bāhiya, having sympathy and wanting what’s best for him, approached him and said: “Bāhiya, you’re not a perfected one, nor on the path to perfection. You don’t have the practice by which you might become a perfected one or one on the path to perfection.”

then“Atha whoke nowcarahi with its godssadevake in the worldloke perfected onesarahanto orvā the path to perfectionarahattamaggaṁ orvā have entered upon (quote)samāpannā”ti?
there is“Atthi, Bāhiyabāhiya, in the northernuttaresu landsjanapadesu Sāvatthīsāvatthī namednāma a citynagaraṁ.
thereTattha thatso Blessed Onebhagavā nowetarahi is stayingviharati the perfected onearahaṁ the fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddho.
heSo indeedhi, Bāhiyabāhiya, the Blessed Onebhagavā a perfected onearahā both isceva for the sake of perfectionarahattāya andca the Dhammadhammaṁ teaches (quote)desetī”ti.

“So who then are those in the world who are perfected or on the path to perfection?” “In the northern lands there is a city named Sāvatthī. There that Blessed One is now staying, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. He is a perfected one and teaches the Dhamma for the sake of perfection.”

thenAtha indeedkho Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo by thattāya deitydevatāya impelledsaṁvejito right awaytāvadeva from Suppārakasuppārakamhā departedpakkāmi.
everywhereSabbattha staying a single nightekarattiparivāsena whereyena Sāvatthīsāvatthī the Jeta Grovejetavanaṁ of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa the monasteryārāmo there he approachedtenupasaṅkami.
at thatTena indeedkho nowpana timesamayena severalsambahulā monksbhikkhū in the open airabbhokāse were walking mindfullycaṅkamanti.
thenAtha indeedkho Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo whereyena thosete monksbhikkhū there approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā to thosete monksbhikkhū said thisetadavoca:
where“kahaṁ nownu indeedkho, venerable sirsbhante, at presentetarahi the Blessed Onebhagavā is stayingviharati the perfected onearahaṁ the fully awakened Buddha?sammāsambuddho?
desirous of seeingDassanakāmamhā we aremayaṁ thattaṁ Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ perfected onearahantaṁ fully awakened Buddha (quote)sammāsambuddhan”ti.
an inhabited area“Antaragharaṁ has enteredpaviṭṭho indeedkho, Bāhiyabāhiya, the Blessed Onebhagavā for almsfood (quote)piṇḍāyā”ti.

Impelled by that deity, Bāhiya left Suppāraka right away. Sojourning no more than a single night in any place, he made his way to Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery in the Jeta Grove at Sāvatthī. At that time several mendicants were walking mindfully in the open air. Bāhiya approached them and said, “Sirs, where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha? For I want to see him.” “He has entered an inhabited area for almsfood, Bāhiya.”

thenAtha indeedkho Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo in a hurrytaramānarūpo from the Jeta Grovejetavanā having gone outnikkhamitvā Sāvatthīsāvatthiṁ having enteredpavisitvā sawaddasa the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ for almspiṇḍāya walkingcarantaṁ impressivepāsādikaṁ inspiringpasādanīyaṁ with peaceful facultiessantindriyaṁ with peaceful heartsantamānasaṁ attained to the highest self-control and serenityuttamadamathasamathamanuppattaṁ tameddantaṁ guardedguttaṁ with restrained facultiesyatindriyaṁ an elephantnāgaṁ.
having seenDisvāna whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā there approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā of the Blessed Onebhagavato at the feetpāde with his headsirasā having bowed downnipatitvā to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
let teach“desetu meme, venerable sirbhante, the Blessed Onebhagavā the Dhammadhammaṁ; let teachdesetu the Holy Onesugato the Dhammadhammaṁ,
whichyaṁ would be for memamassa for a long timedīgharattaṁ for welfarehitāya for happiness (quote)sukhāyā”ti.
thusEvaṁ when it was saidvutte, the Blessed Onebhagavā to Bāhiyabāhiyaṁ of the Bark Clothdārucīriyaṁ said thisetadavoca:
it is not the time“akālo indeedkho so long astāva, Bāhiyabāhiya, an inhabited areaantaragharaṁ we have enteredpaviṭṭhamhā for almsfood (quote)piṇḍāyā”ti.

Then Bāhiya rushed out of the Jeta Grove and entered Sāvatthī, where he saw the Buddha walking for alms. He was impressive and inspiring, with peaceful faculties and heart, attained to the highest self-control and serenity, like an elephant with tamed, guarded, and controlled faculties. Bāhiya went up to the Buddha, bowed down with his head to the Buddha’s feet, and said, “Sir, let the Blessed One teach me the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach me the Dhamma! That would be for my lasting welfare and happiness.” The Buddha said this: “It’s not the time, Bāhiya, so long as I have entered an inhabited area for almsfood.”

for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
hard to know“dujjānaṁ indeedkho but this ispanetaṁ, venerable sirbhante, for the Blessed Onebhagavato eithervā the dangers to lifejīvitantarāyānaṁ, for memayhaṁ orvā the dangers to lifejīvitantarāyānaṁ.
let teachDesetu meme, venerable sirbhante, the Blessed Onebhagavā the Dhammadhammaṁ;
let teachdesetu the Holy Onesugato the Dhammadhammaṁ, whichyaṁ would be for memamassa for a long timedīgharattaṁ for welfarehitāya for happiness (quote)sukhāyā”ti.
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā to Bāhiyabāhiyaṁ of the Bark Clothdārucīriyaṁ said thisetadavoca:
it is not the time“akālo indeedkho so long astāva, Bāhiyabāhiya, an inhabited areaantaragharaṁ we have enteredpaviṭṭhamhā for almsfood (quote)piṇḍāyā”ti.

For a second time, Bāhiya said, “But you never know, sir, when life is at risk, either the Buddha’s or my own. Let the Blessed One teach me the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach me the Dhamma! That would be for my lasting welfare and happiness.” For a second time, the Buddha said, “It’s not the time, Bāhiya, so long as I have entered an inhabited area for almsfood.”

for a third timeTatiyampi indeedkho Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
hard to know“dujjānaṁ indeedkho but this ispanetaṁ, venerable sirbhante, for the Blessed Onebhagavato eithervā the dangers to lifejīvitantarāyānaṁ, for memayhaṁ orvā the dangers to lifejīvitantarāyānaṁ.
let teachDesetu meme, venerable sirbhante, the Blessed Onebhagavā the Dhammadhammaṁ;
let teachdesetu the Holy Onesugato the Dhammadhammaṁ, whichyaṁ would be for memamassa for a long timedīgharattaṁ for welfarehitāya for happiness (quote)sukhāyā”ti.

For a third time, Bāhiya said, “But you never know, sir, when life is at risk, either the Buddha’s or my own. Let the Blessed One teach me the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach me the Dhamma! That would be for my lasting welfare and happiness.”

therefore here“Tasmātiha by youte, Bāhiyabāhiya, thusevaṁ it should be trainedsikkhitabbaṁ:
in the seen‘diṭṭhe merely the seendiṭṭhamattaṁ there will bebhavissati, in the heardsute merely the heardsutamattaṁ there will bebhavissati, in the thoughtmute merely the thoughtmutamattaṁ there will bebhavissati, in the knownviññāte merely the knownviññātamattaṁ there will be (quote)bhavissatī’ti.
for thusEvañhi by youte, Bāhiyabāhiya, it should be trainedsikkhitabbaṁ.
whenYato indeedkho for youte, Bāhiyabāhiya, in the seendiṭṭhe merely the seendiṭṭhamattaṁ there will bebhavissati, in the heardsute merely the heardsutamattaṁ there will bebhavissati, in the thoughtmute merely the thoughtmutamattaṁ there will bebhavissati, in the knownviññāte merely the knownviññātamattaṁ there will bebhavissati,
thentato youtvaṁ, Bāhiyabāhiya, notna by thattena.
whenYato youtvaṁ, Bāhiyabāhiya, notna by thattena;
thentato youtvaṁ, Bāhiyabāhiya, notna theretattha.
whenYato youtvaṁ, Bāhiyabāhiya, notna theretattha,
thentato youtvaṁ, Bāhiyabāhiya, neither herenevidha norna beyondhuraṁ norna between the twoubhayamantarena.
just this is the endEsevanto of suffering (quote)dukkhassā”ti.

“In that case, Bāhiya, you should train like this: ‘In the seen will be merely the seen; in the heard will be merely the heard; in the thought will be merely the thought; in the known will be merely the known.’ That’s how you should train. When you have trained in this way, you won’t be ‘by that’. When you’re not ‘by that’, you won’t be ‘in that’. When you’re not ‘in that’, you won’t be in this life or the next or between the two. Just this is the end of suffering.”

thenAtha indeedkho of Bāhiyabāhiyassa of the Bark Clothdārucīriyassa of the Blessed Onebhagavato by thisimāya briefsaṅkhittāya Dhamma teachingdhammadesanāya right awaytāvadeva by not graspinganupādāya from defilementsāsavehi the mindcittaṁ was freedvimucci.

Then, due to this brief Dhamma teaching of the Buddha, Bāhiya’s mind was right away freed from defilements by not grasping.

thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā Bāhiyabāhiyaṁ of the Bark Clothdārucīriyaṁ with thisiminā briefsaṅkhittena adviceovādena having advisedovaditvā departedpakkāmi.
thenAtha indeedkho not long departedacirapakkantassa when the Blessed One wasbhagavato Bāhiyabāhiyaṁ of the Bark Clothdārucīriyaṁ a cowgāvī with a young calftaruṇavacchā having charged atadhipatitvā of lifejīvitā deprivedvoropesi.

And when the Buddha had given Bāhiya this brief advice he left. But soon after the Buddha had left, a cow with a baby calf charged at Bāhiya and took his life.

thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ for almspiṇḍāya having wanderedcaritvā after the mealpacchābhattaṁ returned from almsroundpiṇḍapātapaṭikkanto with severalsambahulehi monksbhikkhūhi togethersaddhiṁ from the citynagaramhā having gone outnikkhamitvā sawaddasa Bāhiyabāhiyaṁ of the Bark Clothdārucīriyaṁ passed awaykālaṅkataṁ;
having seendisvāna the monksbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
pick up“gaṇhatha, monksbhikkhave, of Bāhiyabāhiyassa of the Bark Clothdārucīriyassa the corpsesarīrakaṁ; onto a cotmañcakaṁ having liftedāropetvā having carried outnīharitvā cremate itjhāpetha; and a monument for himthūpañcassa buildkarotha.
a spiritual companionSabrahmacārī of yoursvo, monksbhikkhave, has passed away (quote)kālaṅkato”ti.

Then the Buddha wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he exited the city together with several mendicants and saw that Bāhiya had passed away. He said to the monks, “Mendicants, pick up Bāhiya’s corpse. Having lifted it onto a cot and carried it, cremate it and build a monument. Mendicants, one of your spiritual companions has passed away.”

“yes“Evaṁ, venerable sir” (quote)bhante”ti indeedkho thosete monksbhikkhū to the Blessed Onebhagavato having repliedpaṭissutvā of Bāhiyabāhiyassa of the Bark Clothdārucīriyassa the corpsesarīrakaṁ onto a cotmañcakaṁ having liftedāropetvā having carried outnīharitvā having crematedjhāpetvā and a monument for himthūpañcassa having builtkatvā whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā there approachedtenupasaṅkamiṁsu; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowed toabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdiṁsu.
to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinnā indeedkho thosete monksbhikkhū to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
burnt“daḍḍhaṁ, venerable sirbhante, of Bāhiyabāhiyassa of the Bark Clothdārucīriyassa the bodysarīraṁ, a monumentthūpo and for himcassa builtkato.
hisTassa whatkā destinationgati, whatko future state (quote)abhisamparāyo”ti?
astute“Paṇḍito, monksbhikkhave, Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Clothdārucīriyo practicedpaccapādi in line with the teachingdhammassānudhammaṁ; notna andca memaṁ on account of the teachingsdhammādhikaraṇaṁ did troublevihesesi.
fully quenchedParinibbuto, monksbhikkhave, Bāhiyabāhiyo of the Bark Cloth (quote)dārucīriyo”ti.

“Yes, sir,” replied those mendicants. They did as the Buddha asked, then returned to the Buddha and said, “Sir, Bāhiya’s corpse has been cremated and a monument built for him. Where has he been reborn in his next life?” “Mendicants, Bāhiya was astute. He practiced in line with the teaching, and did not trouble me about the teachings. Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth has become fully quenched.”

thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā this matteretamatthaṁ having understoodviditvā on thattāyaṁ occasionvelāyaṁ thisimaṁ heartfelt sentimentudānaṁ expressedudānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

where“Yattha waterāpo andca earthpathavī,
firetejo airvāyo notna find a footinggādhati;
notNa theretattha the starssukkā shinejotanti,
the sunādicco does not shed lightnappakāsati;
notNa theretattha the mooncandimā glowsbhāti,
darknesstamo theretattha notna is foundvijjati.

“Where water and earth, fire and air have no footing— there no star does shine, nor does the sun shed its light; there the moon glows not, yet no darkness is found.

whenYadā andca knows by himselfattanāvedi,
the sagemuni through sagacitymonena the brahminbrāhmaṇo;
thenAtha from formsrūpā from the formlessarūpā andca,
from pleasure and painsukhadukkhā is released (quote)pamuccatī”ti.
the tenthDasamaṁ.

And when a sage, a brahmin, finds understanding through their own sagacity, then, from forms and formless, from pleasure and pain they are released.”

this tooAyampi heartfelt sayingudāno was spokenvutto by the Blessed Onebhagavatā thusiti by meme heard (quote)sutanti.
the Chapter on AwakeningBodhivaggo the firstpaṭhamo.

This too is a heartfelt saying that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

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