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Majjhima Nikāya 132

Ānandabhaddekarattasutta

Ānanda and One Fine Night · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā at Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane Anāthapiṇḍika'sanāthapiṇḍikassa monasteryārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

by thatTena indeedkho thenpana at the timesamayena Venerableāyasmā Ānandaānando in the assembly hallupaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ of the mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ with a Dhammadhammiyā with a talkkathāya educatessandasseti encouragessamādapeti fires upsamuttejeti inspires,sampahaṁseti, of the one fine nightbhaddekarattassa and the summary recitaluddesañca and the analysisvibhaṅgañca speaks.bhāsati.
thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā in the late afternoonsāyanhasamayaṁ from retreatpaṭisallānā come outvuṭṭhito went to the assembly hallyenupaṭṭhānasālā wenttenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā spread outpaññatte on the seatāsane sat down.nisīdi.
having sat downNisajja indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā the mendicantsbhikkhū addressed:āmantesi:
"who“ko indeednu indeed,kho, mendicants,bhikkhave, in the assembly hallupaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ of the mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ with a Dhammadhammiyā with a talkkathāya educatedsandassesi encouragedsamādapesi fired upsamuttejesi inspired,sampahaṁsesi, of the one fine nightbhaddekarattassa and the summary recitaluddesañca and the analysisvibhaṅgañca spoke"?abhāsī”ti?
"Venerable,“Āyasmā, sir,bhante, Ānandaānando in the assembly hallupaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ of the mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ with a Dhammadhammiyā with a talkkathāya educatedsandassesi encouragedsamādapesi fired upsamuttejesi inspired,sampahaṁsesi, of the one fine nightbhaddekarattassa and the summary recitaluddesañca and the analysisvibhaṅgañca spoke".abhāsī”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā Venerableāyasmantaṁ Ānandaānandaṁ addressed:āmantesi:
"in what way“yathā howkathaṁ thenpana you,tvaṁ, Ānanda,ānanda, of the mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ with a Dhammadhammiyā with a talkkathāya educatedsandassesi encouragedsamādapesi fired upsamuttejesi inspired,sampahaṁsesi, of the one fine nightbhaddekarattassa and the summary recitaluddesañca and the analysisvibhaṅgañca spoke"?abhāsī”ti?

Now at that time Venerable Ānanda was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat, went to the assembly hall, where he sat down on the seat spread out, and addressed the mendicants: “Who was inspiring the mendicants with a talk on the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night?” “It was Venerable Ānanda, sir.” Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, “But in what way were you inspiring the mendicants with a talk on the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night?”

thus“Evaṁ indeedkho Iahaṁ, sirbhante, of the monksbhikkhūnaṁ with a Dhammadhammiyā talkkathāya I instructedsandassesiṁ I rousedsamādapesiṁ I incitedsamuttejesiṁ I gladdenedsampahaṁsesiṁ, of one fine nightbhaddekarattassa and the summaryuddesañca and the analysisvibhaṅgañca I recitedabhāsiṁ—
the pastAtītaṁ should not run backnānvāgameyya,
should not anticipatenappaṭikaṅkhe the futureanāgataṁ;
what is pastYadatītaṁ left behindpahīnaṁ thattaṁ,
and the not-arrivedappattañca futureanāgataṁ.
and any presentPaccuppannañca whoyo phenomenondhammaṁ,
theretattha theretattha clearly discernsvipassati;
unfalteringAsaṁhīraṁ unshakableasaṅkuppaṁ,
thattaṁ having knownvidvā should fostermanubrūhaye.
today indeedAjjeva keen workkiccamātappaṁ,
whoko might knowjaññā deathmaraṇaṁ tomorrowsuve;
there is notNa indeedhi for usno bargainsaṅgaraṁ with thattena,
with mighty hordemahāsenena with Deathmaccunā.
one who lives thusEvaṁvihāriṁ keenly meditatingātāpiṁ,
tireless all night and dayahorattamatanditaṁ;
thatTaṁ indeedve one fine nightbhaddekarattoti,
peacefulsanto declaresācikkhate sagemuni.

“I was doing so in this way, sir,” replied Ānanda. “Don’t run back to the past, don’t anticipate the future. What’s past is left behind, the future has not arrived; and any present phenomenon you clearly discern in every case. The unfaltering, the unshakable: having known that, foster it. Today’s the day to keenly work— who knows, tomorrow may bring death! For there is no bargain to be struck with Death and his mighty horde. One who keenly meditates like this, tireless all night and day: that’s who has one fine night— so declares the peaceful sage.

and how,‘Kathañca, friend,āvuso, the pastatītaṁ you run back to?anvāgameti?
of such formEvaṁrūpo I wasahosiṁ in the past periodatītamaddhānanti theretattha enjoymentnandiṁ one pursues,samanvāneti, of such feelingevaṁvedano I wasahosiṁ in the past periodatītamaddhānanti theretattha enjoymentnandiṁ one pursues,samanvāneti, of such perceptionevaṁsañño I wasahosiṁ in the past periodatītamaddhānanti theretattha enjoymentnandiṁ one pursues,samanvāneti, of such volitional formationsevaṁsaṅkhāro I wasahosiṁ in the past periodatītamaddhānanti theretattha enjoymentnandiṁ one pursues,samanvāneti, of such consciousnessevaṁviññāṇo I wasahosiṁ in the past periodatītamaddhānanti theretattha enjoymentnandiṁ one pursues—samanvāneti—
thusevaṁ indeed,kho, friend,āvuso, the pastatītaṁ you run back to.anvāgameti.

And how do you run back to the past? …

and howKathañca, friendāvuso, the pastatītaṁ does not run backnānvāgameti?
of such formEvaṁrūpo I wasahosiṁ in the past timeatītamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ notna does not pursuesamanvāneti, of such feelingevaṁvedano I wasahosiṁ in the past timeatītamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ notna does not pursuesamanvāneti, of such perceptionevaṁsañño I wasahosiṁ in the past timeatītamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ notna does not pursuesamanvāneti, of such volitional formationsevaṁsaṅkhāro I wasahosiṁ in the past timeatītamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ notna does not pursuesamanvāneti, of such consciousnessevaṁviññāṇo I wasahosiṁ in the past timeatītamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ notna does not pursuesamanvāneti—
thusevaṁ indeedkho, friendāvuso, the pastatītaṁ does not run backnānvāgameti.

And how do you not run back to the past? …

and howKathañca, friendāvuso, the futureanāgataṁ you anticipatepaṭikaṅkhati?
of such formEvaṁrūpo I might besiyaṁ in the futureanāgatamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ one pursuessamanvāneti, of such feelingevaṁvedano I might besiyaṁ abbreviation…pe…
of such perceptionevaṁsañño I might besiyaṁ ellipsis…
of such volitional formationsevaṁsaṅkhāro I might besiyaṁ ellipsis…
of such consciousnessevaṁviññāṇo I might besiyaṁ in the futureanāgatamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ one pursuessamanvāneti—
thusevaṁ indeedkho, friendāvuso, the futureanāgataṁ you anticipatepaṭikaṅkhati.

And how do you anticipate the future? …

and howKathañca, friendāvuso, the futureanāgataṁ does not expectnappaṭikaṅkhati?
of such formEvaṁrūpo would besiyaṁ in the future periodanāgatamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ notna does not applysamanvāneti, of such feelingevaṁvedano would besiyaṁ …pe……pe…
of such perceptionevaṁsañño would besiyaṁ ……
of such formationsevaṁsaṅkhāro would besiyaṁ ……
of such consciousnessevaṁviññāṇo would besiyaṁ in the future periodanāgatamaddhānanti theretattha delightnandiṁ notna does not applysamanvāneti—
thusevaṁ indeedkho, friendāvuso, the futureanāgataṁ does not expectnappaṭikaṅkhati.

And how do you not anticipate the future? …

and howKathañca, friendāvuso, presently arisenpaccuppannesu phenomenadhammesu one falterssaṁhīrati?
hereIdha, friendāvuso, uninstructedassutavā ordinary personputhujjano of the noble onesariyānaṁ not seeingadassāvī in the noble ones’ dhammaariyadhammassa unskilledakovido in the noble ones’ dhammaariyadhamme undisciplinedavinīto of true personssappurisānaṁ not seeingadassāvī in true persons’ dhammasappurisadhammassa unskilledakovido in true persons’ dhammasappurisadhamme undisciplinedavinīto
formrūpaṁ as selfattato one regardssamanupassati, possessing formrūpavantaṁ orvā selfattānaṁ, in selfattani orvā formrūpaṁ, in formrūpasmiṁ orvā selfattānaṁ;
feelingvedanaṁ ……
perceptionsaññaṁ ……
formationssaṅkhāre ……
consciousnessviññāṇaṁ as selfattato one regardssamanupassati, possessing consciousnessviññāṇavantaṁ orvā selfattānaṁ, in selfattani orvā consciousnessviññāṇaṁ, in consciousnessviññāṇasmiṁ orvā selfattānaṁ—
thusevaṁ indeedkho, friendāvuso, presently arisenpaccuppannesu phenomenadhammesu one falterssaṁhīrati.

And how do you falter amid presently arisen phenomena? …

and howKathañca, friendsāvuso, presently arisenpaccuppannesu in phenomenadhammesu notna does faltersaṁhīrati?
hereIdha, friendsāvuso, learnedsutavā noble discipleariyasāvako of the noble onesariyānaṁ seerdassāvī of the noble dhammaariyadhammassa skilledkovido in the noble dhammaariyadhamme well trainedsuvinīto of true personssappurisānaṁ seerdassāvī of the true person's dhammasappurisadhammassa skilledkovido in the true person's dhammasappurisadhamme well trainedsuvinīto
notna formrūpaṁ as selfattato regardssamanupassati, notna possessing formrūpavantaṁ orvā selfattānaṁ, notna in selfattani orvā formrūpaṁ, notna in formrūpasmiṁ orvā selfattānaṁ;
notna feelingvedanaṁ ……
notna perceptionsaññaṁ ……
notna formationssaṅkhāre ……
notna consciousnessviññāṇaṁ as selfattato regardssamanupassati, notna possessing consciousnessviññāṇavantaṁ orvā selfattānaṁ, notna in selfattani orvā consciousnessviññāṇaṁ, notna in consciousnessviññāṇasmiṁ orvā selfattānaṁ—
thusevaṁ indeedkho, friendsāvuso, presently arisenpaccuppannesu in phenomenadhammesu notna does faltersaṁhīrati.

And how do you not falter amid presently arisen phenomena? … That’s how you don’t falter amid presently arisen phenomena.

the pastAtītaṁ should not run back tonānvāgameyya,
should not anticipatenappaṭikaṅkhe the futureanāgataṁ;
what is pastYadatītaṁ abandonedpahīnaṁ thattaṁ,
and the unattainedappattañca the futureanāgataṁ.
and the presentPaccuppannañca whoeveryo dhammadhammaṁ,
theretattha theretattha sees clearlyvipassati;
unshakableAsaṁhīraṁ unwaveringasaṅkuppaṁ,
thattaṁ knowingvidvā should cultivatemanubrūhaye.
today onlyAjjeva the duty of ardorkiccamātappaṁ,
whoko would knowjaññā deathmaraṇaṁ tomorrowsuve;
notNa indeedhi for usno a bargainsaṅgaraṁ with thattena,
with the great armymahāsenena of deathmaccunā.
one who dwells thusEvaṁvihāriṁ ardentātāpiṁ,
tireless by day and nightahorattamatanditaṁ;
thatTaṁ indeedve one fine nightbhaddekarattoti,
the peaceful onesanto declaresācikkhate the sagemunī’ti.

‘Don’t run back to the past, don’t anticipate the future. … that’s who has one fine night— so declares the peaceful sage.’

thusEvaṁ indeedkho Iahaṁ, venerable sirbhante, of the mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ with a Dhammadhammiyā talkkathāya I inspiredsandassesiṁ I rousedsamādapesiṁ I exhilaratedsamuttejesiṁ I gladdenedsampahaṁsesiṁ, of the one fine nightbhaddekarattassa and the summary recitaluddesañca and the analysisvibhaṅgañca I spokeabhāsin”ti.
good“Sādhu goodsādhu, Ānandaānanda.
goodSādhu indeedkho youtvaṁ, Ānandaānanda, of the mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ with a Dhammadhammiyā talkkathāya you inspiredsandassesi you rousedsamādapesi you exhilaratedsamuttejesi you gladdenedsampahaṁsesi, of the one fine nightbhaddekarattassa and the summary recitaluddesañca and the analysisvibhaṅgañca you spokeabhāsi:

That’s how I was inspiring the mendicants with a talk on the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night.” “Good, good, Ānanda. It’s good that you were inspiring the mendicants with a talk on the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night.”

the past‘Atītaṁ one should not come back tonānvāgameyya,
…pe……pe…
thatTaṁ indeedve an ideal lover of solitudebhaddekarattoti,
the peaceful onesanto proclaimsācikkhate the sagemunī’ti.

One should not return to the past; … the peaceful one, the sage, proclaims that as an ideal lover of solitude.

and howKathañca, Ānandaānanda, the pastatītaṁ returns toanvāgameti …pe……pe…
thusevaṁ indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, the pastatītaṁ returns toanvāgameti.
and howKathañca, Ānandaānanda, the pastatītaṁ does not return tonānvāgameti …pe……pe…
thusevaṁ indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, the pastatītaṁ does not return tonānvāgameti.
and howKathañca, Ānandaānanda, the futureanāgataṁ longs forpaṭikaṅkhati …pe……pe…
thusevaṁ indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, the futureanāgataṁ longs forpaṭikaṅkhati.
and howKathañca, Ānandaānanda, the futureanāgataṁ does not long fornappaṭikaṅkhati …pe……pe…
thusevaṁ indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, the futureanāgataṁ does not long fornappaṭikaṅkhati.
and howKathañca, Ānandaānanda, presentpaccuppannesu dhammasdhammesu is drawn insaṁhīrati …pe……pe…
thusevaṁ indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, presentpaccuppannesu dhammasdhammesu is drawn insaṁhīrati.
and howKathañca, Ānandaānanda, presentpaccuppannesu dhammasdhammesu notna is drawn insaṁhīrati …pe……pe…
thusevaṁ indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, presentpaccuppannesu dhammasdhammesu notna is drawn insaṁhīrati.
the past‘Atītaṁ one should not return tonānvāgameyya,
…pe……pe…
thatTaṁ indeedve one fine nightbhaddekarattoti,
one at peacesanto declaresācikkhate the sagemunī’”ti.
this saidIdamavoca the Blessed Onebhagavā.
satisfiedAttamano Venerableāyasmā Ānandaānando of the Blessed Onebhagavato speechbhāsitaṁ approvedabhinandīti.
Ānanda and One Fine Night discourseĀnandabhaddekarattasuttaṁ finishedniṭṭhitaṁ seconddutiyaṁ.

And the Buddha repeated the verses and analysis once more. That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda approved what the Buddha said.

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