Mahāgosiṅgasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 32

The Longer Discourse at Gosiṅga · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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“Reverend Sāriputta, it’s a mendicant who lives in the wilderness, eats only almsfood, wears rag robes, and owns just three robes; and they praise these things. They are of few wishes, content, secluded, aloof, and energetic; and they praise these things. They are accomplished in ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom; and they praise these things.

of such kindEvarūpena indeedkho, friendāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, by a bhikkhubhikkhunā Gosiṅga sal-tree parkgosiṅgasālavanaṁ would gracesobheyyā”ti.

That’s the kind of mendicant who would grace this park.”

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, venerableāyasmā Sāriputtasāriputto venerableāyasmantaṁ Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallānaṁ said thisetadavoca:
answered“byākataṁ indeedkho, friendāvuso Moggallānamoggallāna, by venerableāyasmatā by Mahākassapamahākassapena according to his ownyathāsakaṁ inspirationpaṭibhānaṁ.
thereTattha nowdāni wemayaṁ venerableāyasmantaṁ Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallānaṁ we askpucchāma:
lovely‘ramaṇīyaṁ, friendāvuso Moggallānamoggallāna, Gosiṅga sal grovegosiṅgasālavanaṁ, cleardosinā nightratti, all in full bloomsabbaphāliphullā sal treessālā, heavenlydibbā, I thinkmaññe, fragrancesgandhā pervadesampavanti;
of what kindkathaṁrūpena, friendāvuso Moggallānamoggallāna, by a mendicantbhikkhunā Gosiṅga sal grovegosiṅgasālavanaṁ would gracesobheyyā’”ti?
here, friend“Idhāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, twodve mendicantsbhikkhū talk on the higher teachingabhidhammakathaṁ they discusskathenti, theyte each otheraññamaññaṁ a questionpañhaṁ they askpucchanti, of each otheraññamaññassa a questionpañhaṁ having been askedpuṭṭhā they answervissajjenti, notno andca they faltersaṁsādenti, on the teachingdhammī andca theirnesaṁ discussionkathā flowing onpavattinī ishoti.
of such kindEvarūpena indeedkho, friendāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, by a mendicantbhikkhunā Gosiṅga sal grovegosiṅgasālavanaṁ would gracesobheyyā”ti.

When he had spoken, Sāriputta said to Mahāmoggallāna, “Reverend Moggallāna, Mahākassapa has answered according to his own inspiration. And now we ask you the same question.” “Reverend Sāriputta, it’s when two mendicants engage in discussion about the teaching. They question each other and answer each other’s questions without faltering, and their discussion on the teaching flows on. That’s the kind of mendicant who would grace this park.”

thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallāno venerableāyasmantaṁ Sāriputtasāriputtaṁ said thisetadavoca:
spoken“byākataṁ indeedkho, reverendāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, by usamhehi by all indeedsabbeheva according to one's own abilityyathāsakaṁ inspirationpaṭibhānaṁ.
now thereTattha nowdāni wemayaṁ venerableāyasmantaṁ Sāriputtasāriputtaṁ we askpucchāma:
lovely‘ramaṇīyaṁ, reverendāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, the sal forest park at Gosiṅgagosiṅgasālavanaṁ, brightdosinā nightratti, all in full blossomsabbaphāliphullā sal treessālā, divinedibbā, it seemsmaññe, scentsgandhā seem to floatsampavanti;
of what kindkathaṁrūpena, reverendāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, by a mendicantbhikkhunā the sal forest park at Gosiṅgagosiṅgasālavanaṁ would gracesobheyyā’”ti?
here, reverend“Idhāvuso Moggallānamoggallāna, a mendicantbhikkhu mindcittaṁ controlvasaṁ mastersvatteti, notno andca a mendicantbhikkhu of mindcittassa by controlvasena is masteredvattati.
heSo in whichyāya meditation or attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā wishesākaṅkhati in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ to abideviharituṁ, in thattāya meditation or attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ they abideviharati;
in whichyāya meditation or attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā wishesākaṅkhati at middaymajjhanhikasamayaṁ to abideviharituṁ, in thattāya meditation or attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā at middaymajjhanhikasamayaṁ they abideviharati;
in whichyāya meditation or attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā wishesākaṅkhati in the eveningsāyanhasamayaṁ to abideviharituṁ, in thattāya meditation or attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā in the eveningsāyanhasamayaṁ they abideviharati.
just asSeyyathāpi, reverendāvuso Moggallānamoggallāna, of a kingrañño orvā of a royal chief ministerrājamahāmattassa orvā of different colorsnānārattānaṁ of garmentsdussānaṁ a chestdussakaraṇḍako fullpūro would beassa.

Then Mahāmoggallāna said to Sāriputta, “Each of us has spoken from our heart. And now we ask you: Reverend Sāriputta, the sal forest park at Gosiṅga is lovely, the night is bright, the sal trees are in full blossom, and heavenly scents seem to float on the air. What kind of mendicant would grace this park?” “Reverend Moggallāna, it’s when a mendicant masters their mind and is not mastered by it. In the morning, they abide in whatever meditation or attainment they want. At midday, and in the evening, they abide in whatever meditation or attainment they want. Suppose that a ruler or their chief minister had a chest full of garments of different colors.

heSo whateveryaññadeva pair of garmentsdussayugaṁ might wishākaṅkheyya in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ to donpārupituṁ, thattaṁ that verytadeva pair of garmentsdussayugaṁ in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ would donpārupeyya;
whateveryaññadeva pair of garmentsdussayugaṁ might wishākaṅkheyya at middaymajjhanhikasamayaṁ to donpārupituṁ, thattaṁ that verytadeva pair of garmentsdussayugaṁ at middaymajjhanhikasamayaṁ would donpārupeyya;
whateveryaññadeva pair of garmentsdussayugaṁ might wishākaṅkheyya in the eveningsāyanhasamayaṁ to donpārupituṁ, thattaṁ that verytadeva pair of garmentsdussayugaṁ in the eveningsāyanhasamayaṁ would donpārupeyya.
just soEvameva indeedkho, friendāvuso Moggallānamoggallāna, a mendicantbhikkhu mindcittaṁ under masteryvasaṁ mastersvatteti, notno andca a mendicantbhikkhu of the mindcittassa under the masteryvasena is masteredvattati.
heSo by whateveryāya meditation attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā wishesākaṅkhati in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ to abideviharituṁ, by thattāya meditation attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ abidesviharati;
by whateveryāya meditation attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā wishesākaṅkhati at middaymajjhanhikasamayaṁ to abideviharituṁ, by thattāya meditation attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā at middaymajjhanhikasamayaṁ abidesviharati;
by whateveryāya meditation attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā wishesākaṅkhati in the eveningsāyanhasamayaṁ to abideviharituṁ, by thattāya meditation attainmentvihārasamāpattiyā in the eveningsāyanhasamayaṁ abidesviharati.
by such a oneEvarūpena indeedkho, friendāvuso Moggallānamoggallāna, a mendicantbhikkhunā the Gosiṅga sal forestgosiṅgasālavanaṁ would gracesobheyyā”ti.

In the morning, they’d don whatever pair of garments they wanted. At midday, and in the evening, they’d don whatever pair of garments they wanted. In the same way, a mendicant masters their mind and is not mastered by it. In the morning, they abide in whatever meditation or attainment they want. At midday, and in the evening, they abide in whatever meditation or attainment they want. That’s the kind of mendicant who would grace this park.”

thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Sāriputtasāriputto thosete venerablesāyasmante said thisetadavoca:
spoken“byākataṁ indeedkho, reverendāvuso, by usamhehi by allsabbeheva according to our ownyathāsakaṁ inspired utterancepaṭibhānaṁ.
come, reverendsĀyāmāvuso, whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā to him we will approachtenupasaṅkamissāma; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā this matteretamatthaṁ to the Blessed Onebhagavato we will reportārocessāma.
asYathā to usno the Blessed Onebhagavā will answerbyākarissati sotathā itnaṁ we will rememberdhāressāmā”ti.
"Yes, reverend"“Evamāvuso”ti indeedkho thosete venerablesāyasmanto to venerableāyasmato Sāriputtasāriputtassa they repliedpaccassosuṁ.
thenAtha indeedkho thosete venerablesāyasmanto whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā to him they approachedtenupasaṅkamiṁsu; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ they sat downnisīdiṁsu. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinno indeedkho venerableāyasmā Sāriputtasāriputto to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:

Then Sāriputta said to those venerables, “Each of us has spoken from the heart. Come, reverends, let’s go to the Buddha, and inform him about this. As he answers, so we’ll remember it.” “Yes, reverend,” they replied. Then those venerables went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Venerable Sāriputta told the Buddha of how the mendicants had come to see him, and how he had asked Ānanda:

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