Naḷakapānasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 68

At Naḷakapāna · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Tathāgatassa, anuruddhā, ye āsavā saṅkilesikā ponobbhavikā sadarā dukkhavipākā āyatiṁ jātijarāmaraṇiyā, pahīnā te ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.
Seyyathāpi, anuruddhā, tālo matthakacchinno abhabbo punavirūḷhiyā;
evameva kho, anuruddhā, tathāgatassa ye āsavā saṅkilesikā ponobbhavikā sadarā dukkhavipākā āyatiṁ jātijarāmaraṇiyā, pahīnā te ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā;
tasmā tathāgato saṅkhāyekaṁ paṭisevati, saṅkhāyekaṁ adhivāseti, saṅkhāyekaṁ parivajjeti, saṅkhāyekaṁ vinodeti.

The Realized One has given up the defilements that are corrupting, leading to future lives, hurtful, resulting in suffering and future rebirth, old age, and death. He has cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them so they are unable to arise in the future. Just as a palm tree with its crown cut off is incapable of further growth, in the same way, the Realized One has given up the defilements so they are unable to arise in the future. That’s why, after appraisal, he uses some things, endures some things, avoids some things, and dispels some things.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, anuruddhā,
kaṁ atthavasaṁ sampassamāno tathāgato sāvake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti:
‘asu amutra upapanno; asu amutra upapanno’”ti?
“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

What do you think, Anuruddha and friends? What advantage does the Realized One see in declaring the rebirth of his disciples who have passed away: ‘This one is reborn here, while that one is reborn there’?” “Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”

“Na kho, anuruddhā, tathāgato janakuhanatthaṁ na janalapanatthaṁ na lābhasakkārasilokānisaṁsatthaṁ na ‘iti maṁ jano jānātū’ti sāvake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti:
‘asu amutra upapanno, asu amutra upapanno’ti.
Santi ca kho, anuruddhā, kulaputtā saddhā uḷāravedā uḷārapāmojjā.
Te taṁ sutvā tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharanti.
Tesaṁ taṁ, anuruddhā, hoti dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

“The Realized One does not declare such things for the sake of fawning or flattering people, nor for the benefit of possessions, honor, or popularity, nor thinking, ‘So let people know about me!’ Rather, there are gentlemen of faith who are full of sublime joy and gladness. When they hear that, they apply their minds to that end. That is for their lasting welfare and happiness.

Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhu suṇāti:
‘itthannāmo bhikkhu kālaṅkato;
so bhagavatā byākato—
aññāya saṇṭhahī’ti.
So kho panassa āyasmā sāmaṁ diṭṭho vā hoti anussavassuto vā:
‘evaṁsīlo so āyasmā ahosi itipi, evaṁdhammo so āyasmā ahosi itipi, evaṁpañño so āyasmā ahosi itipi, evaṁvihārī so āyasmā ahosi itipi, evaṁvimutto so āyasmā ahosi itipī’ti.
So tassa saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussaranto tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati.
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuno phāsuvihāro hoti.

Take a monk who hears this: ‘The monk named so-and-so has passed away. The Buddha has declared that he was enlightened.’ And he’s either seen for himself, or heard from someone else, that that venerable had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. Recollecting that monk’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that end. That’s how a monk lives at ease.

Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhu suṇāti:
‘itthannāmo bhikkhu kālaṅkato;
so bhagavatā byākato—
pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā’ti.
So kho panassa āyasmā sāmaṁ diṭṭho vā hoti anussavassuto vā:
‘evaṁsīlo so āyasmā ahosi itipi, evaṁdhammo …pe… evaṁpañño … evaṁvihārī … evaṁvimutto so āyasmā ahosi itipī’ti.
So tassa saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussaranto tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati.
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuno phāsuvihāro hoti.

Take a monk who hears this: ‘The monk named so-and-so has passed away. The Buddha has declared that, with the ending of the five lower fetters, he’s been reborn spontaneously and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.’ And he’s either seen for himself, or heard from someone else, that that venerable had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. Recollecting that monk’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that end. That too is how a monk lives at ease.

Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhu suṇāti:
‘itthannāmo bhikkhu kālaṅkato;
so bhagavatā byākato—
tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmī sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karissatī’ti.
So kho panassa āyasmā sāmaṁ diṭṭho vā hoti anussavassuto vā:
‘evaṁsīlo so āyasmā ahosi itipi, evaṁdhammo …pe… evaṁpañño … evaṁvihārī … evaṁvimutto so āyasmā ahosi itipī’ti.
So tassa saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussaranto tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati.
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuno phāsuvihāro hoti.

Take a monk who hears this: ‘The monk named so-and-so has passed away. The Buddha has declared that, with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, he’s a once-returner. He’ll come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.’ And he’s either seen for himself, or heard from someone else, that that venerable had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. Recollecting that monk’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that end. That too is how a monk lives at ease.

Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhu suṇāti:
‘itthannāmo bhikkhu kālaṅkato;
so bhagavatā byākato—
tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpanno avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’ti.
So kho panassa āyasmā sāmaṁ diṭṭho vā hoti anussavassuto vā:
‘evaṁsīlo so āyasmā ahosi itipi, evaṁdhammo …pe… evaṁpañño … evaṁvihārī … evaṁvimutto so āyasmā ahosi itipī’ti.
So tassa saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussaranto tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati.
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuno phāsuvihāro hoti.

Take a monk who hears this: ‘The monk named so-and-so has passed away. The Buddha has declared that, with the ending of three fetters he’s a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.’ And he’s either seen for himself, or heard from someone else, that that venerable had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. Recollecting that monk’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that end. That too is how a monk lives at ease.

Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhunī suṇāti:
‘itthannāmā bhikkhunī kālaṅkatā;
sā bhagavatā byākatā—
aññāya saṇṭhahī’ti.
Sā kho panassā bhaginī sāmaṁ diṭṭhā vā hoti anussavassutā vā:
‘evaṁsīlā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṁdhammā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṁpaññā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṁvihārinī sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṁvimuttā sā bhaginī ahosi itipī’ti.
Sā tassā saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarantī tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati.
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuniyā phāsuvihāro hoti.

Take a nun who hears this: ‘The nun named so-and-so has passed away. The Buddha has declared that she was enlightened.’ And she’s either seen for herself, or heard from someone else, that that sister had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. Recollecting that nun’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that end. That’s how a nun lives at ease.

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