Sandakasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 76

With Sandaka · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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of thatTassa thusevaṁ knowingjānato thusevaṁ seeingpassato also from the defilement of sensualitykāmāsavāpi mindcittaṁ is freedvimuccati, also from the defilement of desire for rebirthbhavāsavāpi mindcittaṁ is freedvimuccati, also from the defilement of ignoranceavijjāsavāpi mindcittaṁ is freedvimuccati.
when freedVimuttasmiṁ freedvimuttamiti knowledgeñāṇaṁ ishoti.
ended‘Khīṇā rebirthjāti, completedvusitaṁ the spiritual journeybrahmacariyaṁ, donekataṁ what had to be donekaraṇīyaṁ, there is nothing furthernāparaṁ for this placeitthattāyā’ti they understandpajānāti.
under whomYasmiṁ indeedkho, Sandakasandaka, teachersatthari disciplesāvako suchevarūpaṁ high distinctionuḷāravisesaṁ achievesadhigacchati theretattha sensibleviññū personpuriso to the best of his abilitysasakkaṁ the spiritual lifebrahmacariyaṁ should leadvaseyya, practicingvasanto andca would completeārādheyya the systemñāyaṁ of the teachingdhammaṁ of the skillful onekusalan”ti.

Knowing and seeing like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed. They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’ A sensible person would, to the best of their ability, lead the spiritual life with a teacher under whom they achieve such a high distinction, and, once practicing it, they would complete the system of the skillful teaching.”

“But worthy Ānanda, when a mendicant is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—could they still enjoy sensual pleasures?” “Sandaka, a mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—can’t transgress in five respects. A mendicant with defilements ended can’t deliberately take the life of a living creature, take something with the intention to steal, have sex, tell a deliberate lie, or store up goods for their own enjoyment like they used to as a layperson. A mendicant who is perfected can’t transgress in these five respects.”

who“Yo butpana thatso, sirbho Ānandaānanda, a mendicantbhikkhu worthyarahaṁ with defilements endedkhīṇāsavo perfectedvusitavā done what had to be donekatakaraṇīyo burden laid downohitabhāro attained true goalanuppattasadattho with fetters of rebirth utterly endedparikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano freed by right knowledgesammadaññāvimutto for himtassa while walkingcarato justceva while standingtiṭṭhato andca while sleepingsuttassa andca while wakingjāgarassa andca constantlysatataṁ continuallysamitaṁ knowledge and visionñāṇadassanaṁ presentpaccupaṭṭhitaṁ:
ended‘khīṇā myme defilementsāsavā’”ti?
well then“Tena indeedhi, Sandakasandaka, a simileupamaṁ to youte I shall makekarissāmi;
by means of a simileupamāyapidhekacce sensibleviññū peoplepurisā of what is saidbhāsitassa the meaningatthaṁ understandājānanti.
supposeSeyyathāpi, Sandakasandaka, of a personpurisassa hands and feethatthapādā amputatedchinnā;
to himtassa while walkingcarato justceva while standingtiṭṭhato andca while sleepingsuttassa andca while wakingjāgarassa andca constantlysatataṁ continuallysamitaṁ he is awarejānāti:
amputated‘chinnā myme hands and feethatthapādā’ti, orudāhu checkingpaccavekkhamāno he is awarejānāti:
amputated‘chinnā myme hands and feethatthapādā’”ti?
not“Na indeedkho, sirbho Ānandaānanda, thatso personpuriso constantlysatataṁ continuallysamitaṁ is awarejānāti:
amputated‘chinnā myme hands and feethatthapādā’ti.
butApi andca indeedkho butpana itnaṁ checkingpaccavekkhamāno he is awarejānāti:
amputated‘chinnā myme hands and feethatthapādā’”ti.

“But worthy Ānanda, when a mendicant is perfected, would the knowledge and vision that their defilements are ended be constantly and continually present to them, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking?” “Well then, Sandaka, I shall give you a simile. For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said. Suppose there was a person whose hands and feet had been amputated. Would they be aware that their hands and feet had been amputated constantly and continually, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking? Or would they be aware of it only when they checked it?” “They wouldn’t be aware of it constantly, only when they checked it.”

just so“Evameva indeedkho, Sandakasandaka, whichyo thatso mendicantbhikkhu perfectedarahaṁ with defilements endedkhīṇāsavo who has lived the lifevusitavā who has done what had to be donekatakaraṇīyo who has laid down the burdenohitabhāro who has attained the true goalanuppattasadattho who has ended the fetters of becomingparikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano liberated by right understandingsammadaññāvimutto for himtassa while walkingcarato andceva while standingtiṭṭhato andca while sleepingsuttassa andca while wakingjāgarassa andca constantlysatataṁ continuallysamitaṁ knowledge and visionñāṇadassanaṁ notna presentpaccupaṭṭhitaṁ:
ended‘khīṇā for meme defilementsāsavā’ti;
butapi andca indeedkho ratherpana itnaṁ when checkingpaccavekkhamāno knowsjānāti:
ended‘khīṇā for meme defilementsāsavā’”ti.

“In the same way, when a mendicant is perfected, the knowledge and vision that their defilements are ended is not constantly and continually present to them, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking. Rather, they are aware of it only when they checked it.”

how many“Kīvabahukā thenpana, sirbho Ānandaānanda, in thisimasmiṁ in teaching and trainingdhammavinaye emancipated onesniyyātāro”ti?
not“Na indeedkho, Sandakasandaka, one hundred onlyekaṁyeva hundredsataṁ notna twodve hundredssatāni notna threetīṇi hundredssatāni notna fourcattāri hundredssatāni notna fivepañca hundredssatāni, butatha indeedkho even morebhiyyova whoye in thisimasmiṁ in teaching and trainingdhammavinaye emancipated onesniyyātāro”ti.
wonderful“Acchariyaṁ, sirbho Ānandaānanda, amazingabbhutaṁ, sirbho Ānandaānanda.
notNa andca namelynāma glorifying one's own teachingsadhammokkaṁsanā will bebhavissati, notna putting down the teaching of othersparadhammavambhanā, in its own fieldāyatane andca teaching of Dhammadhammadesanā sotāva manybahukā andca emancipated onesniyyātāro will be recognizedpaññāyissanti.
theseIme but these Ājīvakaspanājīvakā of she whose sons are deadputtamatāya sonsputtā themselves onlyattānañceva glorifyukkaṁsenti, otherspare andca put downvambhenti threetayo onlyceva emancipated onesniyyātāro recognizepaññapenti, that isseyyathidaṁ—
Nandanandaṁ Vacchavacchaṁ, Kisakisaṁ Saṅkiccasaṅkiccaṁ, Makkhalimakkhaliṁ Gosālagosālan”ti.

“But Reverend Ānanda, in this teaching and training, how many are emancipated?” “There are not just one hundred who are emancipated, Sandaka, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that in this teaching and training.” “It’s incredible, worthy Ānanda, it’s amazing! Namely, that there’s no glorifying one’s own teaching and putting down the teaching of others. The Dhamma is taught in its own field, and so many emancipated are recognized. But these Ājīvakas, sons of she whose sons are dead, glorify themselves and put others down. And they only recognize three who have been emancipated: Nanda Vaccha, Kisa Saṅkicca, and the bamboo-staffed ascetic Gosāla.”

thenAtha indeedkho Sandakasandako wandererparibbājako his ownsakaṁ assemblyparisaṁ addressedāmantesi:
let them go“carantu good fellowsbhonto under the asceticsamaṇe Gotamagotame the spiritual life is livedbrahmacariyavāso.
notNa nowdāni easysukaraṁ for meamhehi possessions, honor, or popularitylābhasakkārasiloke to forsakepariccajitun”ti.
thusIti indeed thishidaṁ Sandakasandako wandererparibbājako his ownsakaṁ assemblyparisaṁ sentuyyojesi under the Buddhabhagavati to lead the spiritual lifebrahmacariyeti.
Sandaka SuttaSandakasuttaṁ is finishedniṭṭhitaṁ sixthchaṭṭhaṁ.

Then the wanderer Sandaka addressed his own assembly, “Go, good fellows. The spiritual life is lived under the ascetic Gotama. It’s not easy for me to forsake possessions, honor, or popularity now.” And that’s how the wanderer Sandaka sent his own assembly to lead the spiritual life under the Buddha.

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