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MN 26PTS MN 1.160Pāsarāsi23 min read

The Noble Search

Pāsarāsisutta

This is one of the most important biographical discourses, telling the Buddha’s experiences from leaving home to realizing awakening. Throughout, he was driven by the imperative to fully escape from rebirth and suffering.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Majjhima Nikāya 26Middle Discourses 26

0.2PāsarāsisuttaThe Noble Quest

1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.11.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

2.1Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.2.2Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ:Then several mendicants went up to Venerable Ānanda and said to him,2.3“cirassutā no, āvuso ānanda, bhagavato sammukhā dhammī kathā.“Reverend, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.22.4Sādhu mayaṁ, āvuso ānanda, labheyyāma bhagavato sammukhā dhammiṁ kathaṁ savanāyā”ti.It would be good if we got to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.”

2.5“Tena hāyasmanto yena rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assamo tenupasaṅkamatha;“Well then, reverends, go to the brahmin Rammaka’s hermitage.32.6appeva nāma labheyyātha bhagavato sammukhā dhammiṁ kathaṁ savanāyā”ti.Hopefully you’ll get to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.”

2.7“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paccassosuṁ.“Yes, reverend,” they replied.

3.1PTS 1.161Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha addressed Ānanda,43.2“āyāmānanda, yena pubbārāmo migāramātupāsādo tenupasaṅkamissāma divāvihārāyā”ti.“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.”5

3.3“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paccassosi.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.3.4Atha kho bhagavā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ yena pubbārāmo migāramātupāsādo tenupasaṅkami divāvihārāya.So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.3.5Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:In the late afternoon the Buddha came out of retreat and addressed Ānanda,3.6“āyāmānanda, yena pubbakoṭṭhako tenupasaṅkamissāma gattāni parisiñcitun”ti.“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the eastern gate to bathe.”

3.7“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paccassosi.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

3.8Atha kho bhagavā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ yena pubbakoṭṭhako tenupasaṅkami gattāni parisiñcituṁ.So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the eastern gate to bathe.3.9Pubbakoṭṭhake gattāni parisiñcitvā paccuttaritvā ekacīvaro aṭṭhāsi gattāni pubbāpayamāno.When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs.3.10Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Ānanda said to the Buddha,3.11“ayaṁ, bhante, rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assamo avidūre.“Sir, the hermitage of the brahmin Rammaka is nearby.3.12Ramaṇīyo, bhante, rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assamo;It’s so delightful,3.13pāsādiko, bhante, rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assamo.so lovely.3.14Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yena rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assamo tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.Please visit it out of sympathy.”3.15Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.The Buddha consented with silence.

4.1Atha kho bhagavā yena rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assamo tenupasaṅkami.He went to the brahmin Rammaka’s hermitage.4.2Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assame dhammiyā kathāya sannisinnā honti.Now at that time several mendicants were sitting together in the hermitage talking about the teaching.64.3Atha kho bhagavā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhāsi kathāpariyosānaṁ āgamayamāno.The Buddha stood outside the door waiting for the talk to end.4.4Atha kho bhagavā kathāpariyosānaṁ viditvā ukkāsitvā aggaḷaṁ ākoṭesi.When he knew the talk had ended he cleared his throat and knocked on the door-panel.74.5Vivariṁsu kho te bhikkhū bhagavato dvāraṁ.The mendicants opened the door for the Buddha,4.6Atha kho bhagavā rammakassa brāhmaṇassa assamaṁ pavisitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.and he entered the hermitage, where he sat down on the seat spread out4.7Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:and addressed the mendicants:4.8“kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā? Kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā”ti?“Mendicants, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”

4.9“Bhagavantameva kho no, bhante, ārabbha dhammī kathā vippakatā, atha bhagavā anuppatto”ti.“Sir, our unfinished discussion on the teaching was about the Buddha himself when the Buddha arrived.”

4.10“Sādhu, bhikkhave.“Good, mendicants!4.11Etaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ kulaputtānaṁ saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitānaṁ yaṁ tumhe dhammiyā kathāya sannisīdeyyātha.It’s appropriate for gentlemen like you, who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, to sit together and talk about the teaching.4.12Sannipatitānaṁ vo, bhikkhave, dvayaṁ karaṇīyaṁ—When you’re sitting together you should do one of two things:4.13dhammī vā kathā, ariyo vā tuṇhībhāvo.discuss the teachings or keep noble silence.8

5.1Dvemā, bhikkhave, pariyesanā—Mendicants, there are these two quests:95.2ariyā ca pariyesanā, anariyā ca pariyesanā.the noble quest and the ignoble quest.10

5.3PTS 1.162Katamā ca, bhikkhave, anariyā pariyesanā?And what is the ignoble quest?5.4Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā jātidhammo samāno jātidhammaṁyeva pariyesati, attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhammaṁyeva pariyesati, attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhammaṁyeva pariyesati, attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhammaṁyeva pariyesati, attanā sokadhammo samāno sokadhammaṁyeva pariyesati, attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhammaṁyeva pariyesati.It’s when someone who is themselves liable to be reborn seeks what is also liable to be reborn. Themselves liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, they seek what is also liable to these things.

6.1Kiñca, bhikkhave, jātidhammaṁ vadetha?And what should be described as liable to be reborn?116.2Puttabhariyaṁ, bhikkhave, jātidhammaṁ, dāsidāsaṁ jātidhammaṁ, ajeḷakaṁ jātidhammaṁ, kukkuṭasūkaraṁ jātidhammaṁ, hatthigavāssavaḷavaṁ jātidhammaṁ, jātarūparajataṁ jātidhammaṁ.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to be reborn.126.3Jātidhammā hete, bhikkhave, upadhayo.These attachments are liable to be reborn.6.4Etthāyaṁ gathito mucchito ajjhāpanno attanā jātidhammo samāno jātidhammaṁyeva pariyesati.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to being reborn, seeks what is also liable to be reborn.

7.1Kiñca, bhikkhave, jarādhammaṁ vadetha?And what should be described as liable to grow old?7.2Puttabhariyaṁ, bhikkhave, jarādhammaṁ, dāsidāsaṁ jarādhammaṁ, ajeḷakaṁ jarādhammaṁ, kukkuṭasūkaraṁ jarādhammaṁ, hatthigavāssavaḷavaṁ jarādhammaṁ, jātarūparajataṁ jarādhammaṁ.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to grow old.137.3Jarādhammā hete, bhikkhave, upadhayo.These attachments are liable to grow old.7.4Etthāyaṁ gathito mucchito ajjhāpanno attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhammaṁyeva pariyesati.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to grow old, seeks what is also liable to grow old.

8.1Kiñca, bhikkhave, byādhidhammaṁ vadetha?And what should be described as liable to fall sick?8.2Puttabhariyaṁ, bhikkhave, byādhidhammaṁ, dāsidāsaṁ byādhidhammaṁ, ajeḷakaṁ byādhidhammaṁ, kukkuṭasūkaraṁ byādhidhammaṁ, hatthigavāssavaḷavaṁ byādhidhammaṁ.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to fall sick.8.3Byādhidhammā hete, bhikkhave, upadhayo.These attachments are liable to fall sick.8.4Etthāyaṁ gathito mucchito ajjhāpanno attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhammaṁyeva pariyesati.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to falling sick, seeks what is also liable to fall sick.

9.1Kiñca, bhikkhave, maraṇadhammaṁ vadetha?And what should be described as liable to die?9.2Puttabhariyaṁ, bhikkhave, maraṇadhammaṁ, dāsidāsaṁ maraṇadhammaṁ, ajeḷakaṁ maraṇadhammaṁ, kukkuṭasūkaraṁ maraṇadhammaṁ, hatthigavāssavaḷavaṁ maraṇadhammaṁ.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to die.9.3Maraṇadhammā hete, bhikkhave, upadhayo.These attachments are liable to die.9.4Etthāyaṁ gathito mucchito ajjhāpanno attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhammaṁyeva pariyesati.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to die, seeks what is also liable to die.

10.1Kiñca, bhikkhave, sokadhammaṁ vadetha?And what should be described as liable to sorrow?10.2Puttabhariyaṁ, bhikkhave, sokadhammaṁ, dāsidāsaṁ sokadhammaṁ, ajeḷakaṁ sokadhammaṁ, kukkuṭasūkaraṁ sokadhammaṁ, hatthigavāssavaḷavaṁ sokadhammaṁ.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and elephants and cattle are liable to sorrow.10.3Sokadhammā hete, bhikkhave, upadhayo.These attachments are liable to sorrow.10.4Etthāyaṁ gathito mucchito ajjhāpanno attanā sokadhammo samāno sokadhammaṁyeva pariyesati.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to sorrow, seeks what is also liable to sorrow.

11.1Kiñca, bhikkhave, saṅkilesadhammaṁ vadetha?And what should be described as liable to corruption?11.2Puttabhariyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṅkilesadhammaṁ, dāsidāsaṁ saṅkilesadhammaṁ, ajeḷakaṁ saṅkilesadhammaṁ, kukkuṭasūkaraṁ saṅkilesadhammaṁ, hatthigavāssavaḷavaṁ saṅkilesadhammaṁ, jātarūparajataṁ saṅkilesadhammaṁ.Partners and children, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants and cattle, and gold and currency are liable to corruption.1411.3Saṅkilesadhammā hete, bhikkhave, upadhayo.These attachments are liable to corruption.11.4Etthāyaṁ gathito mucchito ajjhāpanno attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhammaṁyeva pariyesati.Someone who is tied, infatuated, and attached to such things, themselves liable to corruption, seeks what is also liable to corruption.11.5Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, anariyā pariyesanā.This is the ignoble quest.

12.1PTS 1.163Katamā ca, bhikkhave, ariyā pariyesanā?And what is the noble quest?12.2Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā jātidhammo samāno jātidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajātaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati, attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati, attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā abyādhiṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati, attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā amataṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati, attanā sokadhammo samāno sokadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asokaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati, attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesati.It’s when someone who is themselves liable to be reborn, understanding the drawbacks in being liable to be reborn, seeks that which is free of rebirth, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment. Themselves liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, understanding the drawbacks in these things, they seek that which is free of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment.1512.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyā pariyesanā.This is the noble quest.

13.1Ahampi sudaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddho bodhisattova samāno attanā jātidhammo samāno jātidhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi, attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi, attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi, attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi, attanā sokadhammo samāno sokadhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi, attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi.Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I too, being liable to be reborn, sought what is also liable to be reborn. Myself liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, I sought what is also liable to these things.13.2Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me:13.3‘kiṁ nu kho ahaṁ attanā jātidhammo samāno jātidhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi, attanā jarādhammo samāno …pe… byādhidhammo samāno … maraṇadhammo samāno … sokadhammo samāno … attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhammaṁyeva pariyesāmi?‘Why do I, being liable to be reborn, grow old, fall sick, sorrow, die, and become corrupted, seek things that have the same nature?13.4Yannūnāhaṁ attanā jātidhammo samāno jātidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajātaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ, attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ, attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā abyādhiṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ, attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā amataṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ, attanā sokadhammo samāno sokadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asokaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ, attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyan’ti.Why don’t I seek that which is free of rebirth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment?’

14.1PTS 1.164So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, aparena samayena daharova samāno susukāḷakeso, bhadrena yobbanena samannāgato paṭhamena vayasā akāmakānaṁ mātāpitūnaṁ assumukhānaṁ rudantānaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajiṁ.Some time later, while still with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life—though my mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces—I shaved off my hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.16

15.1So evaṁ pabbajito samāno kiṅkusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ. upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ:Once I had gone forth I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,1715.2‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso kālāma, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’ti.‘Reverend Kālāma, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’18

15.3Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, āḷāro kālāmo maṁ etadavoca:Āḷāra Kālāma replied,15.4‘viharatāyasmā;‘Stay, venerable.1915.5tādiso ayaṁ dhammo yattha viññū puriso nacirasseva sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti.This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.’20

15.6So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇiṁ.I quickly memorized that teaching.2115.7So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, tāvatakeneva oṭṭhapahatamattena lapitalāpanamattena ñāṇavādañca vadāmi theravādañca, ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti ca paṭijānāmi ahañceva aññe ca.As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.22

15.8Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,15.9‘na kho āḷāro kālāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ kevalaṁ saddhāmattakena sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti;‘It is not solely by mere faith that Āḷāra Kālāma declares: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”2315.10addhā āḷāro kālāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ viharatī’ti.Surely he meditates knowing and seeing this teaching.’

15.11Atha khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ:So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,15.12‘kittāvatā no, āvuso kālāma, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesī’ti?‘Reverend Kālāma, to what extent do you say you’ve realized this teaching with your own insight?’15.13Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, āḷāro kālāmo ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ pavedesi.When I said this, he declared the dimension of nothingness.24

15.14Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,15.15‘na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi saddhā, mayhampatthi saddhā;‘It’s not just Āḷāra Kālāma who has faith,2515.16na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi vīriyaṁ, mayhampatthi vīriyaṁ;energy,15.17na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi sati, mayhampatthi sati;mindfulness,15.18na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi samādhi, mayhampatthi samādhi;immersion,2615.19na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi paññā, mayhampatthi paññā.and wisdom; I too have these things.15.20Yannūnāhaṁ yaṁ dhammaṁ āḷāro kālāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti, tassa dhammassa sacchikiriyāya padaheyyan’ti.Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Āḷāra Kālāma says he has realized with his own insight?’15.21So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsiṁ.I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it.27

15.22Atha khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ:So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,15.23‘Ettāvatā no, āvuso kālāma, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti?‘Reverend Kālāma, is it up to this point that you realized this teaching with your own insight, and declare having achieved it?’28

15.24‘Ettāvatā kho ahaṁ, āvuso, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemī’ti.‘I have, reverend.’

15.25‘Ahampi kho, āvuso, ettāvatā imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.‘I too, reverend, have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’

15.26PTS 1.165‘Lābhā no, āvuso, suladdhaṁ no, āvuso,‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate15.27ye mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ tādisaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ passāma.to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions!15.28Iti yāhaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi.So the teaching that I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it, you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it.15.29Yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi tamahaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemi.The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it.15.30Iti yāhaṁ dhammaṁ jānāmi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi, yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi tamahaṁ dhammaṁ jānāmi.So the teaching that I know, you know, and the teaching that you know, I know.2915.31Iti yādiso ahaṁ tādiso tuvaṁ, yādiso tuvaṁ tādiso ahaṁ.I am like you and you are like me.15.32Ehi dāni, āvuso, ubhova santā imaṁ gaṇaṁ pariharāmā’ti.Come now, reverend! We should both lead this community together.’30

15.33Iti kho, bhikkhave, āḷāro kālāmo ācariyo me samāno attano antevāsiṁ maṁ samānaṁ attanā samasamaṁ ṭhapesi, uḷārāya ca maṁ pūjāya pūjesi.And that is how my tutor Āḷāra Kālāma placed me, his pupil, on the same position as him, and honored me with high praise.

15.34Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,15.35‘nāyaṁ dhammo nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati, yāvadeva ākiñcaññāyatanūpapattiyā’ti.‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.’3115.36So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ dhammaṁ analaṅkaritvā tasmā dhammā nibbijja apakkamiṁ.Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.

16.1So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁ kusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ:I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,3216.2‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’ti.‘Reverend, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’33

16.3Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, udako rāmaputto maṁ etadavoca:Uddaka replied,16.4‘viharatāyasmā;‘Stay, venerable.16.5tādiso ayaṁ dhammo yattha viññū puriso nacirasseva sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti.This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own denomination with their own insight and live having achieved it.’

16.6So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇiṁ.I quickly memorized that teaching.16.7So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, tāvatakeneva oṭṭhapahatamattena lapitalāpanamattena ñāṇavādañca vadāmi theravādañca, ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti ca paṭijānāmi ahañceva aññe ca.As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.

16.8Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,16.9‘na kho rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ kevalaṁ saddhāmattakena sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesi;‘It is not solely by mere faith that Rāma declared: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”3416.10addhā rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ vihāsī’ti.Surely he meditated knowing and seeing this teaching.’

16.11PTS 1.166Atha khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ:So I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,16.12‘kittāvatā no, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesī’ti?‘Reverend, to what extent did Rāma say he’d realized this teaching with his own insight?’

16.13Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, udako rāmaputto nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ pavedesi.When I said this, Uddaka son of Rāma declared the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.35

16.14Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,16.15‘na kho rāmasseva ahosi saddhā, mayhampatthi saddhā;‘It’s not just Rāma who had faith,16.16na kho rāmasseva ahosi vīriyaṁ, mayhampatthi vīriyaṁ;energy,16.17na kho rāmasseva ahosi sati, mayhampatthi sati;mindfulness,16.18na kho rāmasseva ahosi samādhi, mayhampatthi samādhi,immersion,16.19na kho rāmasseva ahosi paññā, mayhampatthi paññā.and wisdom; I too have these things.16.20Yannūnāhaṁ yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesi, tassa dhammassa sacchikiriyāya padaheyyan’ti.Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Rāma said he had realized with his own insight?’16.21So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsiṁ.I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it.

16.22Atha khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ:So I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,16.23‘Ettāvatā no, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti?‘Reverend, had Rāma realized this teaching with his own insight up to this point, and declared having achieved it?’

16.24‘Ettāvatā kho, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti.‘He had, reverend.’

16.25‘Ahampi kho, āvuso, ettāvatā imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.‘I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’

16.26‘Lābhā no, āvuso, suladdhaṁ no, āvuso,‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate16.27ye mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ tādisaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ passāma.to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions!16.28Iti yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesi, taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi.So the teaching that Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it, you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it.16.29Yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi, taṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesi.The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it.16.30Iti yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo abhiññāsi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi, yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi, taṁ dhammaṁ rāmo abhiññāsi.So the teaching that Rāma directly knew, you know, and the teaching you know, Rāma directly knew.16.31Iti yādiso rāmo ahosi tādiso tuvaṁ, yādiso tuvaṁ tādiso rāmo ahosi.Rāma was like you and you are like Rāma.16.32Ehi dāni, āvuso, tuvaṁ imaṁ gaṇaṁ pariharā’ti.Come now, reverend! You should lead this community.’

16.33Iti kho, bhikkhave, udako rāmaputto sabrahmacārī me samāno ācariyaṭṭhāne maṁ ṭhapesi, uḷārāya ca maṁ pūjāya pūjesi.And that is how my spiritual companion Uddaka son of Rāma placed me in the position of a tutor and honored me with high praise.36

16.34Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,16.35‘nāyaṁ dhammo nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati, yāvadeva nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpapattiyā’ti.‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’16.36So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ dhammaṁ analaṅkaritvā tasmā dhammā nibbijja apakkamiṁ.Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.

17.1PTS 1.167So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁ kusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno magadhesu anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena uruvelā senānigamo tadavasariṁ.I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. Traveling stage by stage in the Magadhan lands, I arrived at the town of Senā in Uruvelā.3717.2Tatthaddasaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ bhūmibhāgaṁ, pāsādikañca vanasaṇḍaṁ, nadiñca sandantiṁ setakaṁ supatitthaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ, samantā ca gocaragāmaṁ.There I saw a delightful park, a lovely grove with a flowing river that was clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby was a village to resort to for alms.38

17.3Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,17.4‘ramaṇīyo vata bho bhūmibhāgo, pāsādiko ca vanasaṇḍo, nadī ca sandati setakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā, samantā ca gocaragāmo.‘This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that’s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there’s a village to resort to for alms.17.5Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāyā’ti.This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.’3917.6So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, tattheva nisīdiṁ—So I sat down right there, thinking,17.7alamidaṁ padhānāyāti.‘This is good enough for striving.’

18.1So kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, attanā jātidhammo samāno jātidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajātaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesamāno ajātaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁ, attanā jarādhammo samāno jarādhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesamāno ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁ, attanā byādhidhammo samāno byādhidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā abyādhiṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesamāno abyādhiṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁ, attanā maraṇadhammo samāno maraṇadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā amataṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁ, attanā sokadhammo samāno sokadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asokaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁ, attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno saṅkilesadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesamāno asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁ.And so, being myself liable to be reborn, understanding the drawbacks in being liable to be reborn, I sought that which is free of rebirth, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and I found it. Being myself liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, understanding the drawbacks in these things, I sought that which is free of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and I found it.40

18.2Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi:Knowledge and vision arose in me:18.3‘akuppā me vimutti, ayamantimā jāti, natthi dāni punabbhavo’ti.‘My freedom is unshakable; this is my last rebirth; now there’ll be no more future lives.’41

19.1PTS 1.168Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,19.2‘adhigato kho myāyaṁ dhammo gambhīro duddaso duranubodho santo paṇīto atakkāvacaro nipuṇo paṇḍitavedanīyo.‘This principle I have discovered is deep, hard to see, hard to understand, peaceful, sublime, beyond the scope of logic, subtle, comprehensible to the astute.4219.3Ālayarāmā kho panāyaṁ pajā ālayaratā ālayasammuditā.But people like clinging, they love it and enjoy it.19.4Ālayarāmāya kho pana pajāya ālayaratāya ālayasammuditāya duddasaṁ idaṁ ṭhānaṁ yadidaṁ—idappaccayatā paṭiccasamuppādo.It’s hard for them to see this topic; that is, specific conditionality, dependent origination.4319.5Idampi kho ṭhānaṁ duddasaṁ yadidaṁ—sabbasaṅkhārasamatho sabbūpadhipaṭinissaggo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ.It’s also hard for them to see this topic; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.19.6Ahañceva kho pana dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ, pare ca me na ājāneyyuṁ, so mamassa kilamatho, sā mamassa vihesā’ti.And if I were to teach this principle, others might not understand me, which would be wearying and troublesome for me.’44

19.7Apissu maṁ, bhikkhave, imā anacchariyā gāthāyo paṭibhaṁsu pubbe assutapubbā:And then these verses, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me:

19.8‘Kicchena me adhigataṁ,‘I’ve struggled hard to realize this,19.9halaṁ dāni pakāsituṁ;there’s no need to reveal it now!19.10Rāgadosaparetehi,Those mired in greed and hate19.11nāyaṁ dhammo susambudho.can’t really understand this teaching.

19.12Paṭisotagāmiṁ nipuṇaṁ,It goes against the stream, subtle,19.13gambhīraṁ duddasaṁ aṇuṁ;deep, obscure, and very fine.19.14Rāgarattā na dakkhanti,Those besotted by greed cannot see,19.15tamokhandhena āvuṭā’ti.for they’re cloaked in a mass of darkness.’

19.16Itiha me, bhikkhave, paṭisañcikkhato appossukkatāya cittaṁ namati, no dhammadesanāya.So, as I reflected like this, my mind inclined to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.45

20.1Atha kho, bhikkhave, brahmuno sahampatissa mama cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya etadahosi:Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing my train of thought, thought,4620.2‘nassati vata bho loko, vinassati vata bho loko, yatra hi nāma tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa appossukkatāya cittaṁ namati, no dhammadesanāyā’ti.‘Oh lord! The world will be lost, the world will perish! For the mind of the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, inclines to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.’47

20.3Atha kho, bhikkhave, brahmā sahampati—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito mama purato pāturahosi.Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the divinity Sahampati vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me.20.4Atha kho, bhikkhave, brahmā sahampati ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yenāhaṁ tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā maṁ etadavoca:He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward me, and said,20.5‘desetu, bhante, bhagavā dhammaṁ, desetu sugato dhammaṁ.‘Sir, let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach the Dhamma!20.6Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā, assavanatā dhammassa parihāyanti.There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching.20.7Bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro’ti.There will be those who understand the teaching!’48

20.8Idamavoca, bhikkhave, brahmā sahampati.That is what the divinity Sahampati said.20.9Idaṁ vatvā athāparaṁ etadavoca:Then he went on to say:

20.10‘Pāturahosi magadhesu pubbe,‘Among the Magadhans there appeared in the past20.11Dhammo asuddho samalehi cintito;an impure teaching thought up by the stained.4920.12Apāpuretaṁ amatassa dvāraṁ,Fling open the door to freedom from death!5020.13Suṇantu dhammaṁ vimalenānubuddhaṁ.Let them hear the teaching <j>the immaculate one discovered.

20.14Sele yathā pabbatamuddhaniṭṭhito,Standing high on a rocky mountain,20.15Yathāpi passe janataṁ samantato;you can see the people all around.20.16Tathūpamaṁ dhammamayaṁ sumedha,In just the same way, All-seer, so intelligent,20.17Pāsādamāruyha samantacakkhu;having ascended the Temple of Truth,20.18Sokāvatiṇṇaṁ janatamapetasoko,rid of sorrow, look upon the people20.19Avekkhassu jātijarābhibhūtaṁ.swamped with sorrow, <j>overcome by rebirth and old age.

20.20PTS 1.169Uṭṭhehi vīra vijitasaṅgāma,Rise, hero! Victor in battle, caravan leader,5120.21Satthavāha aṇaṇa vicara loke;wander the world free of debt.5220.22Desassu bhagavā dhammaṁ,Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma!20.23Aññātāro bhavissantī’ti.There will be those who understand!’

21.1Atha kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmuno ca ajjhesanaṁ viditvā sattesu ca kāruññataṁ paṭicca buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokesiṁ.Then, understanding the Divinity’s invitation, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha, because of my compassion for sentient beings.21.2Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokento satte apparajakkhe mahārajakkhe, tikkhindriye mudindriye, svākāre dvākāre, suviññāpaye duviññāpaye, appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante, appekacce na paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante.And I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes; with keen faculties and with weak faculties, with good qualities and with bad qualities, easy to teach and hard to teach. And some of them lived seeing the danger in the fault to do with the next world, while others did not.5321.3Seyyathāpi nāma uppaliniyaṁ vā paduminiyaṁ vā puṇḍarīkiniyaṁ vā appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni antonimuggaposīni, appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni samodakaṁ ṭhitāni, appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakaṁ accuggamma ṭhitāni anupalittāni udakena;It’s like a pool with blue water lilies, or pink or white lotuses. Some of them sprout and grow in the water without rising above it, thriving underwater. Some of them sprout and grow in the water reaching the water’s surface. And some of them sprout and grow in the water but rise up above the water and stand with no water clinging to them.21.4evameva kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokento addasaṁ satte apparajakkhe mahārajakkhe, tikkhindriye mudindriye, svākāre dvākāre, suviññāpaye duviññāpaye, appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante, appekacce na paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante.In the same way, I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes.

21.5Atha khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmānaṁ sahampatiṁ gāthāya paccabhāsiṁ:Then I replied in verse to the divinity Sahampati:

21.6‘Apārutā tesaṁ amatassa dvārā,‘Flung open are the doors to freedom from death!21.7Ye sotavanto pamuñcantu saddhaṁ;Let those with ears to hear commit to faith.5421.8Vihiṁsasaññī paguṇaṁ na bhāsiṁ,Thinking it would be troublesome, Divinity, <j>I did not teach21.9Dhammaṁ paṇītaṁ manujesu brahme’ti.the sophisticated, sublime Dhamma among mankind.’

21.10Atha kho, bhikkhave, brahmā sahampati ‘katāvakāso khomhi bhagavatā dhammadesanāyā’ti maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing that his request for me to teach the Dhamma had been granted, bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right, before vanishing right there.

22.1PTS 1.170Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then I thought,22.2‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ;‘Who should I teach first of all?22.3ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti?Who will quickly understand this teaching?’

22.4Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,22.5‘ayaṁ kho āḷāro kālāmo paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī dīgharattaṁ apparajakkhajātiko.‘That Āḷāra Kālāma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes.22.6Yannūnāhaṁ āḷārassa kālāmassa paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ.Why don’t I teach him first of all?22.7So imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti.He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’

22.8Atha kho maṁ, bhikkhave, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:But a deity came to me and said,22.9‘sattāhakālaṅkato, bhante, āḷāro kālāmo’ti.‘Sir, Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’

22.10Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi:And knowledge and vision arose in me,22.11‘sattāhakālaṅkato āḷāro kālāmo’ti.‘Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’

22.12Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:I thought,22.13‘mahājāniyo kho āḷāro kālāmo.‘This is a great loss for Āḷāra Kālāma.22.14Sace hi so imaṁ dhammaṁ suṇeyya, khippameva ājāneyyā’ti.If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’

23.1Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then I thought,23.2‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ;‘Who should I teach first of all?23.3ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti?Who will quickly understand this teaching?’

23.4Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,23.5‘ayaṁ kho udako rāmaputto paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī dīgharattaṁ apparajakkhajātiko.‘That Uddaka son of Rāma is astute, competent, intelligent, and has long had little dust in his eyes.23.6Yannūnāhaṁ udakassa rāmaputtassa paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ.Why don’t I teach him first of all?23.7So imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti.He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’

23.8Atha kho maṁ, bhikkhave, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:But a deity came to me and said,23.9‘abhidosakālaṅkato, bhante, udako rāmaputto’ti.‘Sir, Uddaka son of Rāma passed away just last night.’

23.10Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi:And knowledge and vision arose in me,23.11‘abhidosakālaṅkato udako rāmaputto’ti.‘Uddaka son of Rāma passed away just last night.’

23.12Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:I thought,23.13‘mahājāniyo kho udako rāmaputto.‘This is a great loss for Uddaka.23.14Sace hi so imaṁ dhammaṁ suṇeyya, khippameva ājāneyyā’ti.If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’55

24.1Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then I thought,24.2‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ;‘Who should I teach first of all?24.3ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti?Who will quickly understand this teaching?’

24.4Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me,24.5‘bahukārā kho me pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū, ye maṁ padhānapahitattaṁ upaṭṭhahiṁsu.‘The group of five mendicants were very helpful to me. They looked after me during my time of resolute striving.5624.6Yannūnāhaṁ pañcavaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyan’ti.Why don’t I teach them first of all?’

24.7Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then I thought,24.8‘kahaṁ nu kho etarahi pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū viharantī’ti?‘Where are the group of five mendicants staying these days?’24.9Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena pañcavaggiye bhikkhū bārāṇasiyaṁ viharante isipatane migadāye.With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman I saw that the group of five mendicants were staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana.24.10Atha khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, uruvelāyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena bārāṇasī tena cārikaṁ pakkamiṁ.So, when I had stayed in Uruvelā as long as I pleased, I set out for Varanasi.57

25.1PTS 1.171Addasā kho maṁ, bhikkhave, upako ājīvako antarā ca gayaṁ antarā ca bodhiṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannaṁ.While I was traveling along the road between Gayā and Bodhgaya, the Ājīvaka ascetic Upaka saw me5825.2Disvāna maṁ etadavoca:and said,25.3‘vippasannāni kho te, āvuso, indriyāni, parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto.‘Reverend, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright.5925.4Kaṁsi tvaṁ, āvuso, uddissa pabbajito, ko vā te satthā, kassa vā tvaṁ dhammaṁ rocesī’ti?In whose name have you gone forth, reverend? Who is your Teacher? Whose teaching do you believe in?’

25.5Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhikkhave, upakaṁ ājīvakaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsiṁ:I replied to Upaka in verse:

25.6‘Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi,‘I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all,25.7Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto;unsullied in the midst of all things.25.8Sabbañjaho taṇhākkhaye vimutto,I’ve given up all, freed through the ending of craving.25.9Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ.Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be?

25.10Na me ācariyo atthi,I have no tutor.25.11sadiso me na vijjati;There is no one like me.25.12Sadevakasmiṁ lokasmiṁ,In the world with its gods,25.13natthi me paṭipuggalo.I have no rival.

25.14Ahañhi arahā loke,For in this world, I am the perfected one;25.15ahaṁ satthā anuttaro;I am the supreme Teacher.25.16Ekomhi sammāsambuddho,I alone am fully awakened,25.17sītibhūtosmi nibbuto.cooled, quenched.

25.18Dhammacakkaṁ pavattetuṁ,I am going to the city of Kāsi25.19Gacchāmi kāsinaṁ puraṁ;to roll forth the Wheel of Dhamma.25.20Andhībhūtasmiṁ lokasmiṁ,In this world that is so blind,25.21Āhañchaṁ amatadundubhin’ti.I’ll beat the drum of freedom from death!’60

25.22‘Yathā kho tvaṁ, āvuso, paṭijānāsi, arahasi anantajino’ti.‘According to what you claim, reverend, you ought to be the Infinite Victor.’61

25.23‘Mādisā ve jinā honti,‘The victors are those who, like me,25.24ye pattā āsavakkhayaṁ;have reached the ending of defilements.25.25Jitā me pāpakā dhammā,I have conquered bad qualities, Upaka—25.26tasmāhamupaka jino’ti.that’s why I’m a victor.’

25.27Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, upako ājīvako ‘hupeyyapāvuso’ti vatvā sīsaṁ okampetvā ummaggaṁ gahetvā pakkāmi.When I had spoken, Upaka said: ‘If you say so, reverend.’ Shaking his head, he took a wrong turn and left.

26.1Atha khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena bārāṇasī isipatanaṁ migadāyo yena pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamiṁ.Traveling stage by stage, I arrived at Varanasi, and went to see the group of five mendicants in the deer park at Isipatana.26.2Addasaṁsu kho maṁ, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū dūrato āgacchantaṁ.The group of five mendicants saw me coming off in the distance26.3Disvāna aññamaññaṁ saṇṭhapesuṁ:and stopped each other, saying,6226.4‘ayaṁ kho, āvuso, samaṇo gotamo āgacchati bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya.‘Here comes the ascetic Gotama. He’s so indulgent; he strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence.26.5So neva abhivādetabbo, na paccuṭṭhātabbo; nāssa pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetabbaṁ.We shouldn’t bow to him or rise for him or receive his bowl and robe.26.6Api ca kho āsanaṁ ṭhapetabbaṁ, sace ākaṅkhissati nisīdissatī’ti.But we can set out a seat; he can sit if he likes.’26.7Yathā yathā kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, upasaṅkamiṁ tathā tathā pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū nāsakkhiṁsu sakāya katikāya saṇṭhātuṁ.Yet as I drew closer, the group of five mendicants were unable to stop themselves per their own agreement.26.8Appekacce maṁ paccuggantvā pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahesuṁ, appekacce āsanaṁ paññapesuṁ, appekacce pādodakaṁ upaṭṭhapesuṁ.Some came out to greet me and receive my bowl and robe, some spread out a seat, while others set out water for washing my feet.26.9Api ca kho maṁ nāmena ca āvusovādena ca samudācaranti.But they still addressed me by name and as ‘reverend’.63

27.1PTS 1.172Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:So I said to them,27.2‘mā, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ nāmena ca āvusovādena ca samudācaratha.‘Mendicants, don’t address me by name and as “reverend”.27.3Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho.The Realized One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha.27.4Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ, amatamadhigataṁ, ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma.27.5Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’

27.6Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ:But they said to me,27.7‘tāyapi kho tvaṁ, āvuso gotama, iriyāya tāya paṭipadāya tāya dukkarakārikāya nājjhagamā uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ, kiṁ pana tvaṁ etarahi bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya adhigamissasi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?‘Reverend Gotama, even by that conduct, that practice, that grueling work you did not achieve any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How could you have achieved such a state now that you’ve become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence?’64

27.8Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:So I said to them,27.9‘na, bhikkhave, tathāgato bāhulliko, na padhānavibbhanto, na āvatto bāhullāya.‘The Realized One has not become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence.27.10Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho.The Realized One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha.27.11Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ, amatamadhigataṁ, ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma.27.12Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life.’

27.13Dutiyampi kho, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ:But for a second time they said to me,27.14‘tāyapi kho tvaṁ, āvuso gotama, iriyāya tāya paṭipadāya tāya dukkarakārikāya nājjhagamā uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ, kiṁ pana tvaṁ etarahi bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya adhigamissasi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?‘Reverend Gotama … you’ve returned to indulgence.’

27.15Dutiyampi kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:So for a second time I said to them,27.16‘na, bhikkhave, tathāgato bāhulliko …pe…‘The Realized One has not become indulgent …’27.17upasampajja viharissathā’ti.

27.18Tatiyampi kho, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ:But for a third time they said to me,27.19‘tāyapi kho tvaṁ, āvuso gotama, iriyāya tāya paṭipadāya tāya dukkarakārikāya nājjhagamā uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ, kiṁ pana tvaṁ etarahi bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya adhigamissasi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?‘Reverend Gotama, even by that conduct, that practice, that grueling work you did not achieve any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How could you have achieved such a state now that you’ve become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence?’

28.1PTS 1.173Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:So I said to them,28.2‘abhijānātha me no tumhe, bhikkhave, ito pubbe evarūpaṁ pabhāvitametan’ti?‘Mendicants, have you ever known me to speak like this before?’

28.3‘No hetaṁ, bhante’.‘No sir, we have not.’65

28.4‘Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho.‘The Realized One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha.28.5Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ, amatamadhigataṁ, ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma.28.6Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’

29.1Asakkhiṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū saññāpetuṁ.I was able to persuade the group of five mendicants.6629.2Dvepi sudaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū ovadāmi, tayo bhikkhū piṇḍāya caranti.Then sometimes I advised two mendicants, while the other three went for alms.29.3Yaṁ tayo bhikkhū piṇḍāya caritvā āharanti tena chabbaggiyā yāpema.Then those three would feed all six of us with what they brought back.29.4Tayopi sudaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū ovadāmi, dve bhikkhū piṇḍāya caranti.Sometimes I advised three mendicants, while the other two went for alms.29.5Yaṁ dve bhikkhū piṇḍāya caritvā āharanti tena chabbaggiyā yāpema.Then those two would feed all six of us with what they brought back.

30.1Atha kho, bhikkhave, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū mayā evaṁ ovadiyamānā evaṁ anusāsiyamānā attanā jātidhammā samānā jātidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajātaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesamānā ajātaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁsu, attanā jarādhammā samānā jarādhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesamānā ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁsu, attanā byādhidhammā samānā …pe… attanā maraṇadhammā samānā … attanā sokadhammā samānā … attanā saṅkilesadhammā samānā saṅkilesadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ pariyesamānā asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nibbānaṁ ajjhagamaṁsu.As the group of five mendicants were being advised and instructed by me like this, being themselves liable to be reborn, understanding the drawbacks in being liable to be reborn, they sought that which is free of rebirth, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and they found it. Being themselves liable to grow old, fall sick, die, sorrow, and become corrupted, understanding the drawbacks in these things, they sought that which is free of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, and corruption, the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, extinguishment—and they found it.30.2Ñāṇañca pana nesaṁ dassanaṁ udapādi:Knowledge and vision arose in them:30.3‘akuppā no vimutti, ayamantimā jāti, natthi dāni punabbhavo’ti.‘Our freedom is unshakable; this is our last rebirth; now there’ll be no more future lives.’67

31.1Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā.Mendicants, there are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.6831.2Katame pañca?What five?31.3Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā,Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.31.4sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe…Sounds known by the ear …31.5ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …Smells known by the nose …31.6jivhāviññeyyā rasā …Tastes known by the tongue …31.7kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.31.8Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā.These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

32.1Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ime pañca kāmaguṇe gathitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti, te evamassu veditabbā:There are ascetics and brahmins who enjoy these five kinds of sensual stimulation tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. You should understand that they6932.2‘anayamāpannā byasanamāpannā yathākāmakaraṇīyā pāpimato’.have met with calamity and disaster, and the Wicked One can do with them what he wants.

32.3PTS 1.174Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, āraññako mago baddho pāsarāsiṁ adhisayeyya.Suppose a deer in the wilderness was lying caught on a pile of snares.7032.4So evamassa veditabbo:You’d know that it32.5‘anayamāpanno byasanamāpanno yathākāmakaraṇīyo luddassa.has met with calamity and disaster, and the hunter can do with them what he wants.32.6Āgacchante ca pana ludde yena kāmaṁ na pakkamissatī’ti.And when the hunter comes, it cannot flee where it wants.

32.7Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ime pañca kāmaguṇe gathitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti, te evamassu veditabbā:In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who enjoy these five kinds of sensual stimulation tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. You should understand that they32.8‘anayamāpannā byasanamāpannā yathākāmakaraṇīyā pāpimato’.have met with calamity and disaster, and the Wicked One can do with them what he wants.

33.1Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ime pañca kāmaguṇe agathitā amucchitā anajjhopannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti, te evamassu veditabbā:There are ascetics and brahmins who enjoy these five kinds of sensual stimulation without being tied, infatuated, or attached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape. You should understand that they33.2‘na anayamāpannā na byasanamāpannā na yathākāmakaraṇīyā pāpimato’.haven’t met with calamity and disaster, and the Wicked One cannot do what he wants with them.

33.3Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, āraññako mago abaddho pāsarāsiṁ adhisayeyya.Suppose a deer in the wilderness was lying on a pile of snares without being caught.33.4So evamassa veditabbo:You’d know that it33.5‘na anayamāpanno na byasanamāpanno na yathākāmakaraṇīyo luddassa.hasn’t met with calamity and disaster, and the hunter cannot do what he wants with them.33.6Āgacchante ca pana ludde yena kāmaṁ pakkamissatī’ti.And when the hunter comes, it can flee where it wants.

33.7Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ime pañca kāmaguṇe agathitā amucchitā anajjhopannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti, te evamassu veditabbā:In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who enjoy these five kinds of sensual stimulation without being tied, infatuated, or attached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape. You should understand that they33.8‘na anayamāpannā na byasanamāpannā na yathākāmakaraṇīyā pāpimato’.haven’t met with calamity and disaster, and the Wicked One cannot do what he wants with them.

34.1Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, āraññako mago araññe pavane caramāno vissattho gacchati, vissattho tiṭṭhati, vissattho nisīdati, vissattho seyyaṁ kappeti.Suppose there was a wild deer wandering in the forest that walked, stood, sat, and laid down in confidence.34.2Taṁ kissa hetu?Why is that?34.3Anāpāthagato, bhikkhave, luddassa.Because it’s out of the hunter’s range.

34.4Evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.In the same way, a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.34.5Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu andhamakāsi māraṁ apadaṁ, vadhitvā māracakkhuṁ adassanaṁ gato pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see.

35.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.Furthermore, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.35.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave …pe… pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra …

36.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati, sato ca sampajāno, sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.Furthermore, with the fading away of rapture, a mendicant enters and remains in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’36.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave …pe… pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra …

37.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.Furthermore, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.37.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave …pe… pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra …

38.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space.38.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave …pe… pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra …

39.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness.39.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave …pe… pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra …

40.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness.7140.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave …pe… pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra …

41.1PTS 1.175Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.41.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave …pe… pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra …

42.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati, paññāya cassa disvā āsavā parikkhīṇā honti.Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end.42.2Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu andhamakāsi māraṁ apadaṁ, vadhitvā māracakkhuṁ adassanaṁ gato pāpimato.This is called a mendicant who has blinded Māra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see.42.3Tiṇṇo loke visattikaṁ vissattho gacchati, vissattho tiṭṭhati, vissattho nisīdati, vissattho seyyaṁ kappeti.They’ve crossed over clinging to the world. And they walk, stand, sit, and lie down in confidence.42.4Taṁ kissa hetu?Why is that?42.5Anāpāthagato, bhikkhave, pāpimato”ti.Because they’re out of the Wicked One’s range.”

42.6Idamavoca bhagavā.That is what the Buddha said.42.7Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

42.8Pāsarāsisuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. This discourse is known in Pali manuscripts and commentaries either as “The Noble Quest” or “The Pile of Snares”, whereas the Chinese parallel at MA 204 is titled “The Discourse at Rāma’s Hermitage”. It is one of several discourses in the Majjhima that include a partial account of Siddhattha’s practice before awakening, an account that became one of the key events in the Buddha’s biography. This particular version focuses on his experience with Brahmanical teachers, while MN 36, MN 85, and MN 100 include a long passage detailing his Jain-like fervent austerities.

    ↩ mn26:1.1
  2. Why was the Buddha reluctant to teach? This is puzzling because where we find this trope elsewhere there is a clear reason: at AN 7.52:1.3 the Buddha was making one of his rare visits to Campā, while at SN 22.81:3.5 he had left the squabbling Saṅgha for the seclusion of the forest. Here, in the central teaching location of Sāvatthī, there is no such reason. Rather, the events are best understood as narrative foreshadowing. His reluctance requires an intervention by others, and when the teaching finally takes place it is not in a Buddhist monastery but on Brahmanical grounds. The story goes on to tell how, after his awakening, he was reluctant to teach until the intervention of Brahmā (MN 26:19.1). This narrative mirroring creates a hidden link (sandhi) that frames the awakening in a Brahmanical context. The very obscurity of the connection is the point, for “the gods love hidden things”. The theme of reluctance is extended further to the reluctance of the five mendicants to receive the Buddha. It draws on the precedent of Yājñavalkya’s reluctance to teach Janaka (Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 4.3.1).

    ↩ mn26:2.3
  3. Rammaka appears only here, and the commentary offers no information. His name presumably signifies that he was a follower of the teacher Rāma who appears below. This complements AN 3.126:3.3, where the Buddha stays in the hermitage of Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma, who was apparently a student of Āḷāra Kālāma.

    ↩ mn26:2.5
  4. The narrative sequence from the Buddha returning from alms round to coming out from his bath is also found at AN 6.43:1.3. There, there is a clear justification for the story, as the discourse concerns a royal elephant parade seen after bathing. Here, once more, the purpose is implicit: a brahmanical student must bathe before any ritual.

    ↩ mn26:3.1
  5. After the Jetavana, this was the best-known monastery in Sāvatthī. It was offered by the lady Visākhā, known as Migāra’s mother.

    ↩ mn26:3.2
  6. Here (and at MN 92:4.1) a “hermitage” (assama, “ashram”) is a sizable building suitable for gatherings, whereas at SN 11.9:1.4 it is a gated compound with leaf huts. It is normally used for Brahmanical places.

    ↩ mn26:4.2
  7. As at AN 9.4:1.4.

    ↩ mn26:4.4
  8. “Noble silence” is narrowly defined as the second absorption (SN 21.1).

    ↩ mn26:4.13
  9. The Buddha picks up from the fact that the mendicants were talking about him, but continues in a depersonalized manner.

    The substance of this passage is taught more briefly at AN 4.255.

    ↩ mn26:5.1
  10. These opposing quests (or “searches”, pariyesanā) respond to Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 4.4.22, which we have already noted as a source for the phrase so attā so loko (MN 22:15.10). It says that the wise ones of old, renouncing the search for sons, for wealth, and for the heavenly worlds, lived the mendicant’s life (putraiṣaṇāyāśca vittaiṣaṇāyāśca lokaiṣaṇāyāśca vyutthāyātha bhikśācaryaṁ caranti). The inner self sought by the brahmins is described as unborn, made of consciousness, undecaying, unattached, and unaffected by karma; knowing it one becomes a sage. See too BU 3.5.1.

    ↩ mn26:5.2
  11. The Pali includes “gold and money” among those things subject to birth, old age, and defilement. The Chinese parallel MA 204 (T i 776a7; cf. T 765 at T xvii 679b23) does not mention “birth” but says money and jewelry are subject to old age, defilement, etc. Elsewhere in the suttas, rebirth, old age, and defilement are qualities of sentient beings, not inanimate objects, so this might be a textual corruption. Nonetheless, the commentary offers explanations for why gold and money are included under these specific categories and not the rest, and this, together with the Chinese text, shows that if it is a corruption it is an old one. I give the commentarial explanations.

    ↩ mn26:6.1
  12. Gold and money are subject to “birth” because they are produced by heat (utusamuṭṭhāna).

    The word for “gold” here, one of several in Pali, is jātarūpa, literally “born form”, i.e. that which is naturally beautiful. In Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 6.4.25, a newborn infant is to be fed mixed curd, honey, and ghee with a piece of jātarūpa, thus placing “golden” Vedic speech in him. This rare early instance of jātarūpa shows that it had a felt connection with the idea of birth. Perhaps this connection prompted its inclusion here. From that, “money” (rajata) was brought in as the two form a stock phrase, and they were then applied elsewhere in the list.

    ↩ mn26:6.2
  13. Gold and money grow old due to rust or grime.

    ↩ mn26:7.2
  14. Gold and money are liable to corruption by iron, etc.

    ↩ mn26:11.2
  15. As pointed out by K.R. Norman in his Mistaken Ideas About Nibbāna (1994), the epithets ajātaṁ (etc.) don’t mean that Nibbāna is “unborn”, but rather that in Nibbāna there is no rebirth. Likewise, amata does not mean “immortal” or “deathless” but “freedom from death”.

    ↩ mn26:12.2
  16. This contrasts with the legend that he slipped away in the dead of night.

    ↩ mn26:14.1
  17. “To discover what is skillful” (kiṅkusalagavesī) might also be translated, “seeking to answer the question, ‘what is good?’.” At this point he did not know the path so he sought an answer from the best teachers of his day.

    At MN 102:25.1, the “supreme state of sublime peace” (santivarapada) is said to be “liberation without grasping” (anupādāvimokkha).

    Āḷāra Kālāma was a senior teacher in the contemplative and renunciate tradition of the Upaniṣads. His meditative prowess is praised by his student Pukkusa the Mallian at DN 16:4.26.1, but is seen to be inferior to the Buddha’s. At AN 3.126:6.2 an apparent former student of Āḷāra advocates that teachers who teach full understanding of different things are nonetheless leading to the same goal. Thus, in line with Upaniṣadic philosophy, Āḷāra saw the apparent diversity of phenomena as partial manifestations of the immanent cosmic divinity. Āḷāra is usually understood to be named after his people, the Kālāmas. But it is possible we should accept the variant Kālāpa, indicating that he follows the Black Yajurveda.

    ↩ mn26:15.1
  18. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 11.5.4.1 sets out the initiation (upanayana) into “spiritual life” (brahmacarya) according to Yājñavalkya. The student says, “I have come for brahmacarya” or “Let me be a brahmacāri”. The teacher responds by asking, “What is your name” (ko nāmāsīti). The same phrase is used in the Buddhist ordination procedure (kiṁnāmosi, Kd 1:76.1.15). But whereas in Buddhism this is merely a personal identification, for the brahmins this naming signifies a mystical identity with the creator Prajāpati, who is ka.

    ↩ mn26:15.2
  19. Āḷāra Kālāma calls his student āyasmā (Sanskrit āyuṣmant), an honorific that in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa is reserved for the god Agni (13.8.4.8–9). By this he indicates the student’s divine status.

    Compare with the first phrase used by the Buddha to ordain his students, “Come, mendicant” (ehi bhikkhu, Kd 1:6.32.3).

    ↩ mn26:15.4
  20. “Their own denomination” (sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ, also found in the abbreviated form sācariyaka), is literally “what stems from one’s own tutor”. It is a word for one’s own particular religious or philosophical school. In the Brahmanical initiation, having accepted the student, the brahmin takes him by the hand and says, “Agni is your teacher, I am your teacher” (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 11.5.4.2). This claims both the universal authority of the divine lineage as well as the personal lineage of that teacher.

    “Their own insight” (sayaṁ abhiññā); Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa repeatedly emphasizes that the benefits of initiation are for “one who knows this” (ya evaṁ veda, 11.5.4.2, etc.).

    ↩ mn26:15.5
  21. The text does not specify the scripture that he learned, but it must have been Brahmanical, for they were the only scriptures known. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 11.5.4.13 instructs the new student to first learn the Sāvitrī, specifying the version in Gāyatrī metre (see also Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 5.14). The Buddha refers to this as the foremost verse (MN 92:26.2), and he even specifies the Gāyatrī version (Snp 3.4:7.3). Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 11.5.7 goes on to encourage the student in daily recitation of the four Vedas and ancillary literature.

    ↩ mn26:15.6
  22. “I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine” (ñāṇavādañca vadāmi theravādañca). Taken together, the sense is that his personal understanding agreed with tradition. A less literal translation might be, “I spoke with knowledge and authority.”

    For ñāṇavāda, compare such passages as Snp 4.3:2.4, “as you know, so you speak” (yathā hi jāneyya tathā vadeyya). In the Brāhmaṇas and Upaniṣads, knowledge refers to the hidden connections between the Vedas and the world which reveal the divinity immanent in all things.

    Thera (Sanskrit sthavira) has the senses “steady, strong” (so commentary’s thirabhāva) as well as “elder”, for which see Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa 26.2.5, where Jātūkarṇya, a teacher of old, is called sthavira. I take it to mean the “lasting doctrine of the ancients”. This is the oldest use of the word theravāda, long before it was applied to a Buddhist school.

    ↩ mn26:15.7
  23. “Faith” (or “trust”, saddhā, Sanskrit śraddhā) was regarded as a quality of the “heart” through which one gained remuneration in the form of fees for priestly services (Rig Veda 10.151.4, Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 3.9.21). It is like the “trust” that one would place in a bank: an investment is made in expectation of a reward.

    For the syntax here, compare with kevalaṁ vassagaṇanamattena at AN 7.43:5.6.

    ↩ mn26:15.9
  24. This is said to be the best of the four perceptions at (AN 10.29:18.1). Buddhist texts portray this as a favorite meditation among brahmin contemplatives (eg. Snp 5.15:2.1, Snp 5.7:2.1). While one might expect that the brahmins would identify their goal in a positive sense, this is not always the case. A text of the Black Yajurveda, Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.11, says that beyond the great Soul, beyond the unmanifest, beyond the Person, is nothing: and that is the ultimate goal (puruśān na paraṁ kiṁcit). See too Chāndogya Upaniṣad 6.12.1, which illustrates how divinity is too subtle for normal perception. The teacher, breaking the kernel of a seed, asked the student, “‘What do you see there?’ ‘Nothing’” (kimatra paśyasīti, na kiṁcana). Compare the description of this state at Snp 5.15:2.4, “one sees nothing at all” (natthi kiñcīti passato). This is also similar to the teaching of Uddaka (MN 26:16.1).

    ↩ mn26:15.13
  25. The Buddha called these the five “faculties” (SN 48.10) or “powers” (AN 5.14). All except “immersion” (samādhi) are frequently mentioned in pre-Buddhist texts, but not as a set of five. The five are, however, found some centuries after the Buddha in Pātañjali’s Yogasūtra 1.20: “For others, faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom come first.” (śraddhāvīryasmṛtisamādhiprajñāpūrvaka itareṣām).

    ↩ mn26:15.15
  26. The mention of “immersion” implies the prior development of the four absorptions. The formless attainments are “progressive meditations” (AN 9.32) achieved by a process of “progressive cessation” (AN 9.31). Though formless, they are dependent on form (SN 14.11:3.3).

    ↩ mn26:15.18
  27. This phrasing echoes part of the description of arahantship (MN 85:51.12).

    ↩ mn26:15.21
  28. Having achieved that state, Āḷāra Kālāma “declares” (pavedeti) it as the teacher, while the Bodhisatta “dwells” in it (viharati).

    ↩ mn26:15.23
  29. Almost exactly the same words were spoken by Pokkharasāti to his student Ambaṭṭha (DN 3:1.3.2). This connects Pokkharasāti with Āḷāra Kālāma and Uddaka Rāmaputta, suggesting that the uplifting of a talented student in this way was a regular practice of wise brahmins.

    ↩ mn26:15.30
  30. This invitation shows his grace and humility.

    ↩ mn26:15.32
  31. It does not fulfill the requirements of the “noble quest”.

    Compare the pre-Buddhist meditation practice of Govinda (DN 19:50.9), Mātaṅga (Snp 1.7:27.6), and Maghadeva (MN 83:21.7), which in all cases “leads to rebirth in the Brahmā realm” (brahmalokūpapattiyā). Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.16, concluding the ancient portion of this text, says that the wise man attains glory in the world of divinity (medhāvī brahmaloke mahīyate).

    ↩ mn26:15.35
  32. Uddaka’s teachings are cited at SN 35.103:1.1 and DN 29:16.13. In the former, his obscure verse assumes the identity of “this” (the impersonal cosmic divinity) with himself, while the latter is a distorted reference to Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4.7. Further, AN 10.29:20.1 implies that he taught the “ultimate purity of the spirit”. While “spirit” (yakkha, Sanskrit yakṣa) is normally a worldly deity, it is identified with the ultimate Brahman at Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 5.4.1 and Kena Upaniṣad 4.1. Uddaka is apparently the “ascetic Rāmaputta” who was revered by the king, criticized by some brahmins, but defended by Todeyya, a leading brahmin of Kosala often mentioned along with Pokkharasāti (AN 4.187:4.2).

    ↩ mn26:16.1
  33. In contrast with Āḷāra Kālāma, here the name is omitted.

    ↩ mn26:16.2
  34. The text shifts from Rāmaputta to just Rāma, while at the same time shifting to the past tense. Uddaka was thus the (spiritual and/or biological) “son of Rāma”. This detail is preserved reliably in the different versions of the text. It seems that Rāmaputta had not personally attained the meditation he was teaching. This would also explain why, just a little below, he invites the Bodhisatta to lead the community rather than to share leadership like Āḷāra Kālāma (MN 26:16.32). SN 35.103:1.6 shows that he did, however, make claims to being spiritually attained.

    ↩ mn26:16.9
  35. In Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 2.4.12 and 4.5.13, the sage Yājñavalkya says that the true Self is a sheer mass of “consciousness” (vijñāna, Pali viññāṇa), which is “great, endless, infinite reality”. After realizing this, he says, there is no “perception” (saṁjñā, Pali saññā). This passage seems to have sparked the conversation at DN 9:6.4, where the Buddha goes on to speak of meditative training to refine perception. Notably, there he mentions all the jhānas and formless attainments except the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, which is beyond the topic of perception under discussion. This meditative state may be related to the state with “no perception” spoken of by Yājñavalkya. However, it is not possible to literally identify such subtle meditative states on such slender evidence. The point is simply that the contemplative brahmins of the Upaniṣadic tradition of Yājñavalkya did indeed describe their highest state in terms of perception.

    ↩ mn26:16.13
  36. An ācariya is special teacher who has a close, ongoing relationship with a student, signified by the fact that the student of an ācāriya is called an antevāsī, literally “one who lives within” the teacher’s home. This passage confirms that this usage carries over from the Brahmanical tradition, where it is a common term in the same sense. Thus Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 4.1.2 speaks of “mother, father, and teacher”, while Chāndogya Upaniṣad 2.23.1 enjoins a student to “live with the teacher until death”, and at 4.9.1ff. we see the journey of a student to their teacher’s house, where he is looked after by the teacher and his wife. The same sense prevails throughout the suttas and Vinaya, so I translate as “tutor” to identify a close personal teacher.

    ↩ mn26:16.33
  37. In modern times this is the pilgrimage site Bodhgaya in the Gaya district of Bihar. It lies by a wide river that is dry in summer but abundant in the rains. Today it is named Līlajan and in Pali Nerañjarā, although that name is not mentioned in this passage. Uruvelā, which aptly means “Broadbanks”, was a locality centered around the market town of Senānigama (“Marshalltown”). There was also a sizable hermitage nearby with matted-hair Brahmanical ascetics (jaṭilā) who ritually bathed in the water (Kd 1:20.15.1). After teaching the five monks in Varanasi, the Buddha returned here to teach them, but there is no record of him visiting subsequently.

    ↩ mn26:17.1
  38. The Buddha’s rejection of sensual pleasures does not preclude his appreciation of nature’s beauty.

    The local alms villages in Uruvelā are named in Mahāvastu 2.207 as Praskandaka, Balākalpa, Ujjaṁgala, and Jaṁgala.

    ↩ mn26:17.2
  39. Padhāna means to “strive”. It is frequently used in the sense of applying oneself to meditation, but here it leads into the painful “striving” of fervent austerity (MN 36:20.7).

    ↩ mn26:17.5
  40. While this skips directly from his arrival in Uruvelā to his awakening, other texts describe his practice of fervent austerities here, which must have taken a considerable time (MN 36:16.7, MN 85:15.1).

    ↩ mn26:18.1
  41. This is the realization of arahantship. Elsewhere the Buddha goes into more detail as to the process of meditation that led to this point.

    ↩ mn26:18.3
  42. A similar account is told of Gotama Buddha at SN 6.1:1.4, MN 85:43.2, and Kd 1:5.2.2, and of Vipassī at DN 14:3.1.4.

    ↩ mn26:19.2
  43. The Buddha identifies the two most difficult topics in his philosophy: dependent origination and Nibbāna.

    ↩ mn26:19.4
  44. Up to this point, the Bodhisatta has been solely concerned with finding the answer to his quest, and only now does he think of sharing it with others. The idea that he had made an aspiration for Buddhahood in the long ago past out of a desire to help all sentient beings is not supported in early texts.

    ↩ mn26:19.6
  45. Had he followed this inclination he would have been a paccekabuddha, a Buddha “awakened for himself”.

    ↩ mn26:19.16
  46. While Sahampati features prominently in the suttas, no deity of that name is found in early Brahmanical texts. He seems, however, to be the Buddhist version of Brahmā Svayambhū, the “Self-born Divinity”, to whom Yājñavalkya traces the authority of his teaching lineage (Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 2.6.3, 4.5.3, 6.5.4). Yājñavalkya identifies this “self-born” with the sun (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 1.9.3.16; see also Maitrāyaṇī Saṁhitā 4.6.6) and with Prajāpati (13.5.3.1). Explaining the origin of the soma rite of the “All-Sacrifice”, he says that Brahmā Svayambhū, while performing fervent austerities, decided to offer his self to all creatures and all creatures to his self, thus establishing lordship (adhipatya) over all creatures (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 13.7.1.1). The root pati (“lord”) here establishes a linguistic link with sahampati. Further, in the earliest use of svayambhū at Rig Veda 10.83.4, the “self-born” deity Manyu “prevails” (sahuriḥ sahāvān) in battle. Thus we can identify Sahampati, the “Lord Who Prevails”, with the highest divinity recognized by Yājñavalkya, who originated as victor in battle, whose physical manifestation is the sun, whose spiritual function is to imbue all creatures with divinity, and who serves as the ultimate source of authority. Meanwhile, the epithet sayambhū was taken for the Buddha (Kd 11:35.1.37).

    ↩ mn26:20.1
  47. Having surpassed the greatest of the Brahmanical contemplatives, the Buddha’s achievement is recognized by the chief Brahmanical divinity.

    ↩ mn26:20.2
  48. Sahampati is the one who recognizes the potential in all beings, since it was he who imbued them with divinity. He did this to ensure dominance, but now his motive has transformed into compassion.

    ↩ mn26:20.7
  49. The “impure teaching” was, according to the commentary, that of the six ascetic teachers, who are regularly associated with Magadha (eg. SN 2.30, Snp 3.6, DN 2). Less likely it refers to Brahmanical teachers like Āḷāra Kālāma and Uddaka Rāmaputta, who are more closely associated with Kosala and whose system is regarded as passed down rather than “thought up”.

    ↩ mn26:20.11
  50. “Freedom from death” (amata, Sanskrit amṛta) is yet another Brahmanical term transformed by the Buddha. Its Vedic meaning was “immortality”, and hence the “ambrosia” of soma through which immortality was gained. For the Buddha, as seen in the “noble quest” itself, it was the freedom from the cycles of birth, aging, and death.

    ↩ mn26:20.12
  51. Here we see a verbal echo of Sahampati’s martial origins.

    ↩ mn26:20.20
  52. A “caravan leader” (satthavāha) guides their flock through treacherous deserts and wastelands, as illustrated at DN 23:23.3.

    Anaṇa (“debtless”) is a technical term in the Vedic system. According to Manu 6.35–7, a renunciate must first pay off three debts: study of Vedas, begetting a son, and offering of sacrifices. One who goes forth with these debts unpaid is headed for a downfall. The Buddha has indeed paid off all these debts: he studied the Vedas under his former teachers (MN 26:15.6); he has a son Rāhula; and his path is regarded as the highest form of sacrifice (DN 5:24.1). But in Buddhism the concept is reinterpreted as meaning one has let go of all defilements, becoming a “perfected”, literally “worthy” one, after which one can eat almsfood free of debt (MN 124:38.1, SN 16.11:13.2).

    ↩ mn26:20.21
  53. Here we see the sense of indriya as “spiritual potential”. Originally it was the state of excited energy produced by soma that allowed Indra to manifest his full power and overcome his foes. It implicitly links back to the five spiritual qualities that the Buddha attributed to his teachers, which he later formalized as “faculties”. Here as there, the idea creates a connection between beings, a recognition of shared qualities that, when properly nurtured, can mature into awakening.

    ↩ mn26:21.2
  54. Pamuñcantu saddhaṁ has long troubled translators, as the basic sense of pamuñcantu is “release”. Sanskrit variants include pramodantu (“celebrate”) or praṇudantu kāṅkṣāḥ (“dispel doubts”). I think it is a poetic variant of adhimuñcantu, to “decide” or “commit” to faith. Pali commonly uses synonymous verbs to reinforce the sense of the noun. In Snp 5.19, muttasaddho, pamuñcassu saddhaṁ, and adhimuttacittaṁ are all used in this sense.

    ↩ mn26:21.7
  55. While this passage is clearly heightened for dramatic effect, it is not surprising that they have passed away. It has been several years since he studied with these teachers, and they were probably elderly at the time, as perhaps hinted in their eagerness to appoint Siddhattha as heirs.

    ↩ mn26:23.14
  56. The five mendicants appear abruptly here and the reason for their behavior is only clear in light of the fuller accounts (MN 36:33.4, MN 85:33.4, MN 100:30.5). The Buddha’s praise for them is more muted than for the Brahmanical teachers, showing how he valued advanced meditation over austerities. Their names are listed in the Vinaya account: Koṇḍañña, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahānāma, and Assaji (Kd 1:6.31.6).

    Note that he calls them “mendicants”, a term typically reserved for Buddhist renunciates. For a similar usage, see MN 140:3.4.

    ↩ mn26:24.5
  57. Several suttas relate further details in this period (eg. SN 47.43, Ud 1.3–4, etc.)

    ↩ mn26:24.10
  58. For the Ājīvakas, see MN 5:31.7 and DN 2:20.2. Upaka is met only here; his name means “nearly there”.

    The place of awakening is referred to as bodhi. These places are about twenty kilometers apart.

    ↩ mn26:25.1
  59. Here “faculties” refers to visible features such as bright eyes. Compare Chāndogya Upaniṣad 4.14.2, where a student’s face is seen as bright and glowing due to their recent insights.

    ↩ mn26:25.3
  60. Āhañchaṁ is first person future singular of āhanati, “one beats”.

    ↩ mn26:25.21
  61. “Infinite Victor” (anantajina) is unknown elsewhere and may be an Ājīvaka term. It relates to the epithet jina of the teacher Mahāvīra, after which his followers the Jains were named. Mahāvīra and the Ājīvaka founder Gosāla practiced together for six years, so it comes as no surprise that they shared terminology.

    ↩ mn26:25.22
  62. For “they stopped each other” (aññamaññaṁ saṇṭhapesuṁ), see AN 10.93:2.4.

    ↩ mn26:26.3
  63. These ways of address are suitable for a senior speaking to a junior (DN 16:6.2.2).

    ↩ mn26:26.9
  64. Where “that practice” appears in MN 12:56.1 and MN 85:51.7, it refers to the austere practices that have just been described. Taken together with the abrupt skip at MN 26:18.1 above, and the equally abrupt mention of the five mendicants at MN 26:24.5, it seems likely the passage on the austerities has been removed in order to focus on the Brahmanical context.

    ↩ mn26:27.7
  65. Here they adopt the more respectful term of address bhante (“sir”).

    ↩ mn26:28.3
  66. Again the narrative skips. Here the Buddha taught the “Rolling Forth of the Wheel of the Dhamma” (SN 56.11). The full sequence of events is related in Kd 1:6.16.9.

    ↩ mn26:29.1
  67. This occurred with the teaching of the “Discourse on the Characteristic of Not Self” (SN 22.59).

    ↩ mn26:30.3
  68. The Buddha rather abruptly returns to a direct teaching for the mendicants in Rammaka’s hermitage. The topic harks back to the simile of the sappy log, absent from here, but which in MN 36:17.1 is introduced as the Bodhisatta undertook striving at Uruvelā.

    ↩ mn26:31.1
  69. The Pali word paribhuñjati means “to have something satisfying” as well as “to take pleasure in”, much like the English word “enjoys”.

    ↩ mn26:32.1
  70. This image and the teaching that follows links this sutta with the previous.

    ↩ mn26:32.3
  71. This passage and the next affirm that these meditations, learned under Āḷāra Kālāma and Uddaka Rāmaputta, were adopted by the Buddha as part of his practice.

    ↩ mn26:40.1