AN 11 The Book of the Elevens – Ekādasakanipāta > AN 11.14 With Subhūti

Numbered Discourses 11.14 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 11.14

2. Recollection – 2. Anussativagga

AN 11.14 With Subhūti – Subhūtisutta

1.1

And then Venerable Subhūti together with the bhikkhu Saddha went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,

Atha kho āyasmā subhūti saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ subhūtiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

1.2

“Subhūti, what is the name of this bhikkhu?”

“ko nāmāyaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhū”ti?

1.3

“Sir, the name of this bhikkhu is Saddha. He is the son of the layman Sudatta, and has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness.”

“Saddho nāmāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu, sudattassa upāsakassa putto, saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito”ti.

2.1

“Well, I hope this bhikkhu Saddha exhibits the outcomes of faith.”

“Kacci panāyaṁ, subhūti, saddho bhikkhu sudattassa upāsakassa putto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito sandissati saddhāpadānesū”ti?

2.2

“Now is the time, Blessed One! Now is the time, Holy One!

“Etassa, bhagavā, kālo; etassa, sugata, kālo,

2.3

Let the Buddha to speak on the outcomes of faith.

yaṁ bhagavā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāseyya.

2.4

Now I will find out whether or not this bhikkhu Saddha exhibits the outcomes of faith.”

Idānāhaṁ jānissāmi yadi vā ayaṁ bhikkhu sandissati saddhāpadānesu yadi vā no”ti.

3.1

“Well then, Subhūti, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Tena hi, subhūti, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

3.2

“Yes, sir,” Subhūti replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā subhūti bhagavato paccassosi.

3.3

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

4.1

“Firstly, a bhikkhu is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

“Idha, subhūti, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

4.2

When a bhikkhu is ethical, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

5.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo; ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

5.2

When a bhikkhu is learned, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

6.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu has good friends, companions, and associates.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

6.2

When a bhikkhu has good friends, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

7.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They’re patient, and take instruction respectfully.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ.

7.2

When a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

8.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tatra dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.

8.2

When a bhikkhu is skilled and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tatra dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

9.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu loves the teachings and is a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo.

9.2

When a bhikkhu loves the teachings, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

10.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

10.2

When a bhikkhu is energetic, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

11.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu gets the four absorptions—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

11.2

When a bhikkhu gets the four absorptions, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

12.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu recollects many kinds of past lives.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati,

12.2

That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. They remember: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so they recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details.

seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattārīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.

12.3

When a bhikkhu recollects many kinds of past lives, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. Idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

13.1

Furthermore, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, a bhikkhu sees sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds. ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They spoke ill of the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they acted out of that wrong view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never spoke ill of the noble ones; they had right view; and they acted out of that right view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti. Iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.

13.2

When a bhikkhu has clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, this is an outcome of faith.

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

14.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and lives having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.

Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

14.2

When a bhikkhu has ended the defilements, this is an outcome of faith.”

Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hotī”ti.

15.1

When he said this, Venerable Subhūti said to the Buddha:

Evaṁ vutte āyasmā subhūti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

15.2

“Sir, the outcomes of faith for a faithful person that the Buddha speaks of are found in this bhikkhu; he does exhibit them.

“yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāsitāni, saṁvijjanti tāni imassa bhikkhuno, ayañca bhikkhu etesu sandissati.

16.1

This bhikkhu is ethical …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

17.1

This bhikkhu is learned …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo; ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

18.1

This bhikkhu has good friends …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

19.1

This bhikkhu is easy to admonish …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu suvaco hoti …pe… anusāsaniṁ.

20.1

This bhikkhu is skilled and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tattha dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.

21.1

This bhikkhu loves the teachings …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo.

22.1

This bhikkhu is energetic …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati …pe… thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

23.1

This bhikkhu gets the four absorptions …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

24.1

This bhikkhu recollects their many kinds of past lives …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.

25.1

This bhikkhu has clairvoyance that is purified and surpasses the human …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.

26.1

This bhikkhu has ended the defilements …

Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

26.2

The outcomes of faith for a faithful person that the Buddha speaks of are found in this bhikkhu; he does exhibit them.”

Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāsitāni, saṁvijjanti tāni imassa bhikkhuno, ayañca bhikkhu etesu sandissatī”ti.

27.1

“Good, good, Subhūti!

“Sādhu sādhu, subhūti.

27.2

So, Subhūti, you should live together with this bhikkhu Saddha.

Tena hi tvaṁ, subhūti, iminā ca saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ vihareyyāsi.

27.3

And when you want to see the Realized One, you should come together with him.”

Yadā ca tvaṁ, subhūti, ākaṅkheyyāsi tathāgataṁ dassanāya, iminā saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ upasaṅkameyyāsi tathāgataṁ dassanāyā”ti.

27.4

Catutthaṁ.