MN 37 The Shorter Discourse on the Ending of Craving

Medium Discourses Collection 37 – Majjhima Nikāya 37

MN 37 The Shorter Discourse on the Ending of Craving – Cūḷataṇhāsaṅkhayasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

2.1

And then Sakka, lord of gods, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho sakko devānamindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sakko devānamindo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.2

“Sir, how do you briefly define a bhikkhu who is freed through the ending of craving, who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal, and is best among gods and humans?”

“kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto hoti accantaniṭṭho accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānan”ti?

3.1

“Lord of Gods, it’s when a bhikkhu has heard:

“Idha, devānaminda, bhikkhuno sutaṁ hoti:

3.2

‘Nothing is worth insisting on.’

‘sabbe dhammā nālaṁ abhinivesāyā’ti.

3.3

When a bhikkhu has heard that

Evañcetaṁ, devānaminda, bhikkhuno sutaṁ hoti:

3.4

nothing is worth insisting on,

‘sabbe dhammā nālaṁ abhinivesāyā’ti.

3.5

they directly know all things. Directly knowing all things, they completely understand all things. Having completely understood all things, when they experience any kind of feeling—pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral—

So sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhijānāti; sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhiññāya sabbaṁ dhammaṁ parijānāti; sabbaṁ dhammaṁ pariññāya yaṁ kiñci vedanaṁ vedeti—

3.6

they meditate observing anicca, dispassion, cessation, and letting go in those feelings.

sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā, so tāsu vedanāsu aniccānupassī viharati, virāgānupassī viharati, nirodhānupassī viharati, paṭinissaggānupassī viharati.

3.7

Meditating in this way, they don’t grasp at anything in the world.

So tāsu vedanāsu aniccānupassī viharanto, virāgānupassī viharanto, nirodhānupassī viharanto, paṭinissaggānupassī viharanto na kiñci loke upādiyati.

3.8

Not grasping, they’re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished.

Anupādiyaṁ na paritassati, aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati:

3.9

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is no return to any state of existence.’

‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.

3.10

That’s how I briefly define a bhikkhu who is freed through the ending of craving, who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal, and is best among gods and humans.”

Ettāvatā kho, devānaminda, bhikkhu saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto hoti accantaniṭṭho accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānan”ti.

4.1

Then Sakka, lord of gods, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho sakko devānamindo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

5.1

Now at that time Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was sitting not far from the Buddha.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavato avidūre nisinno hoti.

5.2

He thought,

Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi:

5.3

“Did that spirit comprehend what the Buddha said when he agreed with him, or not?

“kiṁ nu kho so yakkho bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhisamecca anumodi udāhu no;

5.4

Why don’t I find out?”

yannūnāhaṁ taṁ yakkhaṁ jāneyyaṁ—

5.5

yadi vā so yakkho bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhisamecca anumodi yadi vā no”ti?

6.1

And then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the Eastern Monastery and reappeared among the gods of the Thirty-Three.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi.

7.1

Now at that time Sakka was amusing himself in the Single Lotus Park, supplied and provided with a divine orchestra.

Tena kho pana samayena sakko devānamindo ekapuṇḍarīke uyyāne dibbehi pañcahi tūriyasatehi samappito samaṅgībhūto paricāreti.

7.2

Seeing Mahāmoggallāna coming off in the distance,

Addasā kho sakko devānamindo āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

7.3

he dismissed the orchestra, approached Mahāmoggallāna, and said,

Disvāna tāni dibbāni pañca tūriyasatāni paṭippaṇāmetvā yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca:

7.4

“Come, my good Moggallāna! Welcome, good sir!

“ehi kho, mārisa moggallāna, svāgataṁ, mārisa moggallāna.

7.5

It’s been a long time since you took the opportunity to come here.

Cirassaṁ kho, mārisa moggallāna, imaṁ pariyāyaṁ akāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāya.

7.6

Sit, my good Moggallāna, this seat is for you.”

Nisīda, mārisa moggallāna, idamāsanaṁ paññattan”ti.

7.7

Mahāmoggallāna sat down on the seat spread out,

Nisīdi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno paññatte āsane.

7.8

while Sakka took a low seat and sat to one side.

Sakkopi kho devānamindo aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

7.9

Mahāmoggallāna said to him,

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ āyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca:

8.1

“Kosiya, how did the Buddha briefly explain freedom through the ending of craving?

“yathā kathaṁ pana kho, kosiya, bhagavā saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ abhāsi?

8.2

Please share this talk with me so that I can also get to hear it.”

Sādhu mayampi etissā kathāya bhāgino assāma savanāyā”ti.

8.3

“My good Moggallāna, I have many duties, and much to do,

“Mayaṁ kho, mārisa moggallāna, bahukiccā bahukaraṇīyā—

8.4

not only for myself, but also for the Gods of the Thirty-Three.

appeva sakena karaṇīyena, api ca devānaṁyeva tāvatiṁsānaṁ karaṇīyena.

8.5

Besides, I quickly forget even things I’ve properly heard, learned, attended, and memorized.

Api ca, mārisa moggallāna, sussutaṁyeva hoti suggahitaṁ sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ, yaṁ no khippameva antaradhāyati.

8.6

Once upon a time, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, mārisa moggallāna, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

8.7

In that battle the gods won and the demons lost.

Tasmiṁ kho pana, mārisa moggallāna, saṅgāme devā jiniṁsu, asurā parājiniṁsu.

8.8

When I returned from that battle as a conqueror, I created the Palace of Victory.

So kho ahaṁ, mārisa moggallāna, taṁ saṅgāmaṁ abhivijinitvā vijitasaṅgāmo tato paṭinivattitvā vejayantaṁ nāma pāsādaṁ māpesiṁ.

8.9

The Palace of Victory has a hundred towers.

Vejayantassa kho, mārisa moggallāna, pāsādassa ekasataṁ niyyūhaṁ.

8.10

Each tower has seven hundred chambers.

Ekekasmiṁ niyyūhe satta satta kūṭāgārasatāni.

8.11

Each chamber has seven nymphs.

Ekamekasmiṁ kūṭāgāre satta satta accharāyo.

8.12

Each nymph has seven maids.

Ekamekissā accharāya satta satta paricārikāyo.

8.13

Would you like to see the lovely Palace of Victory?”

Iccheyyāsi no tvaṁ, mārisa moggallāna, vejayantassa pāsādassa rāmaṇeyyakaṁ daṭṭhun”ti?

8.14

Mahāmoggallāna consented in silence.

Adhivāsesi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno tuṇhībhāvena.

9.1

Then, putting Venerable Mahāmoggallāna in front, Sakka, lord of gods, and Vessavaṇa, the Great King, went to the Palace of Victory.

Atha kho sakko ca devānamindo vessavaṇo ca mahārājā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ purakkhatvā yena vejayanto pāsādo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.

9.2

When they saw Moggallāna coming off in the distance, Sakka’s maids,

Addasaṁsu kho sakkassa devānamindassa paricārikāyo āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ;

9.3

being prudent and discreet, each went to her own bedroom.

disvā ottappamānā hirīyamānā sakaṁ sakaṁ ovarakaṁ pavisiṁsu.

10.1

They were just like a daughter-in-law who is prudent and discreet when they see their father-in-law.

Seyyathāpi nāma suṇisā sasuraṁ disvā ottappati hirīyati;

10.2

evameva sakkassa devānamindassa paricārikāyo āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ disvā ottappamānā hirīyamānā sakaṁ sakaṁ ovarakaṁ pavisiṁsu.

10.3

Then Sakka and Vessavaṇa encouraged Moggallāna to wander and explore the palace, saying,

Atha kho sakko ca devānamindo vessavaṇo ca mahārājā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ vejayante pāsāde anucaṅkamāpenti anuvicarāpenti:

10.4

“See, in the palace, my good Moggallāna, this lovely thing!

“idampi, mārisa moggallāna, passa vejayantassa pāsādassa rāmaṇeyyakaṁ;

10.5

And that lovely thing!”

idampi, mārisa moggallāna, passa vejayantassa pāsādassa rāmaṇeyyakan”ti.

10.6

“That looks nice for Venerable Kosiya, just like for someone who has made merit in the past.

“Sobhati idaṁ āyasmato kosiyassa, yathā taṁ pubbe katapuññassa.

10.7

Humans, when they see something lovely, also say:

Manussāpi kiñcideva rāmaṇeyyakaṁ disvā evamāhaṁsu:

10.8

‘It looks nice enough for the Gods of the Thirty-Three!’

‘sobhati vata bho yathā devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānan’ti.

10.9

That looks nice for Venerable Kosiya, just like for someone who has made merit in the past.”

Tayidaṁ āyasmato kosiyassa sobhati, yathā taṁ pubbe katapuññassā”ti.

11.1

Then Moggallāna thought,

Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi:

11.2

“This spirit lives much too negligently.

“atibāḷhaṁ kho ayaṁ yakkho pamatto viharati.

11.3

Why don’t I stir up a sense of urgency in him?”

Yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ yakkhaṁ saṁvejeyyan”ti.

11.4

Then Moggallāna used his psychic power to make the Palace of Victory shake and rock and tremble with his big toe.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhāsi yathā vejayantaṁ pāsādaṁ pādaṅguṭṭhakena saṅkampesi sampakampesi sampavedhesi.

11.5

Then Sakka, Vessavaṇa, and the Gods of the Thirty-Three, their minds full of wonder and amazement, thought,

Atha kho sakko ca devānamindo, vessavaṇo ca mahārājā, devā ca tāvatiṁsā acchariyabbhutacittajātā ahesuṁ:

11.6

“It’s incredible, it’s amazing!

“acchariyaṁ vata, bho, abbhutaṁ vata, bho.

11.7

The ascetic has such power and might that he makes the god’s home shake and rock and tremble with his big toe!”

Samaṇassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā, yatra hi nāma dibbabhavanaṁ pādaṅguṭṭhakena saṅkampessati sampakampessati sampavedhessatī”ti.

12.1

Knowing that Sakka was shocked and awestruck, Moggallāna said to him,

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ saṁviggaṁ lomahaṭṭhajātaṁ viditvā sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

12.2

“Kosiya, how did the Buddha briefly explain freedom through the ending of craving?

“yathā kathaṁ pana kho, kosiya, bhagavā saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ abhāsi?

12.3

Please share this talk with me so that I can also get to hear it.”

Sādhu mayampi etissā kathāya bhāgino assāma savanāyā”ti.

12.4

“My dear Moggallāna, I approached the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“Idhāhaṁ, mārisa moggallāna, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsiṁ. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho ahaṁ, mārisa moggallāna, bhagavantaṁ etadavocaṁ:

12.5

‘Sir, how do you briefly define a bhikkhu who is freed with the ending of craving, who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal, and is best among gods and humans?’

‘kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto hoti accantaniṭṭho accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānan’ti?

13.1

When I had spoken the Buddha said to me:

Evaṁ vutte, mārisa moggallāna, bhagavā maṁ etadavoca:

13.2

‘Lord of Gods, it’s when a bhikkhu has heard:

‘idha, devānaminda, bhikkhuno sutaṁ hoti:

13.3

“Nothing is worth insisting on”

“sabbe dhammā nālaṁ abhinivesāyā”ti.

13.4

When a bhikkhu has heard that

Evañcetaṁ, devānaminda, bhikkhuno sutaṁ hoti

13.5

nothing is worth insisting on,

“sabbe dhammā nālaṁ abhinivesāyā”ti.

13.6

So sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhijānāti, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhiññāya sabbaṁ dhammaṁ parijānāti, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ pariññāya yaṁ kiñci vedanaṁ vedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā.

13.7

they meditate observing anicca, dispassion, cessation, and letting go in those feelings.

So tāsu vedanāsu aniccānupassī viharati, virāgānupassī viharati, nirodhānupassī viharati, paṭinissaggānupassī viharati.

13.8

Meditating in this way, they don’t grasp at anything in the world.

So tāsu vedanāsu aniccānupassī viharanto, virāgānupassī viharanto, nirodhānupassī viharanto, paṭinissaggānupassī viharanto na kiñci loke upādiyati,

13.9

Not grasping, they’re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished.

anupādiyaṁ na paritassati, aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati:

13.10

They understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is no return to any state of existence.”

“khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti pajānāti.

13.11

Ettāvatā kho, devānaminda, bhikkhu saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto hoti accantaniṭṭho accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānan’ti.

13.12

That’s how the Buddha briefly explained freedom through the ending of craving to me.”

Evaṁ kho me, mārisa moggallāna, bhagavā saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ abhāsī”ti.

14.1

Moggallāna approved and agreed with what Sakka said. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from among the Gods of the Thirty-Three and reappeared in the Eastern Monastery.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno sakkassa devānamindassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—devesu tāvatiṁsesu antarahito pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde pāturahosi.

14.2

Soon after Moggallāna left, Sakka’s maids said to him,

Atha kho sakkassa devānamindassa paricārikāyo acirapakkante āyasmante mahāmoggallāne sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavocuṁ:

14.3

“Good sir, was that the Blessed One, your Teacher?”

“eso nu te, mārisa, so bhagavā satthā”ti?

14.4

“No, it was not.

“Na kho me, mārisa, so bhagavā satthā.

14.5

That was my spiritual companion Venerable Mahāmoggallāna.”

Sabrahmacārī me eso āyasmā mahāmoggallāno”ti.

14.6

“You’re fortunate, good sir, so very fortunate,

“Lābhā te, mārisa, suladdhaṁ te, mārisa

14.7

to have a spiritual companion of such power and might!

yassa te sabrahmacārī evaṁmahiddhiko evaṁmahānubhāvo.

14.8

We can’t believe that’s not the Blessed One, your Teacher!”

Aho nūna te so bhagavā satthā”ti.

15.1

Then Mahāmoggallāna went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

15.2

“Sir, do you recall briefly explaining freedom through the ending of craving to a certain well-known and illustrious spirit?”

“abhijānāti no, bhante, bhagavā ahu ñātaññatarassa mahesakkhassa yakkhassa saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ bhāsitā”ti?

15.3

“I do, Moggallāna.” And the Buddha retold all that happened when Sakka came to visit him, adding:

“Abhijānāmahaṁ, moggallāna, idha sakko devānamindo yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, moggallāna, sakko devānamindo maṁ etadavoca:

15.4

‘kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto hoti accantaniṭṭho accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānan’ti.

15.5

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, moggallāna, sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavocaṁ

15.6

‘idha devānaminda, bhikkhuno sutaṁ hoti

15.7

“sabbe dhammā nālaṁ abhinivesāyā”ti.

15.8

Evaṁ cetaṁ, devānaminda, bhikkhuno sutaṁ hoti

15.9

“sabbe dhammā nālaṁ abhinivesāyā”ti.

15.10

15.11

So tāsu vedanāsu aniccānupassī viharati, virāgānupassī viharati, nirodhānupassī viharati, paṭinissaggānupassī viharati.

15.12

So tāsu vedanāsu aniccānupassī viharanto, virāgānupassī viharanto, nirodhānupassī viharanto,

15.13

paṭinissaggānupassī viharanto na kiñci loke upādiyati,

15.14

anupādiyaṁ na paritassati, aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati:

15.15

“khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti pajānāti.

15.16

Ettāvatā kho, devānaminda, bhikkhu saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto hoti accantaniṭṭho accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānan’ti.

15.17

“That’s how I recall briefly explaining freedom through the ending of craving to Sakka, lord of gods.”

Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, moggallāna, abhijānāmi sakkassa devānamindassa saṅkhittena taṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ bhāsitā”ti.

15.18

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

15.19

Satisfied, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was happy with what the Buddha said.

Attamano āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

15.20

Cūḷataṇhāsaṅkhayasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.