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Medium Discourses Collection 80 – Majjhima Nikāya 80
MN 80 With Vekhanasa – Vekhanasasutta
1.1
So I have heard.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
1.2
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
2.1
Then the wanderer Vekhanasa went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
Atha kho vekhanaso paribbājako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
2.2
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side,
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
2.3
and expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho vekhanaso paribbājako bhagavato santike udānaṁ udānesi:
2.4
“This is the ultimate splendor, this is the ultimate splendor.”
“ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo, ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo”ti.
2.5
“But Kaccāna, why do you say:
“Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, kaccāna, evaṁ vadesi:
2.6
‘This is the ultimate splendor, this is the ultimate splendor.’
‘ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo, ayaṁ paramo vaṇṇo’ti?
2.7
What is that ultimate splendor?”
Katamo, kaccāna, so paramo vaṇṇo”ti?
2.8
“Master Gotama, the ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.”
“Yasmā, bho gotama, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo”ti.
2.9
“But what is that ultimate splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer?”
“Katamo pana so, kaccāna, vaṇṇo yasmā vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthī”ti?
2.10
“Master Gotama, the ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.”
“Yasmā, bho gotama, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo”ti.
3.1
“Kaccāna, you could draw this out for a long time.
“Dīghāpi kho te esā, kaccāna, phareyya:
3.2
You say, ‘The ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.’ But you don’t describe that splendor.
‘yasmā, bho gotama, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo’ti vadesi, tañca vaṇṇaṁ na paññapesi.
3.3
Suppose a man was to say,
Seyyathāpi, kaccāna, puriso evaṁ vadeyya:
3.4
‘Whoever the finest lady in the land is, it is her that I want, her I desire!’
‘ahaṁ yā imasmiṁ janapade janapadakalyāṇī, taṁ icchāmi taṁ kāmemī’ti.
3.5
They’d say to him,
Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:
3.6
‘Mister, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know whether she’s an aristocrat, a brahmin, a merchant, or a worker?’
‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ—khattiyī vā brāhmaṇī vā vessī vā suddī vā’ti?
3.7
Asked this, he’d say, ‘No.’
Iti puṭṭho ‘no’ti vadeyya.
3.8
They’d say to him,
Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:
3.9
‘Mister, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know her name or clan? Whether she’s tall or short or medium? Whether her skin is black, brown, or tawny? What village, town, or city she comes from?’
‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ evaṁnāmā evaṅgottāti vāti …pe… dīghā vā rassā vā majjhimā vā kāḷī vā sāmā vā maṅguracchavī vāti … amukasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā nagare vā’ti?
3.10
Asked this, he’d say, ‘No.’
Iti puṭṭho ‘no’ti vadeyya.
3.11
They’d say to him,
Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:
3.12
‘Mister, do you desire someone who you’ve never even known or seen?’
‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ na jānāsi na passasi, taṁ tvaṁ icchasi kāmesī’ti?
3.13
Asked this, he’d say, ‘Yes.’
Iti puṭṭho ‘āmā’ti vadeyya.
3.14
What do you think, Kaccāna?
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kaccāna,
3.15
This being so, doesn’t that man’s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”
nanu evaṁ sante tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?
3.16
“Clearly that’s the case, sir.”
“Addhā kho, bho gotama, evaṁ sante tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti.
3.17
“In the same way, you say, ‘The ultimate splendor is the splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.’ But you don’t describe that splendor.”
“Evameva kho tvaṁ, kaccāna, ‘yasmā, bho gotama, vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthi so paramo vaṇṇo’ti vadesi; tañca vaṇṇaṁ na paññapesī”ti.
4.1
“Master Gotama, suppose there was a beryl gem that was naturally beautiful, eight-faceted, well-worked. When placed on a cream rug it would shine and glow and radiate. Such is the splendor of the self that is well after death.”
“Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, maṇi veḷuriyo subho jātimā aṭṭhaṁso suparikammakato paṇḍukambale nikkhitto bhāsate ca tapate ca virocati ca, evaṁ vaṇṇo attā hoti arogo paraṁ maraṇā”ti.
5.1
“What do you think, Kaccāna?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kaccāna,
5.2
Which of these two has a finer splendor: such a beryl gem, or a firefly in the dark of night?”
yo vā maṇi veḷuriyo subho jātimā aṭṭhaṁso suparikammakato paṇḍukambale nikkhitto bhāsate ca tapate ca virocati ca, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya kimi khajjopanako imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti?
5.3
“A firefly in the dark of night.”
“Yvāyaṁ, bho gotama, rattandhakāratimisāya kimi khajjopanako, ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.
6.1
“What do you think, Kaccāna?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kaccāna,
6.2
Which of these two has a finer splendor: a firefly in the dark of night, or an oil lamp in the dark of night?”
yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya kimi khajjopanako, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya telappadīpo, imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti?
6.3
“An oil lamp in the dark of night.”
“Yvāyaṁ, bho gotama, rattandhakāratimisāya telappadīpo, ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.
7.1
“What do you think, Kaccāna?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kaccāna,
7.2
Which of these two has a finer splendor: an oil lamp in the dark of night, or a bonfire in the dark of night?”
yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya telappadīpo, yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya mahāaggikkhandho, imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti?
7.3
“A bonfire in the dark of night.”
“Yvāyaṁ, bho gotama, rattandhakāratimisāya mahāaggikkhandho, ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.
8.1
“What do you think, Kaccāna?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kaccāna,
8.2
Which of these two has a finer splendor: a bonfire in the dark of night, or the Morning Star in a clear and cloudless sky at the crack of dawn?”
yo vā rattandhakāratimisāya mahāaggikkhandho, yā vā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ viddhe vigatavalāhake deve osadhitārakā, imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti?
8.3
“The Morning Star in a clear and cloudless sky at the crack of dawn.”
“Yvāyaṁ, bho gotama, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ viddhe vigatavalāhake deve osadhitārakā, ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.
9.1
“What do you think, Kaccāna?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kaccāna,
9.2
Which of these two has a finer splendor: the Morning Star in a clear and cloudless sky at the crack of dawn, or the full moon at midnight in a clear and cloudless sky on the fifteenth day sabbath?”
yā vā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ viddhe vigatavalāhake deve osadhitārakā, yo vā tadahuposathe pannarase viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido aḍḍharattasamayaṁ cando, imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti?
9.3
“The full moon at midnight in a clear and cloudless sky on the fifteenth day sabbath.”
“Yvāyaṁ, bho gotama, tadahuposathe pannarase viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido aḍḍharattasamayaṁ cando, ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.
10.1
“What do you think, Kaccāna?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kaccāna,
10.2
Which of these two has a finer splendor: the full moon at midnight in a clear and cloudless sky on the fifteenth day sabbath, or the sun at midday in a clear and cloudless sky in the last month of the rainy season?”
yo vā tadahuposathe pannarase viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido aḍḍharattasamayaṁ cando, yo vā vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido majjhanhikasamayaṁ sūriyo, imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ katamo vaṇṇo abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti?
10.3
“The sun at midday in a clear and cloudless sky in the last month of the rainy season.”
“Yvāyaṁ, bho gotama, vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye viddhe vigatavalāhake deve abhido majjhanhikasamayaṁ sūriyo—ayaṁ imesaṁ ubhinnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro cā”ti.
11.1
“Beyond this, Kaccāna, I know very many gods on whom the light of the sun and moon make no impression.
“Ato kho te, kaccāna, bahū hi bahutarā devā ye imesaṁ candimasūriyānaṁ ābhā nānubhonti, tyāhaṁ pajānāmi.
11.2
Nevertheless, I do not say:
Atha ca panāhaṁ na vadāmi:
11.3
‘The splendor compared to which no other splendor is finer.’
‘yasmā vaṇṇā añño vaṇṇo uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca natthī’ti.
11.4
But of the splendor inferior to a firefly you say, ‘This is the ultimate splendor.’ And you don’t describe that splendor.
Atha ca pana tvaṁ, kaccāna, ‘yvāyaṁ vaṇṇo kiminā khajjopanakena nihīnataro ca patikiṭṭhataro ca so paramo vaṇṇo’ti vadesi; tañca vaṇṇaṁ na paññapesi.
12.1
Kaccāna, there are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.
Pañca kho ime, kaccāna, kāmaguṇā.
12.2
What five?
Katame pañca?
12.3
Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā,
12.4
Sounds known by the ear …
sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe…
12.5
Smells known by the nose …
ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …
12.6
Tastes known by the tongue …
jivhāviññeyyā rasā …
12.7
Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.
kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā—
12.8
These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
ime kho, kaccāna, pañca kāmaguṇā.
13.1
The pleasure and happiness that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called sensual pleasure.
Yaṁ kho, kaccāna, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ idaṁ vuccati kāmasukhaṁ.
13.2
So there is the saying: ‘From the senses comes sensual pleasure. From sensual pleasure comes the best kind of sensual pleasure, which is said to be the best thing there.’”
Iti kāmehi kāmasukhaṁ, kāmasukhā kāmaggasukhaṁ tattha aggamakkhāyatī”ti.
14.1
When he said this, Vekhanasa said to the Buddha,
Evaṁ vutte, vekhanaso paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
14.2
“It’s incredible, Master Gotama, it’s amazing!
“acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama.
14.3
How well said this was by Master Gotama!
Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ bhotā gotamena:
14.4
‘From the senses comes sensual pleasure. From sensual pleasure comes the best kind of sensual pleasure, which is said to be the best thing there.’
‘kāmehi kāmasukhaṁ, kāmasukhā kāmaggasukhaṁ tattha aggamakkhāyatī’ti.
14.5
Master Gotama, from the senses comes sensual pleasure. From sensual pleasure comes the best kind of sensual pleasure, which is said to be the best thing there.”
‘Kāmehi, bho gotama, kāmasukhaṁ, kāmasukhā kāmaggasukhaṁ, tattha aggamakkhāyatī’”ti
14.6
“Kaccāna, it’s hard for you, who has a different view, creed, preference, practice, and tradition, to understand
“dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, kaccāna, tayā aññadiṭṭhikena aññakhantikena aññarucikena aññatrayogena aññatrācariyakena—
14.7
the senses, sensual pleasure, and the best kind of sensual pleasure.
kāmā vā kāmasukhaṁ vā kāmaggasukhaṁ vā.
14.8
There are bhikkhū who are perfected, who have ended the cravings, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their own goal, utterly ended the fetters of rebirth, and are rightly freed through enlightenment. They can understand
Ye kho te, kaccāna, bhikkhū arahanto khīṇāsavā vusitavanto katakaraṇīyā ohitabhārā anuppattasadatthā parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojanā sammadaññāvimuttā te kho etaṁ jāneyyuṁ—
14.9
the senses, sensual pleasure, and the best kind of sensual pleasure.”
kāmā vā kāmasukhaṁ vā kāmaggasukhaṁ vā”ti.
15.1
When he said this, Vekhanasa became angry and upset. He even attacked and badmouthed the Buddha himself, saying,
Evaṁ vutte, vekhanaso paribbājako kupito anattamano bhagavantaṁyeva khuṁsento bhagavantaṁyeva vambhento bhagavantaṁyeva vadamāno:
15.2
“The ascetic Gotama will be worsted!” He said to the Buddha,
“samaṇo gotamo pāpito bhavissatī”ti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
15.3
“This is exactly what happens with some ascetics and brahmins. Not knowing the past or seeing the future, they nevertheless claim:
“evameva panidhekacce samaṇabrāhmaṇā ajānantā pubbantaṁ, apassantā aparantaṁ atha ca pana
15.4
‘We 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 itthattāyāti—pajānāmā’ti—paṭijānanti.
15.5
Their statement turns out to be a joke—mere words, void and hollow.”
Tesamidaṁ bhāsitaṁ hassakaṁyeva sampajjati, nāmakaṁyeva sampajjati, rittakaṁyeva sampajjati, tucchakaṁyeva sampajjatī”ti.
16.1
“Kaccāna, there are some ascetics and brahmins who, not knowing the past or seeing the future, nevertheless claim:
“Ye kho te, kaccāna, samaṇabrāhmaṇā ajānantā pubbantaṁ, apassantā aparantaṁ,
16.2
‘We 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 itthattāyāti—pajānāmā’ti—paṭijānanti;
16.3
There is a legitimate refutation of them.
tesaṁ soyeva sahadhammiko niggaho hoti.
16.4
Nevertheless, Kaccāna, leave aside the past and the future.
Api ca, kaccāna, tiṭṭhatu pubbanto, tiṭṭhatu aparanto.
16.5
Let a sensible person come—neither devious nor deceitful, a person of integrity. I teach and instruct them.
Etu viññū puriso asaṭho amāyāvī ujujātiko, ahamanusāsāmi ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.
16.6
Practicing as instructed they will soon know and see for themselves,
Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno nacirasseva sāmaññeva ñassati sāmaṁ dakkhiti—
16.7
‘So this is how to be rightly released from the bond, that is, the bond of ignorance.’
evaṁ kira sammā bandhanā vippamokkho hoti, yadidaṁ avijjā bandhanā.
16.8
Suppose there was a little baby bound with swaddling up to the neck.
Seyyathāpi, kaccāna, daharo kumāro mando uttānaseyyako kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi baddho assa suttabandhanehi;
16.9
As they grow up and their senses mature, they’re accordingly released from those bonds.
tassa vuddhimanvāya indriyānaṁ paripākamanvāya tāni bandhanāni mucceyyuṁ;
16.10
They’d know ‘I’m released,’ and there would be no more bonds.
so mokkhomhīti kho jāneyya no ca bandhanaṁ.
16.11
In the same way, let a sensible person come—neither devious nor deceitful, a person of integrity. I teach and instruct them.
Evameva kho, kaccāna, etu viññū puriso asaṭho amāyāvī ujujātiko, ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi;
16.12
Practicing as instructed they will soon know and see for themselves,
yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno nacirasseva sāmaññeva ñassati, sāmaṁ dakkhiti:
16.13
‘So this is how to be rightly released from the bond, that is, the bond of ignorance.’”
‘evaṁ kira sammā bandhanā vippamokkho hoti, yadidaṁ avijjā bandhanā’”ti.
17.1
When he said this, Vekhanasa said to the Buddha,
Evaṁ vutte, vekhanaso paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
17.2
“Excellent, Master Gotama! …
“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…
17.3
From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
17.4
Vekhanasasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.
17.5
Paribbājakavaggo niṭṭhito tatiyo.
18.0
Tassuddānaṁ
18.1
Puṇḍarī aggisaha kathināmo,
18.2
Dīghanakho puna bhāradvājagotto;
18.3
Sandakaudāyimuṇḍikaputto,
18.4
Maṇiko tathākaccāno varavaggo.