MN 134 Lomasakaṅgiya and One Fine Night – Lomasakaṅgiyabhaddekarattasutta

Medium Discourses Collection 134 – Majjhima Nikāya 134

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.

1.3

Now at that time Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya was staying in the Sakyan country at Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā lomasakaṅgiyo sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

2.1

Then, late at night, the glorious god Candana, lighting up the entire Banyan Tree Monastery, went up to the Venerable Lomasakaṅgiya, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, he said to Lomasakaṅgiya:

Atha kho candano devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ nigrodhārāmaṁ obhāsetvā yenāyasmā lomasakaṅgiyo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho candano devaputto āyasmantaṁ lomasakaṅgiyaṁ etadavoca:

2.2

“Bhikkhu, do you remember the recitation passage and analysis of One Fine Night?”

“dhāresi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā”ti?

2.3

“No, reverend, I do not.

“Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca.

2.4

Do you?”

Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā”ti?

2.5

“I also do not.

“Ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca.

2.6

But do you remember just the verses on One Fine Night?”

Dhāresi pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattiyo gāthā”ti?

2.7

“I do not.

“Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā.

2.8

Do you?”

Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā”ti?

2.9

“I do.”

“Dhāremi kho ahaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattiyo gāthā”ti.

2.10

“How do you remember the verses on One Fine Night?”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, āvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā”ti?

2.11

“This one time, the Buddha was staying among the gods of the Thirty-Three at the root of the Shady Orchid Tree on the stone spread with a cream rug.

“Ekamidaṁ, bhikkhu, samayaṁ bhagavā devesu tāvatiṁsesu viharati pāricchattakamūle paṇḍukambalasilāyaṁ.

2.12

There he taught the recitation passage and analysis of One Fine Night to the gods of the Thirty-Three:

Tatra bhagavā devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca abhāsi:

3.1

‘Don’t run back to the past,

‘Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,

3.2

don’t hope for the future.

nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ;

3.3

What’s past is left behind;

Yadatītaṁ pahīnaṁ taṁ,

3.4

the future has not arrived;

appattañca anāgataṁ.

3.5

and phenomena in the present

Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṁ,

3.6

are clearly seen in every case.

tattha tattha vipassati;

3.7

Knowing this, foster it—

Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ,

3.8

unfaltering, unshakable.

taṁ vidvā manubrūhaye.

3.9

Today’s the day to keenly work—

Ajjeva kiccamātappaṁ,

3.10

who knows, tomorrow may bring death!

ko jaññā maraṇaṁ suve;

3.11

For there is no bargain to be struck

Na hi no saṅgaraṁ tena,

3.12

with Death and his mighty hordes.

mahāsenena maccunā.

3.13

The peaceful sage explained it’s those

Evaṁvihāriṁ ātāpiṁ,

3.14

who keenly meditate like this,

ahorattamatanditaṁ;

3.15

tireless all night and day,

Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,

3.16

who truly have that one fine night.’

santo ācikkhate munī’ti.

4.1

That’s how I remember the verses of One Fine Night.

Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhu, dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā.

4.2

Learn the recitation passage and analysis of One Fine Night, bhikkhu,

Uggaṇhāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca;

4.3

memorize it,

pariyāpuṇāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca;

4.4

and remember it.

dhārehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca.

4.5

It is beneficial and relates to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.”

Atthasaṁhito, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddeso ca vibhaṅgo ca ādibrahmacariyako”ti.

4.6

That’s what the god Candana said

Idamavoca candano devaputto.

4.7

before vanishing right there.

Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

5.1

Then Lomasakaṅgiya set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, set out for Sāvatthī.

Atha kho āyasmā lomasakaṅgiyo tassā rattiyā accayena senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena sāvatthi tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi.

5.2

Eventually he came to Sāvatthī and Jeta’s Grove. He went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then he added:

Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena sāvatthi jetavanaṁ anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāmo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā lomasakaṅgiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

5.3

“Ekamidāhaṁ, bhante, samayaṁ sakkesu viharāmi kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

5.4

Atha kho, bhante, aññataro devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ nigrodhārāmaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, bhante, so devaputto maṁ etadavoca:

5.5

‘dhāresi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā’ti?

5.6

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, taṁ devaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ:

5.7

‘na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca.

5.8

Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañcā’ti?

5.9

‘Ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na dhāremi bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca.

5.10

Dhāresi pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattiyo gāthā’ti?

5.11

‘Na kho ahaṁ, āvuso, dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā.

5.12

Tvaṁ panāvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā’ti?

5.13

‘Dhāremi kho ahaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattiyo gāthā’ti.

5.14

‘Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, āvuso, dhāresi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā’ti?

5.15

‘Ekamidaṁ, bhikkhu, samayaṁ bhagavā devesu tāvatiṁsesu viharati pāricchattakamūle paṇḍukambalasilāyaṁ.

5.16

Tatra kho bhagavā devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca abhāsi:

5.17

“Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,

5.18

…pe…

5.19

Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,

5.20

santo ācikkhate munī”ti.

5.21

Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhu, dhāremi bhaddekarattiyo gāthā.

5.22

Uggaṇhāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca;

5.23

pariyāpuṇāhi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca;

5.24

dhārehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca.

5.25

Atthasaṁhito, bhikkhu, bhaddekarattassa uddeso ca vibhaṅgo ca ādibrahmacariyako’ti.

5.26

Idamavoca, bhante, so devaputto.

5.27

Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

5.28

“Sir, please teach me the recitation passage and analysis of One Fine night.”

Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā bhaddekarattassa uddesañca vibhaṅgañca desetū”ti.

6.1

“But bhikkhu, do you know that god?”

“Jānāsi pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, taṁ devaputtan”ti?

6.2

“I do not, sir.”

“Na kho ahaṁ, bhante, jānāmi taṁ devaputtan”ti.

6.3

“That god was named Candana.

“Candano nāma so, bhikkhu, devaputto.

6.4

Candana pays heed, pays attention, engages wholeheartedly, and lends an ear to the teaching.

Candano, bhikkhu, devaputto aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasikatvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti.

6.5

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

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

6.6

“Yes, sir,” Lomasakaṅgiya replied.

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

6.7

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

7.1

“Don’t run back to the past,

“Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,

7.2

don’t hope for the future.

nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ;

7.3

What’s past is left behind;

Yadatītaṁ pahīnaṁ taṁ,

7.4

the future has not arrived;

appattañca anāgataṁ.

7.5

and phenomena in the present

Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṁ,

7.6

are clearly seen in every case.

tattha tattha vipassati;

7.7

Knowing this, foster it—

Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ,

7.8

unfaltering, unshakable.

taṁ vidvā manubrūhaye.

7.9

Today’s the day to keenly work—

Ajjeva kiccamātappaṁ,

7.10

who knows, tomorrow may bring death!

ko jaññā maraṇaṁ suve;

7.11

For there is no bargain to be struck

Na hi no saṅgaraṁ tena,

7.12

with Death and his mighty hordes.

mahāsenena maccunā.

7.13

The peaceful sage explained it’s those

Evaṁvihāriṁ ātāpiṁ,

7.14

who keenly meditate like this,

ahorattamatanditaṁ;

7.15

tireless all night and day,

Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,

7.16

who truly have that one fine night.

santo ācikkhate muni.

8-13.1

And how do you run back to the past? …”

Kathañca, bhikkhu, atītaṁ anvāgameti …

8-13.2

(And the Buddha repeated the analysis as in MN 131.)

pe…

8-13.3

evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, atītaṁ anvāgameti.

8-13.4

Kathañca, bhikkhu, atītaṁ nānvāgameti …pe…

8-13.5

evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, atītaṁ nānvāgameti.

8-13.6

Kathañca, bhikkhu, anāgataṁ paṭikaṅkhati …pe…

8-13.7

evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anāgataṁ paṭikaṅkhati.

8-13.8

Kathañca, bhikkhu, anāgataṁ nappaṭikaṅkhati …pe…

8-13.9

evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anāgataṁ nappaṭikaṅkhati.

8-13.10

Kathañca, bhikkhu, paccuppannesu dhammesu saṁhīrati …pe…

8-13.11

evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, paccuppannesu dhammesu saṁhīrati.

8-13.12

Kathañca, bhikkhu, paccuppannesu dhammesu na saṁhīrati …pe…

8-13.13

evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, paccuppannesu dhammesu na saṁhīrati.

14.1

Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya,

14.2

nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ;

14.3

Yadatītaṁ pahīnaṁ taṁ,

14.4

appattañca anāgataṁ.

14.5

Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṁ,

14.6

tattha tattha vipassati;

14.7

Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ,

14.8

taṁ vidvā manubrūhaye.

14.9

Ajjeva kiccamātappaṁ,

14.10

ko jaññā maraṇaṁ suve;

14.11

Na hi no saṅgaraṁ tena,

14.12

mahāsenena maccunā.

14.13

Evaṁvihāriṁ ātāpiṁ,

14.14

ahorattamatanditaṁ;

14.15

Taṁ ve bhaddekarattoti,

14.16

santo ācikkhate munī”ti.

14.17

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

14.18

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

Attamano āyasmā lomasakaṅgiyo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

14.19

Lomasakaṅgiyabhaddekarattasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.