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Linked Discourses 12.70 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 12.70
7. The Great Chapter – 7. Mahāvagga
SN 12.70 The Wanderer Susīma – Susimaparibbājakasutta
So I have heard.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
Now at that time the Buddha was honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And he received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sakkato hoti garukato mānito pūjito apacito lābhī cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.
And the bhikkhu Saṅgha was also honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
Bhikkhusaṅghopi sakkato hoti garukato mānito pūjito apacito lābhī cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.
But the wanderers who followed other paths were not honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they didn’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
Aññatitthiyā pana paribbājakā asakkatā honti agarukatā amānitā apūjitā anapacitā, na lābhino cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.
Now at that time the wanderer Susīma was residing at Rājagaha together with a large community of wanderers.
Tena kho pana samayena susimo paribbājako rājagahe paṭivasati mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ.
Then his community said to Susīma,
Atha kho susimassa paribbājakassa parisā susimaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavocuṁ:
“Reverend Susīma, please lead the spiritual life with the ascetic Gotama.
“ehi tvaṁ, āvuso susima, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ cara.
Memorize that teaching and have us recite it with you.
Tvaṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā amhe vāceyyāsi.
When we’ve memorized it we’ll recite it to the laity.
Taṁ mayaṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā gihīnaṁ bhāsissāma.
In this way we too will be honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And we’ll receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.”
Evaṁ mayampi sakkatā bhavissāma garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā lābhino cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan”ti.
“Yes, reverends,” replied Susīma. Then he went to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him.
“Evamāvuso”ti kho susimo paribbājako sakāya parisāya paṭissuṇitvā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Ānanda,
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho susimo paribbājako āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:
“Reverend Ānanda, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.”
“icchāmahaṁ, āvuso ānanda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun”ti.
Then Ānanda took Susīma to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
Atha kho āyasmā ānando susimaṁ paribbājakaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, this wanderer Susīma says that
“ayaṁ, bhante, susimo paribbājako evamāha:
he wishes to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.”
‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso ānanda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’”ti.
“Well then, Ānanda, give Susīma the going forth.”
“Tenahānanda, susimaṁ pabbājethā”ti.
And the wanderer Susīma received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.
Alattha kho susimo paribbājako bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ.
Now at that time several bhikkhū had declared their enlightenment in the Buddha’s presence:
Tena kho pana samayena sambahulehi bhikkhūhi bhagavato santike aññā byākatā hoti:
“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.
Venerable Susīma heard about this.
Assosi kho āyasmā susimo:
“sambahulehi kira bhikkhūhi bhagavato santike aññā byākatā:
‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmā”ti.
He went up to those bhikkhū, and exchanged greetings with them.
Atha kho āyasmā susimo yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ sammodi.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to those bhikkhū,
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā susimo te bhikkhū etadavoca:
“Is it really true that the venerables have declared enlightenment in the Buddha’s presence?”
“saccaṁ kirāyasmantehi bhagavato santike aññā byākatā:
‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmā”ti?
“Yes, reverend.”
“Evamāvuso”ti.
“But knowing and seeing thus, do you wield the many kinds of psychic power? That is, multiplying yourselves and becoming one again; going unimpeded through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful. Do you control the body as far as the Brahmā realm?”
“Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhotha—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hotha, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hotha; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ, tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamānā gacchatha, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ karotha, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gacchatha, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamatha, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimasatha parimajjatha, yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattethā”ti?
“No, reverend.”
“No hetaṁ, āvuso”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus do you, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, hear both kinds of sounds, human and divine, whether near or far?”
“Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇātha dibbe ca mānuse ca ye dūre santike cā”ti?
“No, reverend.”
“No hetaṁ, āvuso”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having comprehended them with your mind?
“Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānātha—
Do you understand mind with greed as ‘mind with greed’,
sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ sarāgaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and mind without greed as ‘mind without greed’?
vītarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ vītarāgaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
Do you understand mind with hate as ‘mind with hate’,
sadosaṁ vā cittaṁ sadosaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and mind without hate as ‘mind without hate’?
vītadosaṁ vā cittaṁ vītadosaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
Do you understand mind with delusion as ‘mind with delusion’,
samohaṁ vā cittaṁ samohaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and mind without delusion as ‘mind without delusion’?
vītamohaṁ vā cittaṁ vītamohaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
Do you understand constricted mind as ‘constricted mind’,
saṅkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and scattered mind as ‘scattered mind’?
vikkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ vikkhittaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
Do you understand expansive mind as ‘expansive mind’,
mahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ mahaggataṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and unexpansive mind as ‘unexpansive mind’?
amahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ amahaggataṁ cittanti pajānātha;
Do you understand mind that is not supreme as ‘mind that is not supreme’,
sauttaraṁ vā cittaṁ sauttaraṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and mind that is supreme as ‘mind that is supreme’?
anuttaraṁ vā cittaṁ anuttaraṁ cittanti pajānātha;
Do you understand mind immersed in samādhi as ‘mind immersed in samādhi’,
samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ samāhitaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and mind not immersed in samādhi as ‘mind not immersed in samādhi’?
asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ asamāhitaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
Do you understand freed mind as ‘freed mind’,
vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ cittanti pajānātha;
and unfreed mind as ‘unfreed mind’?”
avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ avimuttaṁ cittanti pajānāthā”ti?
“No, reverend.”
“No hetaṁ, āvuso”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you recollect many kinds of past lives. 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? Do you 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.’ Do you recollect your many kinds of past lives, with features and details?”
“Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussaratha, 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 evaṁsukhadukkhapaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhapaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarathā”ti?
“No, reverend.”
“No hetaṁ, āvuso”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place—and 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 chose to act 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 chose to act 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, do you see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. And do you understand how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds?”
“Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passatha cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānātha: ‘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 passatha cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāthā”ti?
“No, reverend.”
“No hetaṁ, āvuso”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you have direct meditative experience of the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form?”
“Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā ye te santā vimokkhā atikkamma rūpe āruppā, te kāyena phusitvā viharathā”ti?
“No, reverend.”
“No hetaṁ, āvuso”.
“Well now, venerables, how could there be such a declaration when these things are not attained?”
“Ettha dāni āyasmanto idañca veyyākaraṇaṁ imesañca dhammānaṁ asamāpatti; idaṁ no, āvuso, kathan”ti?
“Reverend Susīma, we are freed by wisdom.”
“Paññāvimuttā kho mayaṁ, āvuso susimā”ti.
“I don’t understand the detailed meaning of what you have said in brief.
“Na khvāhaṁ imassa āyasmantānaṁ saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.
Please teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.”
Sādhu me āyasmanto tathā bhāsantu yathāhaṁ imassa āyasmantānaṁ saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājāneyyan”ti.
“Reverend Susīma, whether you understand or not, we are freed by wisdom.”
“Ājāneyyāsi vā tvaṁ, āvuso susima, na vā tvaṁ ājāneyyāsi atha kho paññāvimuttā mayan”ti.
Then Susīma went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side,
Atha kho āyasmā susimo uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
and informed the Buddha of all he had discussed with those bhikkhū.
Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā susimo yāvatako tehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ ahosi kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.
“Susīma, first comes knowledge of the stability of natural principles. Afterwards there is knowledge of extinguishment.”
“Pubbe kho, susima, dhammaṭṭhitiñāṇaṁ, pacchā nibbāne ñāṇan”ti.
“Sir, I don’t understand the detailed meaning of what you have said in brief.
“Na khvāhaṁ, bhante, imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.
Please teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.”
Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tathā bhāsatu yathāhaṁ imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājāneyyan”ti.
“Susīma, whether you understand or not, first comes knowledge of the stability of natural principles. Afterwards there is knowledge of extinguishment.
“Ājāneyyāsi vā tvaṁ, susima, na vā tvaṁ ājāneyyāsi, atha kho dhammaṭṭhitiñāṇaṁ pubbe, pacchā nibbāne ñāṇaṁ.
What do you think, Susīma?
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, susima,
Is form permanent or anicca?”
rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Anicca, sir.”
“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s anicca, is it suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s anicca, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:
‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”
‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Is feeling permanent or anicca?”
“Vedanā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?
“Anicca, sir.”
“Aniccā, bhante”.
“But if it’s anicca, is it suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s anicca, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:
‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”
‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Is perception permanent or anicca?”
“Saññā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?
“Anicca, sir.” …
“Aniccā, bhante” …pe…
“Are saṅkhāra permanent or anicca?”
“saṅkhārā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?
“Anicca, sir.”
“Aniccā, bhante”.
“But if they’re anicca, are they suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“But if they’re anicca, suffering, and perishable, are they fit to be regarded thus:
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:
‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”
‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Is consciousness permanent or anicca?”
“Viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Anicca, sir.”
“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s anicca, is it suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s anicca, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:
‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”
‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So, Susīma, you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: all form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
“Tasmātiha, susima, yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ rūpaṁ netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
You should truly see any kind of feeling at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: all feeling—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
Yā kāci vedanā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā hīnā vā paṇītā vā yā dūre santike vā, sabbā vedanā netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
You should truly see any kind of perception at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: all perception—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
Yā kāci saññā …pe…
You should truly see any kind of saṅkhāra at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: all saṅkhāra—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā hīnā vā paṇītā vā ye dūre santike vā, sabbe saṅkhārā netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
You should truly see any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: all consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, saṅkhāra, and consciousness.
Evaṁ passaṁ, susima, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi nibbindati, saññāyapi nibbindati, saṅkhāresupi nibbindati, viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati.
Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.
Nibbindaṁ virajjati, virāgā vimuccati, vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.
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.
Susīma, do you see that rebirth is a condition for old age and death?”
‘Jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti, susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Do you see that continued existence is a condition for rebirth?”
“‘Bhavapaccayā jātī’ti, susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Do you see that grasping is a condition for continued existence?”
“‘Upādānapaccayā bhavo’ti, susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Do you see that craving is a condition for grasping?”
“‘Taṇhāpaccayā upādānan’ti, susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Do you see that feeling is a condition for craving …
“Vedanāpaccayā taṇhāti …
contact is a condition for feeling …
phassapaccayā vedanāti …
the six sense fields are conditions for contact …
saḷāyatanapaccayā phassoti …
name and form are conditions for the six sense fields …
nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatananti …
consciousness is a condition for name and form …
viññāṇapaccayā nāmarūpanti …
saṅkhāra are a condition for consciousness …
saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇanti …
ignorance is a condition for saṅkhāra?”
avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārāti, susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Do you see that when rebirth ceases old age and death cease?”
“‘Jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti, susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Do you see that when continued existence ceases rebirth ceases?”
“‘Bhavanirodhā jātinirodho’ti susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Do you see that when grasping ceases continued existence ceases …
“Upādānanirodhā bhavanirodhoti …
when craving ceases, grasping ceases …
taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodhoti …
when feeling ceases, craving ceases …
vedanānirodhā taṇhānirodhoti …
when contact ceases, feeling ceases …
phassanirodhā vedanānirodhoti …
when the six sense fields cease, contact ceases …
saḷāyatananirodhā phassanirodhoti …
when name and form cease, the six sense fields cease …
nāmarūpanirodhā saḷāyatananirodhoti …
when consciousness ceases name and form cease …
viññāṇanirodhā nāmarūpanirodhoti …
when saṅkhāra cease consciousness ceases …
saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodhoti …
when ignorance ceases saṅkhāra cease?”
avijjānirodhā saṅkhāranirodhoti, susima, passasī”ti?
“Yes, sir.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“But knowing and seeing thus, do you wield the many kinds of psychic power? …”
“Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhosi—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hosi, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hosi; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ, tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamāno gacchasi, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ karosi, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāno gacchasi, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamasi, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimasasi parimajjasi, yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattesī”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus do you, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, hear both kinds of sounds, human and divine, whether near or far?”
“Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇasi dibbe ca mānuse ca ye dūre santike cā”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having comprehended them with your mind? …”
“Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāsi—
“No, sir.”
sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ sarāgaṁ cittanti pajānāsi …pe…
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you recollect many kinds of past lives, with features and details?”
vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ cittanti pajānāsī”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, see sentient beings passing away and being reborn … according to their deeds?”
“Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarasi, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarasī”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you have direct meditative experience of the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form?”
“Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passasi cavamāne …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāsī”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Well now, Susīma, how could there be such a declaration when these things are not attained?”
“Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto ye te santā vimokkhā atikkamma rūpe āruppā, te kāyena phusitvā viharasī”ti?
Then Venerable Susīma bowed with his head at the Buddha’s feet and said,
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to go forth as a thief in such a well-explained teaching and training.
“Ettha dāni, susima, idañca veyyākaraṇaṁ imesañca dhammānaṁ asamāpatti, idaṁ no, susima, kathan”ti?
Please, sir, accept my mistake for what it is, so I will restrain myself in future.”
Atha kho āyasmā susimo bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Indeed, Susīma, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to go forth as a thief in such a well-explained teaching and training.
“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenako pabbajito.
Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to the king, saying:
Tassa me, bhante, bhagavā accayaṁ accayato paṭiggaṇhātu āyatiṁ saṁvarāyā”ti.
‘Your Majesty, this is a bandit, a criminal. Punish him as you will.’
“Taggha tvaṁ, susima, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo tvaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenako pabbajito.
The king would say:
Seyyathāpi, susima, coraṁ āgucāriṁ gahetvā rañño dasseyyuṁ:
‘Go, my men, and tie this man’s arms tightly behind his back with a strong rope. Shave his head and march him from street to street and from square to square to the beating of a harsh drum. Then take him out the south gate and there, to the south of the city, chop off his head.’
‘ayaṁ te, deva, coro āgucārī, imassa yaṁ icchasi taṁ daṇḍaṁ paṇehī’ti.
The king’s men would do as they were told.
Tamenaṁ rājā evaṁ vadeyya:
What do you think, Susīma?
‘gacchatha, bho, imaṁ purisaṁ daḷhāya rajjuyā pacchābāhaṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ bandhitvā khuramuṇḍaṁ karitvā kharassarena paṇavena rathiyāya rathiyaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ parinetvā dakkhiṇena dvārena nikkhāmetvā dakkhiṇato nagarassa sīsaṁ chindathā’ti.
Wouldn’t that man experience pain and distress because of that?”
Tamenaṁ rañño purisā daḷhāya rajjuyā pacchābāhaṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ bandhitvā khuramuṇḍaṁ karitvā kharassarena paṇavena rathiyāya rathiyaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ parinetvā dakkhiṇena dvārena nikkhāmetvā dakkhiṇato nagarassa sīsaṁ chindeyyuṁ.
“Yes, sir.”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, susima,
“Although that man would experience pain and distress because of that,
api nu so puriso tatonidānaṁ dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvediyethā”ti?
going forth as a thief in such a well-explained teaching and training has a more painful and bitter result. And it even leads to the underworld.
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
But since you have recognized your mistake for what it is, and have dealt with it properly, I accept it.
“Yaṁ kho so, susima, puriso tatonidānaṁ dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvediyetha.
For it is growth in the training of the Noble One to recognize a mistake for what it is, deal with it properly, and commit to restraint in the future.”
Yā evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenakassa pabbajjā, ayaṁ tato dukkhavipākatarā ca kaṭukavipākatarā ca, api ca vinipātāya saṁvattati.
Yato ca kho tvaṁ, susima, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikarosi taṁ te mayaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma.
Vuddhi hesā, susima, ariyassa vinaye yo accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikaroti, āyatiñca saṁvaraṁ āpajjatī”ti.
Dasamaṁ.
Mahāvaggo sattamo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Dve assutavatā vuttā,
puttamaṁsena cāparaṁ;