SN 12-21 The Group of Connected Discourses Beginning With Causation – Nidānavaggasaṁyutta > SN 21 Connected Discourses with Monks – Bhikkhusaṁyutta > SN 21.10 A Bhikkhu Named Senior

Linked Discourses 21.10 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 21.10

1. Monks – 1. Bhikkhuvagga

SN 21.10 A Bhikkhu Named Senior – Theranāmakasutta

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 there was a certain bhikkhu named Senior. He lived alone and praised living alone.

Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ceva hoti ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī.

He entered the village for alms alone, returned alone, sat in private alone, and concentrated on walking mindfully alone.

So eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisati eko paṭikkamati eko raho nisīdati eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāti.

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

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Sir, there’s a certain bhikkhu named Senior who lives alone and praises living alone.”

“idha, bhante, aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

So the Buddha addressed a certain monk,

Atha kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:

“Please, monk, in my name tell the bhikkhu Senior that

“ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena theraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantehi:

the teacher summons him.”

‘satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī’”ti.

“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Venerable Senior and said to him,

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā thero tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca:

“Reverend Senior, the teacher summons you.”

“satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” that monk replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā thero tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ theraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Is it really true, Senior, that you live alone and praise living alone?”

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“But in what way do you live alone and praise living alone?”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

“Well, sir, I enter the village for alms alone, return alone, sit in private alone, and concentrate on walking mindfully alone.

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisāmi eko paṭikkamāmi eko raho nisīdāmi eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāmi.

That’s how I live alone and praise living alone.”

Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

“That is a kind of living alone, I don’t deny it.

“Attheso, thera, ekavihāro neso natthīti vadāmi.

But as to how living alone is fulfilled in detail,

Api ca, thera, yathā ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti

listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho …pe….

“And how, Senior, is living alone fulfilled in detail?

“Kathañca, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti.

It’s when what’s in the past is given up, what’s in the future is relinquished, and desire and greed for present incarnations is eliminated.

Idha, thera, yaṁ atītaṁ taṁ pahīnaṁ, yaṁ anāgataṁ taṁ paṭinissaṭṭhaṁ, paccuppannesu ca attabhāvapaṭilābhesu chandarāgo suppaṭivinīto.

That’s how living alone is fulfilled in detail.”

Evaṁ kho, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hotī”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“The champion, all-knower, so very intelligent,

“Sabbābhibhuṁ sabbaviduṁ sumedhaṁ,

is unsullied in the midst of all things.

Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalittaṁ;

He’s given up all, freed in the ending of craving:

Sabbañjahaṁ taṇhākkhaye vimuttaṁ,

I declare that man to be one who lives alone.”

Tamahaṁ naraṁ ekavihārīti brūmī”ti.