SN 35.132 With Lohicca – Lohiccasutta

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SN 35.132 With Lohicca – Lohiccasutta

Linked Discourses 35.132 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.132

13. Householders – 13. Gahapativagga

SN 35.132 With Lohicca – Lohiccasutta

 

At one time Venerable Mahākaccāna was staying in the land of the Avantis in a wilderness hut near Makkarakaṭa.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahākaccāno avantīsu viharati makkarakate araññakuṭikāyaṁ.

Then several youths, students of the brahmin Lohicca, approached Mahākaccāna’s wilderness hut while collecting firewood. They walked and wandered all around the hut, making a dreadful racket and all kinds of jeers:

Atha kho lohiccassa brāhmaṇassa sambahulā antevāsikā kaṭṭhahārakā māṇavakā yenāyasmato mahākaccānassa araññakuṭikā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā parito parito kuṭikāya anucaṅkamanti anuvicaranti uccāsaddā mahāsaddā kānici kānici seleyyakāni karonti:

“These shavelings, fake ascetics, riffraff, black spawn from the feet of our Kinsman, the Lord! They’re honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by those who pretend to inherit Vedic culture.”

“ime pana muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kaṇhā bandhupādāpaccā, imesaṁ bharatakānaṁ sakkatā garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā”ti.

And then Mahākaccāna left his dwelling and said to those brahmin students,

Atha kho āyasmā mahākaccāno vihārā nikkhamitvā te māṇavake etadavoca:

“Students, stop being so noisy.

“mā māṇavakā saddamakattha;

I will speak to you on the teaching.”

dhammaṁ vo bhāsissāmī”ti.

When this was said, the students fell silent.

Evaṁ vutte, te māṇavakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

Then Mahākaccāna recited these verses for them.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākaccāno te māṇavake gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“The brahmins of old championed ethics,

“Sīluttamā pubbatarā ahesuṁ,

and remembered the ancient traditions.

Te brāhmaṇā ye purāṇaṁ saranti;

Their sense doors were guarded, well protected,

Guttāni dvārāni surakkhitāni,

and they had mastered anger.

Ahesuṁ tesaṁ abhibhuyya kodhaṁ.

Those brahmins who remembered the ancient traditions

Dhamme ca jhāne ca ratā ahesuṁ,

enjoyed virtue and absorption.

Te brāhmaṇā ye purāṇaṁ saranti.

But these have lost their way. Claiming to recite,

Ime ca vokkamma japāmaseti,

they live out of balance, judging everyone by their clan.

Gottena mattā visamaṁ caranti;

Mastered by anger, they take up many arms,

Kodhābhibhūtā puthuattadaṇḍā,

attacking both the strong and the weak.

Virajjamānā sataṇhātaṇhesu.

All is vain for someone who doesn’t guard the sense doors,

Aguttadvārassa bhavanti moghā,

like the wealth a person finds in a dream.

Supineva laddhaṁ purisassa vittaṁ;

Fasting, sleeping on bare ground,

Anāsakā thaṇḍilasāyikā ca,

bathing at dawn, the three Vedas,

Pāto sinānañca tayo ca vedā.

rough hides, dreadlocks, and dirt,

Kharājinaṁ jaṭāpaṅko,

hymns, precepts and observances, and self-mortification,

mantā sīlabbataṁ tapo;

those fake bent staffs,

Kuhanā vaṅkadaṇḍā ca,

and rinsing with water.

udakācamanāni ca;

These emblems of the brahmins

Vaṇṇā ete brāhmaṇānaṁ,

are only used to generate profits.

katā kiñcikkhabhāvanā.

A mind that’s serene,

Cittañca susamāhitaṁ,

clear and undisturbed,

vippasannamanāvilaṁ;

kind to all creatures:

Akhilaṁ sabbabhūtesu,

that’s the path to attainment of Brahmā!”

so maggo brahmapattiyā”ti.

Then those students, offended and upset, went to the brahmin Lohicca and said to him,

Atha kho te māṇavakā kupitā anattamanā yena lohicco brāhmaṇo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā lohiccaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Please, master, you should know this. The ascetic Mahākaccāna condemns and rejects outright the hymns of the brahmins!”

“yagghe bhavaṁ jāneyya, samaṇo mahākaccāno brāhmaṇānaṁ mante ekaṁsena apavadati, paṭikkosatī”ti?

When they said this, Lohicca was offended and upset.

Evaṁ vutte, lohicco brāhmaṇo kupito ahosi anattamano.

Then he thought,

Atha kho lohiccassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi:

“But it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to abuse or insult the ascetic Mahākaccāna solely because of what I’ve heard from these students.

“na kho pana metaṁ patirūpaṁ yohaṁ aññadatthu māṇavakānaṁyeva sutvā samaṇaṁ mahākaccānaṁ akkoseyyaṁ paribhāseyyaṁ.

Why don’t I go and ask him about it?”

Yannūnāhaṁ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyan”ti.

Then the brahmin Lohicca together with those students went to Venerable Mahākaccāna and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho lohicco brāhmaṇo tehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahākaccānena saddhiṁ sammodi.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to him,

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho lohicco brāhmaṇo āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca:

“Master Kaccāna, did several young students of mine come by here collecting firewood?”

“āgamaṁsu nu khvidha, bho kaccāna, amhākaṁ sambahulā antevāsikā kaṭṭhahārakā māṇavakā”ti?

“They did, brahmin.”

“Āgamaṁsu khvidha te, brāhmaṇa, sambahulā antevāsikā kaṭṭhahārakā māṇavakā”ti.

“But did you have some discussion with them?”

“Ahu pana bhoto kaccānassa tehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti?

“I did.”

“Ahu kho me, brāhmaṇa, tehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti.

“But what kind of discussion did you have with them?”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana bhoto kaccānassa tehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ ahosi kathāsallāpo”ti?

“This is the discussion I had with these students.”

“Evaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, tehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ ahosi kathāsallāpo:

(Mahākaccāna repeats the verses.)

‘Sīluttamā pubbatarā ahesuṁ,

Te brāhmaṇā ye purāṇaṁ saranti;

…pe…

Akhilaṁ sabbabhūtesu,

So maggo brahmapattiyā’ti.

Evaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, tehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ ahosi kathāsallāpo”ti.

“Master Kaccāna spoke of someone who doesn’t guard the sense doors.

“‘Aguttadvāro’ti bhavaṁ kaccāno āha.

How do you define someone who doesn’t guard the sense doors?”

Kittāvatā nu kho, bho kaccāna, aguttadvāro hotī”ti?

“Brahmin, take someone who sees a sight with their eyes. If it’s pleasant they hold on to it, but if it’s unpleasant they dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body unestablished and their heart restricted.

“Idha, brāhmaṇa, ekacco cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā piyarūpe rūpe adhimuccati, appiyarūpe rūpe byāpajjati, anupaṭṭhitakāyassati ca viharati, parittacetaso

And they don’t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without anything left over.

tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

When they hear a sound with their ears …

Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …

When they smell an odor with their nose …

ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …

When they taste a flavor with their tongue …

jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …

When they feel a touch with their body …

kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …

When they know a thought with their mind, if it’s pleasant they hold on to it, but if it’s unpleasant they dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body unestablished and a limited heart.

manasā dhammaṁ viññāya piyarūpe dhamme adhimuccati, appiyarūpe ca dhamme byāpajjati, anupaṭṭhitakāyassati ca viharati, parittacetaso

And they don’t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without anything left over.

tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

That’s how someone doesn’t guard the sense doors.”

Evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, aguttadvāro hotī”ti.

“It’s incredible, Master Kaccāna, it’s amazing!

“Acchariyaṁ, bho kaccāna, abbhutaṁ, bho kaccāna.

How accurately you’ve explained someone whose sense doors are unguarded!

Yāvañcidaṁ bhotā kaccānena aguttadvārova samāno aguttadvāroti akkhāto.

You also spoke of someone who does guard the sense doors.

‘Guttadvāro’ti bhavaṁ kaccāno āha.

How do you define someone who does guard the sense doors?”

Kittāvatā nu kho, bho kaccāna, guttadvāro hotī”ti?

“Brahmin, take a bhikkhu who sees a sight with their eyes. If it’s pleasant they don’t hold on to it, and if it’s unpleasant they don’t dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body established and a limitless heart.

“Idha, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā piyarūpe rūpe nādhimuccati, appiyarūpe rūpe na byāpajjati, upaṭṭhitakāyassati ca viharati, appamāṇacetaso

And they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without anything left over.

tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

When they hear a sound with their ears …

Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …

When they smell an odor with their nose …

ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …

When they taste a flavor with their tongue …

jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …

When they feel a touch with their body …

kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …

When they know a thought with their mind, if it’s pleasant they don’t hold on to it, and if it’s unpleasant they don’t dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body established and a limitless heart.

manasā dhammaṁ viññāya piyarūpe dhamme nādhimuccati, appiyarūpe dhamme na byāpajjati, upaṭṭhitakāyassati ca viharati, appamāṇacetaso

And they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without anything left over.

tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

That’s how someone guards the sense doors.”

Evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, guttadvāro hotī”ti.

“It’s incredible, Master Kaccāna, it’s amazing!

“Acchariyaṁ, bho kaccāna, abbhutaṁ, bho kaccāna.

How accurately you’ve explained someone whose sense doors are guarded!

Yāvañcidaṁ bhotā kaccānena guttadvārova samāno guttadvāroti akkhāto.

Excellent, Master Kaccāna! Excellent!

Abhikkantaṁ, bho kaccāna; abhikkantaṁ, bho kaccāna.

As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with good eyes can see what’s there, Master Kaccāna has made the teaching clear in many ways.

Seyyathāpi, bho kaccāna, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā kaccānena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito.

I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the bhikkhu Saṅgha.

Esāhaṁ, bho kaccāna, taṁ bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi, dhammañca, bhikkhusaṅghañca.

From this day forth, may Master Kaccāna remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.

Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ kaccāno dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gataṁ.

Please come to my family just as you go to the families of the lay followers in Makkarakaṭa.

Yathā ca bhavaṁ kaccāno makkarakate upāsakakulāni upasaṅkamati; evameva lohiccakulaṁ upasaṅkamatu.

The brahmin boys and girls there will bow to you, rise in your presence, and give you a seat and water. That will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.”

Tattha ye māṇavakā vā māṇavikā vā bhavantaṁ kaccānaṁ abhivādessanti paccuṭṭhissanti āsanaṁ vā udakaṁ vā dassanti, tesaṁ taṁ bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.