SN 47.11 A Great Man – Mahāpurisasutta

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SN 47.11 A Great Man – Mahāpurisasutta

Linked Discourses 47.11 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 47.11

2. At Nālandā – 2. Nālandavagga

SN 47.11 A Great Man – Mahāpurisasutta

 

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, they speak of ‘a great man’.

“‘mahāpuriso, mahāpuriso’ti, bhante, vuccati.

How is a great man defined?”

Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, mahāpuriso hotī”ti?

“Sāriputta, someone whose mind is free is a great man, I say.

“Vimuttacittattā khvāhaṁ, sāriputta, ‘mahāpuriso’ti vadāmi.

If their mind is not free, I say they’re not a great man.

Avimuttacittattā ‘no mahāpuriso’ti vadāmi.

And how does someone have a free mind?

Kathañca, sāriputta, vimuttacitto hoti?

It’s when a bhikkhu meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

Idha, sāriputta, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

As they meditate observing an aspect of the body, their mind becomes dispassionate, and is freed from the defilements by not grasping.

Tassa kāye kāyānupassino viharato cittaṁ virajjati, vimuccati anupādāya āsavehi.

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

Vedanāsu …pe…

mind …

citte …pe…

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

As they meditate observing an aspect of principles, their mind becomes dispassionate, and is freed from the defilements by not grasping.

Tassa dhammesu dhammānupassino viharato cittaṁ virajjati, vimuccati anupādāya āsavehi.

That’s how someone has a free mind.

Evaṁ kho, sāriputta, vimuttacitto hoti.

Someone whose mind is free is a great man, I say.

Vimuttacittattā khvāhaṁ, sāriputta, ‘mahāpuriso’ti vadāmi.

If their mind is not free, I say they’re not a great man.”

Avimuttacittattā ‘no mahāpuriso’ti vadāmī”ti.