SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 55 Linked Discourses on Stream-Entry – Sotāpattisaṁyutta > SN 55.22 With Mahānāma (2nd)

Linked Discourses 55.22 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 55.22

3. About Sarakāni – 3. Saraṇānivagga

SN 55.22 With Mahānāma (2nd) – Dutiyamahānāmasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

Then Mahānāma the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

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

“Sir, this Kapilavatthu is successful and prosperous and full of people, with cramped cul-de-sacs.

“idaṁ, bhante, kapilavatthu iddhañceva phītañca bāhujaññaṁ ākiṇṇamanussaṁ sambādhabyūhaṁ.

In the late afternoon, after paying homage to the Buddha or an esteemed bhikkhu, I enter Kapilavatthu.

So khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ vā payirupāsitvā manobhāvanīye vā bhikkhū sāyanhasamayaṁ kapilavatthuṁ pavisanto;

I encounter a stray elephant,

bhantenapi hatthinā samāgacchāmi;

horse,

bhantenapi assena samāgacchāmi;

chariot,

bhantenapi rathena samāgacchāmi;

cart,

bhantenapi sakaṭena samāgacchāmi;

or person.

bhantenapi purisena samāgacchāmi.

At that time I lose mindfulness regarding the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, tasmiṁ samaye mussateva bhagavantaṁ ārabbha sati, mussati dhammaṁ ārabbha sati, mussati saṅghaṁ ārabbha sati.

I think:

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti:

‘If I were to die at this time, where would I be reborn in my next life?’”

‘imamhi cāhaṁ samaye kālaṁ kareyyaṁ, kā mayhaṁ gati, ko abhisamparāyo’”ti?

“Do not fear, Mahānāma, do not fear!

“Mā bhāyi, mahānāma, mā bhāyi, mahānāma.

Your death will not be a bad one; your passing will not be a bad one.

Apāpakaṁ te maraṇaṁ bhavissati apāpikā kālaṅkiriyā.

A noble disciple who has four things slants, slopes, and inclines towards extinguishment.

Catūhi kho, mahānāma, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.

What four?

Katamehi catūhi?

It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …

Idha, mahānāma, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti—

itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

the teaching …

Dhamme …pe…

the Saṅgha …

saṅghe …pe…

And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to samādhi.

ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

Suppose there was a tree that slants, slopes, and inclines to the east. If it was cut off at the root where would it fall?”

Seyyathāpi, mahānāma, rukkho pācīnaninno pācīnapoṇo pācīnapabbhāro, so mūlacchinno katamena papateyyā”ti?

“Sir, it would fall in the direction that it slants, slopes, and inclines.”

“Yena, bhante, ninno yena poṇo yena pabbhāro”ti.

“In the same way, a noble disciple who has four things slants, slopes, and inclines towards extinguishment.”

“Evameva kho, mahānāma, imehi catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro”ti.