English
1. The Section on Defeats 1. The First Defeat The Recitation on Sudinna 24. Now at that time, not far from Vesālī, there was a village called Kalandagāma. There, a merchant's son named Sudinna, a Kalandan, lived. Then Sudinna, the Kalandan, went to Vesālī with many companions for some purpose. Now at that time, the Blessed One was seated, teaching the Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Sudinna, the Kalandan, saw the Blessed One seated, teaching the Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Having seen him, he thought: "Why don't I also listen to the Dhamma?" Then Sudinna, the Kalandan, approached that assembly; having approached, he sat down to one side. As Sudinna, the Kalandan, was seated to one side, he thought: "As I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy for one living in a household to lead the holy life perfectly complete, perfectly pure, like a polished conch shell; why don't I shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness?" Then that assembly, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, rose from their seats, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. 25. Then Sudinna, the Kalandan Then Sudinna, the Kalandaka's son, who had recently arrived in the assembly, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Sudinna, the Kalandaka's son, said to the Blessed One: "As I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy for one living in a household to lead the holy life perfectly complete, perfectly pure, like a polished conch shell. I wish, venerable sir, to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness. May the Blessed One ordain me!" "Are you, Sudinna, permitted by your parents to go forth from the household life into homelessness?" "No, venerable sir, I am not permitted by my parents to go forth from the household life into homelessness." "Sudinna, Tathāgatas do not ordain a son who is not permitted by his parents." "I will do so, venerable sir, that my parents will permit me to go forth from the household life into homelessness." 26. Then Sudinna, the Kalandaka's son, having completed his business in Vesālī, approached his parents in Kalandaka village. Having approached, he said to his parents: "Mother, father, as I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy for one living in a household to lead the holy life perfectly complete, perfectly pure, like a polished conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, to go forth from home into homelessness. Allow me to go forth from home into homelessness.” When this was said, Sudinna Kalandaputta’s parents said to Sudinna Kalandaputta: “You, dear Sudinna, are our only son, beloved and pleasing, raised in comfort, cared for in comfort. You, dear Sudinna, know nothing of suffering. Even by death, we would be separated from you unwillingly. How then could we allow you, while living, to go forth from home into homelessness?” A second time, Sudinna Kalandaputta said to his parents: “Mother and Father, as I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy, living at home, to lead the holy life completely perfect, completely pure, polished like a conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home into homelessness. Allow me to go forth from home into homelessness.” A second time, Sudinna Kalandaputta’s parents said to Sudinna Kalandaputta: “You, dear Sudinna, are our only son, beloved and pleasing, raised in comfort, cared for in comfort. You, dear Sudinna, know nothing of suffering. Even by death, we would be separated from you unwillingly. How then could we allow you, while living, to go forth from home into homelessness?” A third time, Sudinna Kalandaputta said to his parents: Mother and Father, as I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy for one living in a household to lead the holy life, perfectly complete, perfectly pure, like a polished conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness. Please allow me to go forth from the household life into homelessness. For the third time, Sudinna Kalandaka's parents said to Sudinna Kalandaka: "You, dear Sudinna, are our only son, beloved, charming, well-nourished, well-cared for. You, dear Sudinna, know nothing of suffering. Even by death, we would be separated from you against our will. How much less would we allow you, while living, to go forth from the household life into homelessness!" 27. Then Sudinna Kalandaka, [thinking] "My parents do not allow me to go forth from the household life into homelessness," lay down right there on the bare ground, [thinking] "Here will be my death, or my going forth." Then Sudinna Kalandaka did not eat one meal, nor two meals, nor three meals, nor four meals, nor five meals, nor six meals, nor seven meals. 28. Then Sudinna Kalandaka's parents said to Sudinna Kalandaka: "You, dear Sudinna, are our only son, Beloved, pleasing, Well-nurtured, well-cared for. You, dear Sudinna, Know nothing of suffering. Even by death, We shall be separated from you unwillingly. How then shall we allow you, While living, To go forth from home into homelessness? Arise, dear Sudinna, Eat and drink and enjoy yourself. Eating, drinking, enjoying, Indulging in sensual pleasures, Making merit, Delight yourself. We do not allow you To go forth from home into homelessness. When this was said, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son remained silent. A second time... And a third time, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son's parents Said this to Sudinna the Kalandaka's son: "You are, dear Sudinna, Our only son, Beloved, pleasing, Well-nurtured, well-cared for. You, dear Sudinna, Know nothing of suffering. Even by death, We shall be separated from you unwillingly. How then shall we allow you, While living, To go forth from home into homelessness? Arise, dear Sudinna, Eat and drink and enjoy yourself. Eating, drinking, enjoying, Indulging in sensual pleasures, Making merit, Delight yourself. We do not allow you To go forth from home into homelessness." A third time, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son remained silent. Then Sudinna the Kalandaka's son's friends Approached Sudinna the Kalandaka's son. Having approached, They said this to Sudinna the Kalandaka's son: "You are, friend S... Sudinna, you are your parents' only son, dear and beloved, well-nurtured, well-cared for. You, friend Sudinna, know nothing of suffering. Even by death your parents will be separated against their will. How then will they allow you, while living, to go forth from home to homelessness? Get up, friend Sudinna, eat and drink and enjoy yourself. Eating, drinking, enjoying yourself, indulging in pleasures, making merit, delight yourself. Your parents will not allow you to go forth from home to homelessness. When this was said, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son remained silent. A second time too, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son's friends said the same to Sudinna the Kalandaka's son. A second time too, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son remained silent. A third time too, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son's friends said the same to Sudinna the Kalandaka's son. A third time too, Sudinna the Kalandaka's son remained silent. 29. Then Sudinna the Kalandaka's son's friends went to Sudinna the Kalandaka's son's parents. Having approached, they said this to Sudinna the Kalandaka's son's parents: "Mother, Father, Sudinna is lying down on the bare ground, (thinking): 'Here will be my death, or my going forth.' If you do not allow Sudinna to go forth from home to homelessness, death will come to him right there. But if you do allow Sudinna to go forth from home to homelessness, you will see him even as one gone forth. If Sudinna does not delight in going forth from home to homelessness... come, what other destination will there be for him? He will return right here. Allow Sudinna to go forth from home to homelessness.” “We allow, dear son, Sudinna to go forth from home to homelessness.” Then Sudinna the Kalandaka’s friends approached Sudinna the Kalandaka. Having approached, they said to Sudinna the Kalandaka: “Get up, friend Sudinna, you have been allowed by your parents to go forth from home to homelessness.” 30. Then Sudinna the Kalandaka, thinking, “I have indeed been allowed by my parents to go forth from home to homelessness,” joyful and elated, wiping his limbs with his hands, got up. Then Sudinna the Kalandaka, having gained strength for a few days, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Sudinna the Kalandaka said to the Blessed One: “Venerable Sir, I have been allowed by my parents to go forth from home to homelessness. Let the Blessed One ordain me.” Sudinna the Kalandaka received the going forth from the Blessed One, he received the full ordination. Not long after his full ordination, Venerable Sudinna practiced such ascetic virtues: he was a forest dweller, an alms-gatherer, a rag-robe wearer, a house-to-house alms-goer, and he dwelled dependent on a certain Vajji village. Now at that time, Vajji was suffering from a famine, with two measures of rice. Now indeed the Vajji are in famine, two-year-famine, bone-white, like a stick; it is not easy to live by gleaning and gathering. Then it occurred to the Venerable Sudinna: "Now indeed the Vajji are in famine, two-year-famine, bone-white, like a stick; it is not easy to live by gleaning and gathering. Many indeed are my relatives in Vesālī, rich, greatly wealthy, greatly prosperous, with much gold and silver, with many possessions and implements, with much grain and corn. What if I were to live relying on my relatives!