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5. The Chapter on Leather 147. The Story of Soṇa Koḷivisa 242. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling in Rājagaha, on Gijjhakūṭa mountain. At that time, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha was ruling over eighty thousand villages with power and dominion. At that time, in Campā, there was a delicate young man named Soṇa Koḷivisa, the son of a wealthy merchant. Hairs had grown on the soles of his feet. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having gathered those eighty thousand village headmen for some purpose, sent a messenger to Soṇa Koḷivisa, saying: "Let Soṇa come; I wish for Soṇa's arrival." Then Soṇa Koḷivisa's parents said to Soṇa Koḷivisa: "The king, dear Soṇa, wishes to see your feet. Do not, dear Soṇa, stretch out your feet towards the king. Sit cross-legged in front of the king. The king will see your feet while you are seated." Then Soṇa Koḷivisa was brought in a palanquin. Then Soṇa Koḷivisa approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and having approached, he saluted King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha and sat cross-legged in front of the king. King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha saw the hairs grown on the soles of Soṇa Koḷivisa's feet. Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, having instructed those eighty thousand village headmen in matters pertaining to this world, dismissed them, saying: "You, sirs, have been instructed by me in matters pertaining to this world; go, attend upon that Blessed One; that Blessed One will instruct us in matters pertaining to the next world." Then those eighty thousand village headmen approached Gijjhakūṭa mountain. At that time, Venerable Sāgata was the attendant of the Blessed One. Then those eighty thousand village headmen approached Venerable Sāgata, and having approached, they said to Venerable Sāgata: They said – "These eighty thousand villagers, venerable sir, have come here to see the Blessed One. It would be good, venerable sir, if we could see the Blessed One." "Then, venerable sirs, you stay here for a moment, while I inform the Blessed One." Then, indeed, Venerable Sāgata, in front of those eighty thousand villagers, as they watched, plunged into the water, and emerged in front of the Blessed One, and said this to the Blessed One: "These eighty thousand villagers, venerable sir, have come here to see the Blessed One. Now, venerable sir, the Blessed One may do as he sees fit." "Then, Sāgata, arrange a seat in the shade behind the monastery." "Yes, venerable sir," Venerable Sāgata replied to the Blessed One, took a stool, plunged into the water in front of the Blessed One, and emerged from the water in front of those eighty thousand villagers, as they watched, and arranged a seat in the shade behind the monastery. Then the Blessed One came out of the monastery, and sat down on the seat arranged in the shade behind the monastery. Then those eighty thousand villagers approached the Blessed One, and having approached, paid homage to the Blessed One, and sat down to one side. Then those eighty thousand villagers were focused only on Venerable Sāgata, not so much on the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, knowing with his mind the thoughts in the minds of those eighty thousand villagers, addressed Venerable Sāgata: "Then, Sāgata, display a superhuman feat of psychic power even more wonderfully." "Yes, venerable sir," Venerable Sāgata replied to the Blessed One, rose into the air, and in the sky, in space, he walked, he stood, he sat, he lay down, he emitted smoke, he blazed, he vanished. Then Venerable Sāgata, in the sky, in space, displayed various kinds of superhuman psychic power... Having shown the psychic power, having fallen with his head at the feet of the Blessed One, he said this to the Blessed One: "My teacher, venerable sir, is the Blessed One; I am a disciple. My teacher, venerable sir, is the Blessed One; I am a disciple." Then those eighty thousand villagers (exclaimed): "Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how amazing! A disciple, indeed, will be so mighty in power, so great in majesty, how much more so the Teacher!" They focused their attention on the Blessed One, and not so much on Venerable Sāgata. Then the Blessed One, knowing the thoughts and reflections in the minds of those eighty thousand villagers, gave a gradual discourse, that is: a talk on giving, a talk on virtue, a talk on heaven, the danger, degradation, and defilement of sensual pleasures, and he expounded the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew them to have ready minds, soft minds, minds free from hindrances, uplifted minds, confident minds, then he expounded the teaching that is the special teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth, free from stains, perfectly absorbs dye, even so, for those eighty thousand villagers, right there on that seat, the dust-free, stain-free Eye of Dhamma arose: "Whatever is subject to arising, all that is subject to cessation." Having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, penetrated the Dhamma, having crossed over doubt, having shed perplexity, having gained confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's Dispensation, they said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable sir! Excellent, venerable sir! Just as, venerable sir, one might set upright what was overturned, or reveal what was hidden, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see forms, even so has the Dhamma been made clear by the Blessed One in many ways. We, venerable sir, go for refuge to the Blessed One. To the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember us as lay followers who have taken refuge from this day forth as long as life lasts." gone into debt.” Soṇa's Going Forth 243. Then it occurred to Soṇa Koḷivisa: “As I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy to live the holy life in its entirety, in its purity, like a polished conch shell, while dwelling in a home. What if I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home into homelessness?” Then those eighty thousand village headmen, having delighted in and approved of the Blessed One’s words, rose from their seats, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Then, not long after those eighty thousand village headmen had departed, Soṇa Koḷivisa approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Soṇa Koḷivisa said to the Blessed One: “As I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, venerable sir, it is not easy to live the holy life in its entirety, in its purity, like a polished conch shell, while dwelling in a home. I wish, venerable sir, to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home into homelessness. May the Blessed One give me the going forth, venerable sir.” Soṇa Koḷivisa received the going forth from the Blessed One; he received the full ordination. Not long after his full ordination, Venerable Soṇa was dwelling in Sītavana. As he was walking with excessive effort, his feet became broken. The walking path was covered with blood, just like a slaughterhouse. [From here until the end of this story, the text is similar to A.N. 6.55 onwards.] Then, as Venerable Soṇa was alone, in seclusion, this thought arose in his mind: “Among the Blessed One’s disciples who dwell with aroused energy, I am one of them. Yet my mind is not liberated from the taints without clinging. I have wealth in my family; it is possible to enjoy wealth and to perform meritorious deeds. to do. What if I were to revert to a lower state, enjoy my possessions, and do good deeds?” Then the Blessed One, knowing the thought in the mind of Venerable Soṇa, just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm, vanished from Vulture Peak mountain and appeared in Sītavana. Then the Blessed One, accompanied by many monks, wandering for alms, approached the walking path of Venerable Soṇa. The Blessed One saw Venerable Soṇa’s walking path splattered with blood. Seeing it, he addressed the monks: “Whose walking path is this, monks, splattered with blood, like a slaughterhouse?” “Venerable Soṇa’s, sir. As he walked with excessive effort, his feet broke. That is why his walking path is splattered with blood, like a slaughterhouse.” Then the Blessed One approached Venerable Soṇa’s dwelling, and having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Venerable Soṇa, too, bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To Venerable Soṇa, sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this: “Did not this thought arise in your mind, Soṇa, when you were alone and secluded: ‘Among all the disciples of the Blessed One who dwell with aroused effort, I am one of them. Yet my mind is not liberated from the defilements without clinging. Indeed, there are possessions in my family; it is possible to enjoy possessions and to do good deeds. What if I were to revert to a lower state, enjoy my possessions, and do good deeds’?” “Yes, sir.” “What do you think, Soṇa, were you skilled in the sound of the lute strings when you were formerly a householder?” “Yes, sir.” “What do you think, Soṇa, when the strings of your lute were too taut, was your lute at that time melodious or playable?” “No, sir.” “What do you think, Soṇa, when your the strings of the lute are too slack, would that lute at that time be resonant, or playable?” “No, venerable sir.” “What do you think, Soṇa, when the strings of your lute are neither too taut nor too slack, established in even tension, would that lute at that time be resonant, or playable?” “Yes, venerable sir.” “Even so, Soṇa, over-exerted energy leads to agitation; over-lax energy leads to laziness. Therefore, Soṇa, establish an evenness of energy, and penetrate the evenness of the faculties, and there take up the sign.” “Yes, venerable sir,”