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Without approving, without rejecting, those words and phrases should be carefully learned, and applied to the Suttas, and shown in the Vinaya. If, when applied to the Suttas, when shown in the Vinaya, they do not fit into the Suttas, nor do they appear in the Vinaya, then this conclusion should be reached: ‘Certainly, this is not the word of the Blessed One; and it is ill-grasped by that elder.’ Therefore, monks, you should reject it. you should go. And if, when put to the Suttas, and compared with the Vinaya, they fit the Suttas, and agree with the Vinaya, then you should conclude: ‘Indeed, this is the word of the Blessed One; and that elder has grasped it well.’ This, monks, is the fourth Great Authority you should bear in mind. These, monks, are the four Great Authorities you should bear in mind.” And there, too, the Blessed One, while staying in Bhoganagara, at the Ananda Shrine, often gave this discourse to the monks: “Such is virtue, such is concentration, such is wisdom. Concentration, when imbued with virtue, is of great fruit, of great benefit. Wisdom, when imbued with concentration, is of great fruit, of great benefit. The mind, when imbued with wisdom, is completely liberated from the defilements, namely, from the defilement of sensuality, from the defilement of existence, from the defilement of ignorance.” The Story of Cunda, the Smith’s Son 189. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Bhoganagara as long as he wished, addressed Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Pava.” “Yes, venerable sir,” Venerable Ananda replied to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, together with a large community of monks, arrived at Pava. And there the Blessed One stayed in Pava, in the mango grove of Cunda, the smith’s son. Cunda, the smith’s son, heard: “Indeed, the Blessed One has arrived at Pava, and is staying in Pava, in my mango grove.” Then Cunda, the smith’s son, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. The Blessed One instructed, inspired, encouraged, and gladdened Cunda, the smith’s son, who was sitting to one side, with a discourse on the Dhamma. Then Cunda, the smith’s son, having been instructed, inspired, encouraged, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a discourse on the Dhamma, said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, may the Blessed One accept my meal for tomorrow, together with the community of monks.” The Blessed One accepted by remaining silent. Then indeed, Cunda, the smith's son, having known the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise, and departed. Then indeed, Cunda, the smith's son, on the passing of that night, in his own dwelling, had excellent hard and soft food prepared, and abundant soft pork, and announced the time to the Blessed One: "It is time, Bhante, the meal is ready." Then indeed, the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, together with the community of bhikkhus, went to Cunda the smith's son's dwelling; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Having sat down indeed, the Blessed One addressed Cunda, the smith's son: "Whatever soft pork, Cunda, you have prepared, serve me with that. And whatever other hard and soft food you have prepared, serve the community of bhikkhus with that." "Yes, Bhante," indeed, Cunda, the smith's son, having assented to the Blessed One, with whatever soft pork had been prepared, served the Blessed One. And with whatever other hard and soft food had been prepared, he served the community of bhikkhus. Then indeed, the Blessed One addressed Cunda, the smith's son: "Whatever soft pork, Cunda, is left over, bury it in a pit. I do not see, Cunda, in this world with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, among this generation with its recluses and brahmins, its devas and humans, anyone for whom, if consumed, it would properly digest, apart from the Tathāgata." "Yes, Bhante," indeed, Cunda, the smith's son, having assented to the Blessed One, whatever soft pork was left over, having buried it in a pit, went to where the Blessed One was; having approached, having saluted the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Having sat to one side indeed, Cunda, the smith's son, the Blessed One, with a talk on Dhamma, having instructed, having inspired, having roused, having gladdened him, rose from his seat and departed. 190. Then indeed, the Blessed One's meal from Cunda, the smith's son. After eating, a severe illness arose, bloody dysentery, violent pains were present, leading to death. These the Blessed One endured, mindful and clearly comprehending, without being distressed. Then the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: “Come, Ānanda, let us go to Kusinārā.” “Yes, Bhante,” Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. Having eaten Cunda’s meal, the smith’s, so I have heard; the wise one was afflicted by an illness, violent, leading to death. After eating the pig’s soft food, a severe illness arose for the Teacher; the Blessed One, purging, said, “I am going to the city of Kusinārā.” Bringing Water Then the Blessed One turned aside from the road and went to a certain tree root; having gone there, he addressed Venerable Ānanda: “Come, Ānanda, spread out my four-fold robe for me, I am weary, Ānanda, I will sit down.” “Yes, Bhante,” Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and spread out the four-fold robe. The Blessed One sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: “Come, Ānanda, bring me water, I am thirsty, Ānanda, I will drink.” When this was said, Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “Just now, Bhante, five hundred carts have passed by, that water, cut up by the wheels, is little, stirred up, turbid, flowing. This Kakudhā River, Bhante, is not far away, with clear water, pleasant water, cool water, white water, with good fords, delightful. There the Blessed One can drink water, and cool his body.” A second time the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: “Come, Ānanda, bring me water, I am thirsty, Ānanda, I will drink.” A second time Venerable Ānanda said this: "Now, venerable sir, five hundred carts have passed by. That water, cut by wheels, is little, disturbed, and turbid. This Kakudhā River, venerable sir, is not far away, with clear water, pleasant water, cool water, white water, with good banks, and delightful. There, the Blessed One can drink water and cool his limbs." For a third time, the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: "Come, Ānanda, bring me water. I am thirsty, Ānanda, I will drink." "Yes, venerable sir," Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, took the bowl, and went to that stream. Then that stream, cut by wheels, little, disturbed, and turbid, as Venerable Ānanda approached, flowed clear, serene, and unturbid. Then it occurred to Venerable Ānanda: "It is wonderful, indeed, sirs! It is amazing, indeed, sirs! The great power and might of the Tathāgata! For this stream, cut by wheels, little, disturbed, and turbid, as I approached, flows clear, serene, and unturbid." Taking water in the bowl, he went to the Blessed One; having approached, he said to the Blessed One: "It is wonderful, venerable sir! It is amazing, venerable sir! The great power and might of the Tathāgata! Just now, venerable sir, that stream, cut by wheels, little, disturbed, and turbid, as I approached, flowed clear, serene, and unturbid. Let the Blessed One drink water! Let the Sugata drink water!" Then the Blessed One drank the water. The Story of Pukkusa the Malla's Son 192. Now at that time, Pukkusa the Malla's son, a disciple of Āḷāra Kālāma, was traveling on the road from Kusinārā to Pāvā. Pukkusa the Malla's son saw the Blessed One seated at the root of a certain tree. Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Pukkusa the Mallian son said this to the Blessed One: "Wonderful, venerable sir! Amazing, venerable sir! Truly, venerable sir, ascetics dwell in a peaceful dwelling. Once upon a time, venerable sir, Alara Kalama, while walking on a road, turned off the road and sat down for a day's abiding not far from a certain tree. Then, venerable sir, about five hundred carts passed by Alara Kalama, one after another. Then, venerable sir, a certain man coming from behind that caravan of carts approached Alara Kalama; having approached, he said to Alara Kalama: ‘Venerable sir, did you see about five hundred carts pass by?’" ‘Indeed, friend, I did not see them.’" ‘But venerable sir, did you hear a sound?’" ‘Indeed, friend, I did not hear a sound.’" ‘But venerable sir, were you asleep?’" ‘Indeed, friend, I was not asleep.’" ‘But venerable sir, were you conscious?’" ‘Yes, friend.’" ‘So you, venerable sir, being conscious and awake, when about five hundred carts passed by, one after another, neither saw them nor heard a sound; and yet, venerable sir, your outer robe is covered with dust?’" ‘Yes, friend.’" Then, venerable sir, that man thought: ‘Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how amazing! Truly, ascetics dwell in a peaceful dwelling. For indeed, being conscious and awake, when about five hundred carts passed by, one after another, he neither saw them nor heard a sound!’" Having expressed great admiration for Alara Kalama, he departed." "What do you think, Pukkusa? Which is more difficult or harder to achieve— he who, being conscious and awake, when about five hundred carts pass by, one after another, neither sees them nor hears a sound; or he who, being conscious..." being awake, when the sky rains, when the sky thunders, when lightning flashes, when a thunderbolt strikes, would neither see nor hear the sound? What, venerable sir, would they do five hundred carts, or six hundred carts, or seven hundred carts, or eight hundred carts, or nine hundred carts, or a thousand carts, or a hundred thousand carts?