English
by the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, are once-returners, having come to this world just once more, will make an end of suffering. More than five hundred, Ananda, lay followers in Nātika have passed away, by the destruction of the three fetters, are stream-enterers, not liable to fall into states of woe, assured, bound for full enlightenment. The Discourse on the Mirror of Dhamma. It is not surprising, Ananda, that a human being should pass away. When they have passed away, to approach the Tathagata and ask about this matter, that is a vexation, Ananda, for the Tathagata. Therefore, Ananda, the discourse called the Mirror of Dhamma... I will teach a mirror of Dhamma, a discourse on Dhamma, by which an noble disciple, if he wishes, can declare of himself: ‘Destroyed is hell, destroyed is the animal realm, destroyed is the realm of hungry ghosts, destroyed is the state of woe, the bad destination, the downfall. I am a Stream-Enterer, not subject to falling into states of woe, certain, bound for enlightenment.’ 159. “And what, Ananda, is that mirror of Dhamma, that discourse on Dhamma, by which an noble disciple, if he wishes, can declare of himself: ‘Destroyed is hell, destroyed is the animal realm, destroyed is the realm of hungry ghosts, destroyed is the state of woe, the bad destination, the downfall. I am a Stream-Enterer, not subject to falling into states of woe, certain, bound for enlightenment’? “Here, Ananda, the noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is Arahant, perfectly enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.’ “He is endowed with unwavering faith in the Dhamma: ‘The Dhamma is well-proclaimed by the Blessed One, visible here and now, timeless, inviting one to come and see, leading inwards, to be personally experienced by the wise.’ “He is endowed with unwavering faith in the Sangha: ‘The Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing well, the Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing uprightly, the Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing insightfully, the Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing dutifully; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight individual persons— this Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.’ “He is endowed with virtues dear to the noble ones, unbroken, untorn, unspotted, unblemished, liberating, praised by the wise, unclung to, leading to concentration. “This, Ananda, is that mirror of Dhamma, that discourse on Dhamma, by which an noble disciple, if he wishes, can declare of himself: ‘Destroyed is hell, destroyed is the animal realm, destroyed is the realm of hungry ghosts, destroyed is the state of woe, the bad destination, the downfall. I am a Stream-Enterer, not subject to falling into states of woe, certain, bound for enlightenment.’ whose final goal is the Deathless.” There, indeed, the Blessed One, while dwelling in Nātika, in the Giñjakāvasatha, repeatedly gave this Dhamma talk to the bhikkhus: “Such is virtue, such is concentration, such is wisdom. Concentration imbued with virtue is of great fruit, of great benefit. Wisdom imbued with concentration is of great fruit, of great benefit. The mind imbued with wisdom is completely liberated from the taints, namely, the taint of sensual desire, the taint of existence, the taint of ignorance.” 160. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Nātika as long as he wished, addressed Venerable Ānanda: “Come, Ānanda, let us go to Vesālī.” “Yes, Bhante,” replied Venerable Ānanda to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, together with a large community of bhikkhus, went to Vesālī. There, indeed, the Blessed One dwelt in Vesālī, in Ambapālī’s mango grove. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Mindful, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should dwell, fully aware. This is our instruction to you. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu mindful? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having put away covetousness and displeasure concerning the world. He dwells contemplating feelings in feelings… He dwells contemplating mind in mind… He dwells contemplating mental qualities in mental qualities, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having put away covetousness and displeasure concerning the world. That is how, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is mindful. “And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu fully aware? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu acts with full awareness when going forward and returning, he acts with full awareness when looking ahead and looking around, he acts with full awareness when bending and stretching, he acts with full awareness when wearing his robes and carrying his bowl, he acts with full awareness when eating, drinking, chewing, and tasting, he acts with full awareness when defecating and urinating, he acts with full awareness when walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, waking, speaking, and remaining silent. That is how, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is fully aware. Mindful, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should dwell mindful, this is our instruction to you. Ambapali the Courtesan 161. Ambapali the courtesan heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, has arrived at Vesali, and is dwelling in Vesali in my mango grove." Then Ambapali the courtesan had excellent vehicles prepared. She mounted an excellent vehicle, and set out from Vesali with excellent vehicles. She proceeded towards her own park. As far as the ground was suitable for a vehicle, she went by vehicle. Then she dismounted from the vehicle and went on foot to where the Blessed One was. Having approached, she saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To Ambapali the courtesan, seated to one side, the Blessed One instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened with a talk on Dhamma. Then Ambapali the courtesan, having been instructed, urged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on Dhamma, said to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, consent to take a meal from me tomorrow, together with the community of bhikkhus." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Ambapali the courtesan, knowing the Blessed One's consent, rose from her seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him with her right side towards him, and departed. The Licchavis of Vesali heard: "The Blessed One, it is said, has arrived at Vesali, and is dwelling in Vesali in Ambapali's mango grove." Then those Licchavis had excellent vehicles prepared. They mounted excellent vehicles, and set out from Vesali with excellent vehicles. There, some Licchavis were blue, of blue color, with blue garments, with blue ornaments. Some Licchavis were yellow, of yellow color, with yellow garments, with yellow ornaments. Some Licchavis were red, of red color, with red garments, with red ornaments. Some Licchavis were white, of white color, with white garments, with white ornaments. Then Ambapali the courtesan for the young, young Licchavis axle to axle, wheel to wheel, yoke to yoke, she crossed paths. Then those Licchavis said to Ambapālī, the courtesan: "Why, dear Ambapālī, do you turn axle against axle, wheel against wheel, yoke against yoke, with young Licchavis, young Licchavis?" "Indeed, my lords, the Blessed One has been invited by me for tomorrow's meal, together with the Sangha of bhikkhus." "Give us, dear Ambapālī, that meal for a hundred thousand!" "Even if, my lords, you were to give me the whole of Vesālī with its revenue, I would not give up that meal." Then those Licchavis snapped their fingers, saying: "Indeed, sirs, we are defeated by Ambapālī! Indeed, sirs, we are defeated by Ambapālī!" Then those Licchavis drove on towards Ambapālī's mango grove. The Blessed One saw those Licchavis approaching from afar. Seeing them, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, for those bhikkhus who have never seen the Tāvatiṃsa gods, look, bhikkhus, at the assembly of Licchavis! Observe, bhikkhus, the assembly of Licchavis! Compare, bhikkhus, the assembly of Licchavis to the Tāvatiṃsa gods!" Then those Licchavis, as far as the ground was suitable for carriages, went by carriage, then dismounted from their carriages, and on foot approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One, and sat down to one side. As those Licchavis sat to one side, the Blessed One instructed, inspired, roused, and gladdened them with a talk on Dhamma. Then those Licchavis, having been instructed, inspired, roused, and gladdened by the Blessed One's talk on Dhamma, said to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, sir, consent to our meal for tomorrow, together with the Sangha of bhikkhus." Then the Blessed One Then those Licchavīs said to him: “I have accepted, Licchavīs, a meal for tomorrow from Ambapālī the courtesan.” Then those Licchavīs snapped their fingers: “We are defeated, alas, by Ambakā! We are defeated, alas, by Ambakā!” Then those Licchavīs, having rejoiced in and approved of the Blessed One’s words, rose from their seats, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. 162. Then Ambapālī the courtesan, when that night had passed, had excellent hard and soft food prepared in her own park, and sent word to the Blessed One: “It is time, Bhante, the meal is ready.” Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, went with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus to the dwelling of Ambapālī the courtesan; having gone there, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then Ambapālī the courtesan personally served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft food. Then Ambapālī the courtesan, when the Blessed One had eaten and removed his hand from the bowl, took a low seat and sat down to one side.