English
a moonlit night, all the sāla trees are in full bloom, divine, I think, are the fragrances that waft; "Of what sort, friend Anuruddha, should a monk be to illuminate the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood?" "Here, friend Sāriputta, a monk with the divine eye, purified and surpassing human, surveys a thousand worlds. Just as, friend Sāriputta, a keen-sighted man, standing on the top of a palace, might survey a thousand wheel-rims; even so, friend Sāriputta, a monk with the divine eye, purified and surpassing human, surveys a thousand worlds. Of such a sort, friend Sāriputta, should a monk be to illuminate the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood." 336. When this was said, Venerable Sāriputta said to Venerable Mahākassapa: "Venerable Anuruddha, friend Kassapa, has declared his own insight. Now we ask Venerable Mahākassapa: 'Delightful, friend Kassapa, is the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood, it is a moonlit night, all the sāla trees are in full bloom, divine scents, I think, are wafting; of what sort, friend Kassapa, should a monk be to illuminate the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood?'" "Here, friend Sāriputta, a monk is himself a forest-dweller and praises forest-dwelling; is himself an alms-food eater and praises alms-food eating; is himself a rag-robe wearer and praises rag-robe wearing; is himself a three-robe wearer and praises three-robe wearing; is himself of few wishes and praises having few wishes; is himself content and praises contentment; is himself secluded and praises seclusion; is himself unentangled and praises non-entanglement; is himself of aroused energy and praises the arousal of energy; is himself accomplished in virtue and praises accomplishment in virtue; is himself accomplished in concentration and praises accomplishment in concentration; is himself accomplished in wisdom and praises accomplishment in wisdom; is himself accomplished in liberation and praises accomplishment in liberation. One who speaks of knowledge, and himself is endowed with the knowledge and vision of liberation, and speaks in praise of the attainment of the knowledge and vision of liberation. Indeed, friend Sāriputta, a monk of such a kind would illuminate the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood." When this was said, Venerable Sāriputta said to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Indeed, friend Moggallāna, Venerable Mahākassapa has declared his own spontaneous thought. Now we ask Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: 'Delightful, friend Moggallāna, is the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood, the moonlit night, all the sāla trees are in full bloom, divine fragrances, I think, are wafting; by what kind of monk, friend Moggallāna, would the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood be illuminated?'" "Here, friend Sāriputta, two monks discuss the Abhidhamma, they ask each other questions, being asked questions by each other, they answer, and do not falter, and their discussion proceeds according to the Dhamma. Indeed, friend Sāriputta, a monk of such a kind would illuminate the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood." Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said to Venerable Sāriputta: "Indeed, friend Sāriputta, all of us have declared our own spontaneous thoughts. Now we ask Venerable Sāriputta: 'Delightful, friend Sāriputta, is the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood, the moonlit night, all the sāla trees are in full bloom, divine fragrances, I think, are wafting; by what kind of monk, friend Sāriputta, would the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood be illuminated?'" "Here, friend Moggallāna, a monk masters his mind, and the monk is not mastered by his mind. Whatever attainment of dwelling he wishes to dwell in during the forenoon, he dwells in that attainment of dwelling during the forenoon; whatever attainment of dwelling he wishes to dwell in during midday, he dwells in that attainment of dwelling during midday; By whichever attainment of dwelling he wishes to dwell in the evening, by that attainment of dwelling he dwells in the evening. Just as, friend Moggallāna, for a king or a royal minister, there might be a basket full of cloths of various colors. Whichever pair of cloths he might wish to wear in the forenoon, that very pair of cloths he would wear in the forenoon; whichever pair of cloths he might wish to wear at midday, that very pair of cloths he would wear at midday; whichever pair of cloths he might wish to wear in the evening, that very pair of cloths he would wear in the evening. Even so, friend Moggallāna, a monk controls his mind, and the monk is not controlled by his mind. So by whichever attainment of dwelling he wishes to dwell in the forenoon, by that attainment of dwelling he dwells in the forenoon; by whichever attainment of dwelling he wishes to dwell at midday, by that attainment of dwelling he dwells at midday; by whichever attainment of dwelling he wishes to dwell in the evening, by that attainment of dwelling he dwells in the evening. Indeed, friend Moggallāna, a monk of such a kind would illuminate the Gosinga Sāla-tree Wood. 339. Then indeed, Venerable Sāriputta said to those venerable ones: ‘Indeed, friends, we have all declared our respective insights. Come, friends, let us approach the Blessed One; having approached, we will report this matter to the Blessed One. As the Blessed One declares to us, so shall we remember it.’ ‘Yes, friend,’ those venerable ones replied to Venerable Sāriputta. Then indeed, those venerable ones approached the Blessed One; having approached, they saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Venerable Sāriputta then said to the Blessed One: ‘I saw, venerable sir, Venerable and the venerable Revata, and the venerable Ānanda, coming from afar. Seeing the venerable Ānanda, I said to him: ‘Come, venerable Ānanda! Welcome, venerable Ānanda, attendant of the Blessed One, one who dwells near the Blessed One! Delightful, friend Ānanda, is the Gosiṅga Sāla-wood. The night is moonlit. All the sāla trees are in full bloom. Divine fragrances, it seems, are wafting about. By what kind of monk, friend Ānanda, would the Gosiṅga Sāla-wood be adorned?’ When this was said, venerable sir, the venerable Ānanda said to me: ‘Here, friend Sāriputta, a monk is learned, a preserver of what he has heard… …for the uprooting of underlying tendencies. By such a monk, friend Sāriputta, would the Gosiṅga Sāla-wood be adorned.’” “Excellent, excellent, Sāriputta! Just as Ānanda himself would correctly explain, so he has explained. For Ānanda, Sāriputta, is learned, a preserver of what he has heard, a storehouse of what he has heard. Those teachings that are beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle, beautiful in the end, with meaning and with letter, proclaiming the utterly complete and purified holy life— such teachings are well-learned by him, well-retained, familiarized by speech, contemplated by mind, and well-penetrated by view. He teaches the Dhamma to the four assemblies with well-rounded words and phrases, without interruption, for the uprooting of underlying tendencies.” 340. “When this was said, venerable sir, I said to the venerable Revata: ‘The venerable Ānanda, friend Revata, has explained according to his own insight. Now we ask the venerable Revata: Delightful, friend Revata, is the Gosiṅga Sāla-wood. The night is moonlit. All the sāla trees are in full bloom. Divine fragrances, it seems, are wafting about. By what kind of monk, friend Revata, would the Gosiṅga Sāla-wood be adorned?’ When this was said, venerable sir, the venerable Revata said to me: ‘Here, friend Sāriputta, a monk is devoted to seclusion, delights in seclusion, committed to the calming of mind within, not neglectful of jhāna, endowed with insight…” is devoted to seclusion, delights in seclusion, is committed to the calming of his own mind, has not abandoned jhāna, is endowed with insight, and is one who makes empty dwellings flourish. It is with such a monk, friend Sāriputta, that the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood would shine.’’ ‘‘Excellent, excellent, Sāriputta! Just as Revata himself would correctly explain. For Revata, Sāriputta, is devoted to seclusion, delights in seclusion, is committed to the calming of his own mind, has not abandoned jhāna, is endowed with insight, and is one who makes empty dwellings flourish.’’ 341. ‘‘When this was said, venerable sir, I said to Venerable Anuruddha: ‘Venerable Revata has explained, friend Anuruddha, …(as before)… With what kind of monk, friend Anuruddha, would the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood shine?’ When this was said, venerable sir, Venerable Anuruddha said to me: ‘Here, friend Sāriputta, a monk surveys a thousand worlds with the divine eye, purified and surpassing human sight. Just as, friend Sāriputta, a keen-sighted man… …(as before)… It is with such a monk, friend Sāriputta, that the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood would shine.’’ ‘‘Excellent, excellent, Sāriputta! Just as Anuruddha himself would correctly explain. For Anuruddha, Sāriputta, surveys a thousand worlds with the divine eye, purified and surpassing human sight.’’ 342. ‘‘When this was said, venerable sir, I said to Venerable Mahākassapa: ‘Venerable Anuruddha has explained, friend Kassapa, according to his own inspiration. Now we ask Venerable Mahākassapa… …(as before)… With what kind of monk, friend Kassapa, would the Gosiṅga Sāla-tree Wood shine?’ When this was said, venerable sir, Venerable Mahākassapa said to me: ‘Here, friend Sāriputta, a monk himself is a forest-dweller and praises forest-dwelling; he himself is an alms-gatherer …(as before)… he himself is a rag-robe wearer …(as before)… he himself is a three-robe wearer …(as before)… he himself is of few wishes …(as before)… he himself is content …(as before)… he himself is secluded …(as before)… he himself is unentangled… ...he himself is energetic... ...he himself is endowed with virtue... ...he himself is endowed with concentration... ...he himself is endowed with wisdom... ...he himself is endowed with liberation... ...he himself is endowed with knowledge and vision of liberation, and he praises the knowledge and vision of liberation.