English
“What do you think, Anuruddha, seeing what purpose does the Tathāgata declare the destinations of disciples who have passed away and died – ‘Such a one is reborn there; such a one is reborn there’?” “For us, Venerable Sir, the teachings have the Blessed One as their root, the Blessed One as their guide, the Blessed One as their refuge. It would be good, Venerable Sir, if the Blessed One himself would clarify the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will remember it.” “Indeed, Anuruddha, the Tathāgata does not declare the destinations of disciples who have passed away and died – ‘Such a one is reborn there, such a one is reborn there’ – for the purpose of deceiving people, nor for flattering people, nor for the sake of gain, honor, or fame, nor thinking ‘May people know me thus.’ But there are, Anuruddha, faithful young men of good family, who are greatly inspired, greatly gladdened. Having heard that, they apply their minds to that purpose. For them, that , Anuruddha, it is for long-term welfare and happiness.'' 169. Here, Anuruddha, a monk hears: 'A certain monk has passed away; he was declared by the Blessed One to be established in final knowledge.' That venerable one he himself has either seen or heard about. 'Such was that venerable one's virtue, such was his Dhamma, such was his wisdom, such was his abiding, such was his liberation.' Recalling his faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. In this way too, Anuruddha, a monk dwells at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a monk hears: 'A certain monk has passed away; he was declared by the Blessed One to be reborn spontaneously, there to attain final Nibbāna, never to return from that world, through the destruction of the five lower fetters.' That venerable one he himself has either seen or heard about. 'Such was that venerable one's virtue, such was his Dhamma, such was his wisdom, such was his abiding, such was his liberation.' Recalling his faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. In this way too, Anuruddha, a monk dwells at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a monk hears: 'A certain monk has passed away; he was declared by the Blessed One to be a once-returner, having once more come to this world, he will make an end of suffering, through the destruction of three fetters and the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion.' That venerable one he himself has either seen or heard about. 'Such was that venerable one's virtue, such was his Dhamma, such was his wisdom, such was his abiding, such was his liberation.' Recalling his faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. In this way too, Anuruddha, a monk dwells at ease. He dwells at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a monk hears: 'A monk named so-and-so has passed away; he was declared by the Blessed One: "With the destruction of three fetters, he is a stream-enterer, not subject to falling, certain, bound for full enlightenment."' That venerable one was either seen by him personally or heard about by report – 'Such was that venerable one's virtue, such was his Dhamma... such was his wisdom... such was his abiding... such was his liberation.' Recalling his faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. Thus, Anuruddha, a monk dwells at ease. 170. Here, Anuruddha, a nun hears: 'A nun named so-and-so has passed away; she was declared by the Blessed One: "She stood firm in final knowledge."' That sister was either seen by her personally or heard about by report – 'Such was that sister's virtue, such was her Dhamma, such was her wisdom, such was her abiding, such was her liberation.' Recalling her faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that goal. Thus, Anuruddha, a nun dwells at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a nun hears: 'A nun named so-and-so has passed away; she was declared by the Blessed One: "With the destruction of the five lower fetters, she is an apparitional rebirth, there attaining final Nibbāna, not returning from that world."' That sister was either seen by her personally or heard about by report – 'Such was that sister's virtue, such was her Dhamma... such was her wisdom... such was her abiding... such was her liberation.' Recalling her faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that goal. Thus, Anuruddha, a nun dwells at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a nun hears: 'A nun named so-and-so she has passed away; she was declared by the Blessed One to be a once-returner, having destroyed three fetters, with lust, hatred, and delusion attenuated, who will come back to this world just once and make an end of suffering.’ That sister of his he himself has either seen or heard about by report: ‘Such was that sister in virtue, such in Dhamma… such in wisdom… such in dwelling… such in liberation.’ Recalling her faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. Thus too, Anuruddha, a bhikkhuni dwells at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a bhikkhuni hears: ‘A bhikkhuni named so-and-so has passed away; she was declared by the Blessed One to be a stream-enterer, having destroyed three fetters, not subject to falling into states of woe, certain of liberation, bound for enlightenment.’ That sister of his he himself has either seen or heard about by report: ‘Such was that sister in virtue, such in Dhamma… such in wisdom… such in dwelling… such in liberation.’ Recalling her faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. Thus too, Anuruddha, a bhikkhuni dwells at ease. 171. Here, Anuruddha, a lay follower hears: ‘A lay follower named so-and-so has passed away; he was declared by the Blessed One to be an anāgāmī, having destroyed the five lower fetters, one who arises spontaneously, there to attain final Nibbāna, not liable to return from that world.’ That venerable one he himself has either seen or heard about by report: ‘Such was that venerable one in virtue, such was that venerable one in Dhamma, such was that venerable one in wisdom, such was that venerable one in dwelling, such was that venerable one in liberation.’ Recalling his faith, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. Thus too, Anuruddha, a lay follower dwells at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a lay follower hears: ‘A lay follower named so-and-so a certain lay follower has passed away; he was declared by the Blessed One – with the destruction of three fetters, with the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, he is a once-returner, having come to this world just once more, he will make an end of suffering. That venerable one was seen by him personally or heard about by report – ‘Such was the virtue of that venerable one, such was his Dhamma, such was his wisdom, such was his abiding, such was his liberation.’ Recalling his faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. Thus, Anuruddha, a lay follower abides at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a lay follower hears – ‘a certain lay follower has passed away; he was declared by the Blessed One – with the destruction of three fetters, he is a stream-enterer, not subject to falling, assured, bound for full enlightenment.’ That venerable one was seen by him personally or heard about by report – ‘Such was the virtue of that venerable one, such was his Dhamma, such was his wisdom, such was his abiding, such was his liberation.’ Recalling his faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, he applies his mind to that goal. Thus, Anuruddha, a lay follower abides at ease. 172. Here, Anuruddha, a lay woman hears – ‘a certain lay woman has passed away; she was declared by the Blessed One – with the destruction of the five lower fetters, she is a spontaneously reborn one, attaining final Nibbāna there, not to return from that world.’ That sister was seen by her personally or heard about by report – ‘Such was the virtue of that sister, such was her Dhamma, such was her wisdom, such was her abiding, such was her liberation.’ Recalling her faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that goal. Thus, Anuruddha, a lay woman abides at ease. Here, Anuruddha, a lay woman hears – ‘a certain lay woman has passed away; she was declared by the Blessed One – with the destruction of three fetters by the destruction of the fetters, by the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, a once-returner, having come to this world just once, will make an end of suffering. That sister of his was seen by him personally or heard of by report: 'That sister was thus in conduct, thus in Dhamma, thus in wisdom, thus in abiding, thus in liberation.' She, remembering her faith, conduct, learning, generosity, and wisdom, applies her mind to that goal. Thus too, Anuruddha, is a comfortable abiding for a female lay follower. Here, Anuruddha, a female lay follower hears: 'A certain female lay follower has passed away; she was declared by the Blessed One by the destruction of the three fetters, a stream-enterer, not subject to falling, certain, with enlightenment as her destination.' That sister of hers was seen by her personally or heard of by report: 'That sister was thus in conduct, thus in Dhamma, thus in wisdom, thus in abiding, thus in liberation.' She, remembering her faith, conduct, learning, generosity, and wisdom, applies her mind to that goal. Thus too, Anuruddha, is a comfortable abiding for a female lay follower. Thus, Anuruddha, the Tathagata does not declare the destination of disciples who have passed away, for the sake of deceiving people, or for the sake of flattering people, or for the sake of gain, honor, and renown, or thinking, 'May people know me thus': 'So-and-so has been reborn there, so-and-so has been reborn there.' But there are, Anuruddha, noble sons who are faithful, with great joy, with great delight. They, having heard that, apply their minds to that goal.