English
9. The Connected Discourses on the Forest 1. Discourse on Solitude 221. Thus have I heard: On one occasion a certain bhikkhu was living among the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now on that occasion, having gone for his day’s abiding, that bhikkhu was dwelling on evil unwholesome thoughts connected with household life. Then the deity who inhabited that forest grove, out of compassion for that bhikkhu, desiring his welfare, wanting to stir him, approached that bhikkhu; having approached, she addressed that bhikkhu with verses: “You desire solitude, Entered the forest, Yet your mind strays outside; Restrain your desire for people among people, Then you will be happy, free from passion. “Abandon discontent, be mindful, we remind you of mindfulness; The dust of the abyss is hard to cross, let not the dust of sensual desire carry you away. “As a bird covered in dust, Shakes off the clinging dust; So a monk, diligent and mindful, Shakes off the clinging dust.” Then that bhikkhu, stirred by that deity, experienced a sense of urgency. 2. Discourse on Attentiveness 222. On one occasion a certain bhikkhu was living among the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now on that occasion, having gone for his day’s abiding, that bhikkhu was sleeping. Then the deity who inhabited that forest grove, out of compassion for that bhikkhu, desiring his welfare, wanting to stir him, approached that bhikkhu; having approached, she addressed that bhikkhu with verses: “Arise, monk, why do you sleep? What is the purpose of your sleep? What sleep is there for one afflicted, suffering from a dart? “The faith by which you went forth, From home to homelessness; Cultivate that very faith, Do not fall under the sway of sleep.” “Impermanent, unstable are sensual pleasures, In which the foolish are infatuated; Bound to excrement and urine, Why did you go forth?” Alas! From the removal of desire-passion, From the overcoming of ignorance; That knowledge is utterly pure, Why should the renunciant be tormented? Having cut off ignorance with wisdom, From the destruction of the taints; Sorrowless, free from distress, Why should the renunciant be tormented? One who has aroused energy, dedicated oneself, Constantly of firm endeavor; Desiring Nibbāna, Why should the renunciant be tormented? 3. Kassapagotta Sutta 223. At one time, the venerable Kassapagotta was dwelling in Kosala in a certain forest grove. Now at that time, the venerable Kassapagotta, having gone for a day's abiding, was admonishing a certain fool. Then the deity dwelling in that forest grove, desiring to stir the venerable Kassapagotta, approached the venerable Kassapagotta; having approached, addressed the venerable Kassapagotta with verses – A fool who roams difficult mountain paths, Of little wisdom, mindless; A bhikkhu admonishing him at the wrong time, Appears foolish to me. He hears but does not understand, He looks but does not see; When the Dhamma is spoken, The fool does not grasp the meaning. Even if you hold ten lamps, Kassapa; He will not see forms, For he has no eye. Then the venerable Kassapagotta, stirred by that deity, experienced a sense of urgency. 4. Sambahula Sutta 224. At one time, many bhikkhus were dwelling in Kosala in a certain forest grove. Then those bhikkhus, having completed the rains retreat, after three months, set out on tour. Then the deity dwelling in that forest grove, not seeing those bhikkhus, lamenting, at that time uttered this verse – Discontent, it seems, consumes me, Seeing many empty seats; Those with minds for talk, learned ones, Where have those disciples of Gotama gone? When this was said, another deity (addressed) that deity... He replied with a verse: Gone to Magadha, gone to Kosala, and some to the Vajji land; Like deer, wandering unattached, homeless, the bhikkhus dwell. 5. Ānanda Sutta 225. At one time, the Venerable Ānanda was dwelling in Kosala, in a certain forest grove. Now at that time, the Venerable Ānanda was dwelling excessively involved with lay people's affairs. Then, the deity dwelling in that forest grove, out of compassion for the Venerable Ānanda, desiring his welfare, wishing to stir the Venerable Ānanda, approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, she addressed the Venerable Ānanda with a verse: Having entered the thicket at the root of a tree, having placed Nibbāna in your heart; Meditate, Gotama, do not be heedless, what will your babbling do for you? Then, the Venerable Ānanda, stirred by that deity, experienced a sense of urgency. 6. Anuruddha Sutta 226. At one time, the Venerable Anuruddha was dwelling in Kosala, in a certain forest grove. Then, a certain deity of the Tāvatiṃsa realm, named Jālinī, who was the Venerable Anuruddha's former companion, approached the Venerable Anuruddha; having approached, she addressed the Venerable Anuruddha with a verse: Fix your mind there, where you formerly dwelt; Among the Tāvatiṃsa gods, where all desires are fulfilled; Honored, surrounded, you shone with divine maidens. "Wretched are the divine maidens, established in self-identity; And those beings are also wretched, desired by divine maidens." "They do not know happiness, who do not see Nandana; The abode of god-kings, of the glorious thirty-three." "You, foolish one, do not understand, the words of the Arahants; All formations are impermanent, of the nature to arise and cease; Having arisen, they cease, their appeasement is happiness. "There is no return to existence now, in the divine realm, Jālinī; The cycle of birth is exhausted, there is no rebirth now." 7. Nāgadatta Sutta 227. At one At one time the venerable Nāgadatta was dwelling in Kosala in a certain forest thicket. Now at that time the venerable Nāgadatta would enter the village too late, and return too early. Then a deity dwelling in that forest thicket, out of compassion and wishing for the welfare of the venerable Nāgadatta, desiring to stir the venerable Nāgadatta, approached the venerable Nāgadatta; having approached, she addressed the venerable Nāgadatta with verses: "Enter at the proper time, Nāgadatta, and coming by day, you wander at improper times; You are mingled with householders, sharing their joys and sorrows. I fear for Nāgadatta, so bold, bound to families; Lest you fall into the power of Death, the powerful king, the Destroyer." Then the venerable Nāgadatta, stirred by that deity, experienced a sense of urgency. 8. The Discourse on the Housewife 228. At one time a certain bhikkhu was dwelling in Kosala in a certain forest thicket. Now at that time that bhikkhu was dwelling, having become excessively intimate, in a certain family. Then a deity dwelling in that forest thicket, out of compassion and wishing for the welfare of that bhikkhu, desiring to stir that bhikkhu, having created an appearance like the housewife in that family, approached that bhikkhu; having approached, she addressed that bhikkhu with a verse: "At riverbanks, at meeting places, in assembly halls, and on roads, People gather and converse, 'What is the difference between you and him?'" "Many are the sounds, the obstacles, to be endured by the ascetic; One should not be dismayed by them, for one is not defiled by them. But he who is terrified by sounds, like a wild deer in the forest, They call him fickle-minded, his vow will not succeed." 9. The Discourse on the Vajjiputta 229. At one time a certain Vajjiputta bhikkhu was dwelling in Vesālī in a certain forest thicket. Now at that time in Vesālī, the Vajjiputta... he was behaving improperly. Then that monk, hearing the sound of musical instruments being played and beaten in Vesālī, lamenting, on that occasion uttered this verse: "Alone we dwell in the forest, Like a discarded log in the woods; On such a night as this, Who indeed is more wretched than us?" Then the deity dwelling in that forest grove, out of compassion and wishing for the welfare of that monk, desiring to stir him to spiritual urgency, approached that monk; having approached, she addressed that monk with a verse: "Alone you dwell in the forest, like a discarded log in the woods; Many long for you, like those in hell for heaven." Then that monk, stirred to spiritual urgency by that deity, felt a sense of urgency. 10. The Recitation Sutta 230. At one time, a certain monk was dwelling in the Kosalas, in a certain forest grove. Now at that time, that monk, who previously used to dwell much given to recitation, later became unconcerned, silent, and withdrawn. Then the deity dwelling in that forest grove, not hearing the Dhamma from that monk, approached that monk; having approached, she addressed that monk with a verse: "Why, monk, do you not recite the Dhamma verses, though dwelling with monks? Having heard the Dhamma, one gains great joy, in this very life one gains great praise." "Formerly there was a desire for Dhamma verses, until we met with dispassion; Since we met with dispassion, whatever is seen, heard, or perceived; The saints say it is for laying aside, having understood." 11. The Unwholesome Thoughts Sutta 231. At one time, a certain monk was dwelling in the Kosalas, in a certain forest grove. Now at that time, that monk, having gone for his day's abiding, was thinking evil, unwholesome thoughts, namely—thoughts of sensual desire, thoughts of ill-will of ill-will, of harming. Then, the deity dwelling in that forest grove, out of compassion for that bhikkhu, desiring his welfare, wishing to stir him to urgency, approached that bhikkhu; having approached, she addressed that bhikkhu with verses: “Through unwise attention, You are consumed by thoughts; Abandoning unwise attention, Reflect wisely. “Regarding the Teacher, the Dhamma, The Saṅgha, and your own virtues; You will attain joy, Blissful happiness, without doubt; Then, full of joy, You will make an end of suffering.” Then, that bhikkhu, stirred by that deity, experienced urgency. 12. The Midday Sutta