English
He has entered Māra’s domain, he has come under Māra’s sway, Māra’s snare is cast over him. Bound by Māra’s bond, he is at the disposal of the Evil One, to do with as he wishes… “There are, bhikkhus, tastes cognizable by the tongue… There are, bhikkhus, mental phenomena cognizable by the mind, agreeable, pleasing, dear, pleasing, associated with sensual desire, and exciting passion. If a monk delights in them, welcomes them, and remains engrossed in them— this monk, bhikkhus, is called bound to mental phenomena cognizable by the mind. He has entered Māra’s domain, he has come under Māra’s sway, Māra’s snare is cast over him. Bound by Māra’s bond, he is at the disposal of the Evil One, to do with as he wishes… “But there are, bhikkhus, forms cognizable by the eye, agreeable, pleasing, dear, pleasing, associated with sensual desire, and exciting passion. If a monk does not delight in them, does not welcome them, and does not remain engrossed in them— this monk, bhikkhus, is called freed from forms cognizable by the eye. He has not entered Māra’s domain, he has not come under Māra’s sway, Māra’s snare is cast off him. Freed from Māra’s bond, he is not at the disposal of the Evil One, to do with as he wishes… “There are, bhikkhus, tastes cognizable by the tongue… There are, bhikkhus, mental phenomena cognizable by the mind, agreeable, pleasing, dear, pleasing, associated with sensual desire, and exciting passion. If a monk does not delight in them, does not welcome them, and does not remain engrossed in them— this monk, bhikkhus, is called freed from mental phenomena cognizable by the mind. He has not entered Māra’s domain, he has not come under Māra’s sway, Māra’s snare is cast off him. Freed from Māra’s bond, he is not at the disposal of the Evil One, to do with as he wishes.” The Second. 3. The Discourse on Reaching the End of the World “I do not say, bhikkhus, that by going one can know, see, or reach the end of the world. Yet, bhikkhus, I do not say that without reaching the end of the world there is an end to suffering. I declare the end of suffering." Having said this, the Blessed One rose from his seat and entered the monastery. Then, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this thought occurred to those bhikkhus: "Friends, the Blessed One gave us this brief statement, but without elaborating on its meaning, he rose from his seat and entered the monastery: 'Monks, I do not say that by going one can know, see, or reach the end of the world. Yet, monks, I do not declare an end to suffering without having reached the end of the world.' Who now could elaborate on the meaning of this brief statement given by the Blessed One, the meaning of which was not elaborated upon?" Then this thought occurred to those bhikkhus: "Indeed, Venerable Ānanda has been praised by the Teacher, and is esteemed by his discerning fellow practitioners. Venerable Ānanda is capable of elaborating on the meaning of this brief statement given by the Blessed One, the meaning of which was not elaborated upon. Let us approach Venerable Ānanda; having approached him, let us ask him about this matter." Then those bhikkhus approached Venerable Ānanda; having approached, they exchanged greetings with Venerable Ānanda. Having concluded their courteous and memorable talk, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said this to Venerable Ānanda: "Friends Ānanda, the Blessed One gave us this brief statement, but without elaborating on its meaning, he rose from his seat and entered the monastery: 'Monks, I do not say that by going one can know, see, or reach the end of the world. Yet, monks, I do not declare an end to suffering without having reached the end of the world.' Friends, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this thought occurred to us: 'Friends, the Blessed One gave us this brief statement, but without elaborating on its meaning..." having honored him, rising from the seat, entered the monastery— "I do not say, monks, that by going the end of the world can be known, seen, reached. Nor do I say, monks, that without reaching the end of the world there is an end to suffering." Who, then, would explain in detail the meaning of this brief statement uttered by the Blessed One, the meaning not elaborated? It occurred to us, friends: 'This venerable Ānanda, friends, is praised by the Teacher, and esteemed by discerning fellow practitioners. And venerable Ānanda is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief statement uttered by the Blessed One, the meaning not elaborated. Let us, then, approach venerable Ānanda; having approached him, let us ask venerable Ānanda about this matter.' May venerable Ānanda explain it." "Just as, friends, a person seeking essence, searching for essence, looking for essence, would, passing over a great tree standing full of essence, passing over the root, passing over the trunk, think that the essence is to be sought in the branches and leaves; even so, it is as if you venerable ones, with the Teacher present, passing over the Blessed One, thought that this matter should be asked of us. For, friends, the Blessed One, knowing, knows; seeing, sees— he is the eye, he is knowledge, he is the Dhamma, he is the Brahma, he is the speaker, he is the proclaimer, he is the guide to the goal, he is the giver of the deathless, he is the master of the Dhamma, he is the Tathāgata. And it was indeed the time for you to ask the Blessed One himself about this matter. As the Blessed One would explain it to you, so should you remember it." "Indeed, venerable Ānanda, the Blessed One, knowing, knows; seeing, sees— he is the eye, he is knowledge, he is the Dhamma, he is the Brahma, he is the speaker, he is the proclaimer, he is the guide to the goal, he is the giver of the deathless, he is the master of the Dhamma, he is the Tathāgata. And it was indeed the time for you to ask the Blessed One himself about this matter." We would question the Blessed One himself about this matter. As the Blessed One would explain it to us, so would we remember it. Moreover, Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Teacher, and esteemed by his discerning fellow practitioners. Venerable Ānanda is able to elaborate in detail the meaning of this brief statement given by the Blessed One, the meaning that was not analyzed in detail. May Venerable Ānanda explain it, without difficulty. "Then, friends, listen, pay careful attention; I will speak." "Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to Venerable Ānanda. Venerable Ānanda then said this: "That which the Blessed One, friends, having briefly stated a summary, without elaborating on its meaning, rose from his seat and entered his dwelling – ‘I do not say, bhikkhus, that by going one can know, see, or reach the end of the world. Yet, I do not say, bhikkhus, that without reaching the end of the world, there is an end to suffering’ – I understand, friends, the detailed meaning of this brief statement given by the Blessed One, the meaning that was not analyzed in detail. That, friends, by which one perceives the world, and conceives of the world – this is called the world in the Noble One's discipline. And by what, friends, does one perceive the world, and conceive of the world? By the eye, friends, one perceives the world, and conceives of the world. By the ear, friends... By the nose, friends... By the tongue, friends, one perceives the world, and conceives of the world. By the body, friends... By the mind, friends, one perceives the world, and conceives of the world. That, friends, by which one perceives the world, and conceives of the world – this is called the world in the Noble One's discipline. That which the Blessed One, friends, having briefly stated a summary, without elaborating on its meaning, rose from his seat and entered his dwelling – ‘I do not say, bhikkhus, that by going one can know, see, or reach the end of the world. Yet, I do not say, bhikkhus, that without reaching the world... I declare the end of suffering, the making of an end to suffering.’ Friends, I understand the meaning of this brief statement uttered by the Blessed One, whose meaning was not elaborated, in this way, in detail. And if you, venerable ones, wish, you may approach the Blessed One himself and question him about this matter. As the Blessed One explains it to you, so you should remember it.” “Yes, friend,” those monks replied to Venerable Ananda. Then they rose from their seats, and went to the Blessed One. Having approached, they bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the Blessed One, having given a brief statement, without elaborating its meaning, rose from his seat and entered his dwelling, saying: ‘Monks, I do not say that the end of the world can be known, seen, or reached by going. Yet, monks, I do not declare the making of an end to suffering without having reached the end of the world.’ Venerable sir, after the Blessed One had departed not long ago, this thought occurred to us: ‘Friends, the Blessed One, having given a brief statement, without elaborating its meaning, rose from his seat and entered his dwelling, saying: “Monks, I do not say that the end of the world can be known, seen, or reached by going. Yet, monks, I do not declare the making of an end to suffering without having reached the end of the world.”’ Who might elaborate the meaning of this brief statement uttered by the Blessed One, whose meaning was not elaborated? Venerable sir, this thought occurred to us: ‘This Venerable Ananda is praised by the Teacher, and esteemed by discerning fellow practitioners. Venerable Ananda is capable of elaborating the meaning of this brief statement uttered by the Blessed One, whose meaning was not elaborated. Let us go to Venerable Ananda.’ we should approach; having approached the venerable Ānanda, we should question him about this matter.'