English
I declare the annihilation of various evil, unwholesome states. This, Sīha, is the way by which one, speaking rightly of me in a certain way, would say: ‘Recluse Gotama is an annihilationist, he teaches the Dhamma for annihilation, and thereby he trains his disciples.’ “And what, Sīha, is the way by which one, speaking rightly of me in a certain way, would say: ‘Recluse Gotama is one who abhors, he teaches the Dhamma for abhorrence, and thereby he trains his disciples’?” For I, Sīha, abhor misconduct in body, misconduct in speech, misconduct in mind; I abhor the engaging in various evil, unwholesome states. This, Sīha, is the way by which one, speaking rightly of me in a certain way, would say: ‘Recluse Gotama is one who abhors, he teaches the Dhamma for abhorrence, and thereby he trains his disciples.’ “And what, Sīha, is the way by which one, speaking rightly of me in a certain way, would say: ‘Recluse Gotama is one who disciplines, he teaches the Dhamma for discipline, and thereby he trains his disciples’?” For I, Sīha, teach the Dhamma for the discipline of lust, of hatred, of delusion; I teach the Dhamma for the discipline of various evil, unwholesome states. This, Sīha, is the way by which one, speaking rightly of me in a certain way, would say: ‘Recluse Gotama is one who disciplines, he teaches the Dhamma for discipline, and thereby he trains his disciples.’ “And what, Sīha, is the way by which one, speaking rightly of me in a certain way, would say: ‘Recluse Gotama is an ascetic, he teaches the Dhamma for asceticism, and thereby he trains his disciples’?” I am one who burns, Sīha, Here, I speak of evil unwholesome states: misconduct of body, misconduct of speech, misconduct of mind. Lion, for whom these evil unwholesome states, which cause torment, are abandoned, their roots cut out, made like a palm stump, brought to non-existence, not liable to arise in the future, him I call 'an ascetic'. Lion, for the Tathāgata, these evil unwholesome states, which cause torment, are abandoned, their roots cut out, made like a palm stump, brought to non-existence, not liable to arise in the future. This, Lion, is the way by which one, rightly speaking, would speak of me: 'The ascetic Gotama is an ascetic, he teaches the Dhamma for asceticism, and thereby trains his disciples.' And what, Lion, is the way by which one, rightly speaking, would speak of me: 'The celibate Gotama is celibate, he teaches the Dhamma for celibacy, and thereby trains his disciples'? Lion, for whom future conception in a womb, the arising of renewed existence, is abandoned, its roots cut out, made like a palm stump, brought to non-existence, not liable to arise in the future, him I call 'celibate'. Lion, for the Tathāgata, future conception in a womb, the arising of renewed existence, is abandoned, its roots cut out, made like a palm stump, brought to non-existence, not liable to arise in the future. This, Lion, is the way by which one, rightly speaking, would speak of me: 'The celibate Gotama is celibate, he teaches the Dhamma for celibacy, and thereby trains his disciples.' And what, Lion, is the way by which one, rightly speaking, would speak of me: 'The giver of assurance Gotama gives assurance, he teaches the Dhamma for assurance, and thereby trains his disciples'? For I, Lion, am a giver of assurance with the highest assurance, I teach the Dhamma for assurance, and thereby train my disciples. This, Lion, is the way by which one, rightly speaking, would speak of me: 'The giver of assurance Gotama gives assurance, he teaches the Dhamma for assurance, and thereby trains his disciples.' When this was said, General Sīha said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, Venerable Sir! Excellent, Venerable Sir!..." Well, Venerable Sir, let the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower, from today onwards, for as long as life lasts, gone for refuge. "Indeed, Siha, do a thorough investigation. A thorough investigation is good for well-known people like you." "By this, Venerable Sir, I am even more pleased and delighted with the Blessed One, that the Blessed One tells me thus: 'Indeed, Siha, do a thorough investigation. A thorough investigation is good for well-known people like you.' For, Venerable Sir, if other teachers had gained a disciple, they would carry a banner throughout Vesali, saying, 'Siha, our general, has become a disciple.' But the Blessed One tells me thus: 'Siha, do a thorough investigation. A thorough investigation is good for well-known people like you.' So, Venerable Sir, for the second time, I go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of monks. Let the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower, from today onwards, for as long as life lasts, gone for refuge." "Indeed, Siha, for a long time your family has been a wellspring for the Nigaṇṭhas, so you should think of giving alms to those who come to them." "By this, Venerable Sir, I am even more pleased and delighted with the Blessed One, that the Blessed One tells me thus: 'Indeed, Siha, for a long time your family has been a wellspring for the Nigaṇṭhas, so you should think of giving alms to those who come to them.' I have heard this, Venerable Sir: 'The recluse Gotama says thus: "To me alone should gifts be given, to my disciples alone should gifts be given; a gift given to me is greatly fruitful, a gift given to others is not greatly fruitful; a gift given to my disciples is greatly fruitful, a gift given to other disciples is not greatly fruitful."' But the Blessed One encourages me to give gifts even to the Nigaṇṭhas. Moreover, Venerable Sir, we shall know the proper time for that. So, Venerable Sir, for the third time, I go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of monks. Let the Blessed One remember me, Venerable Sir, as a lay follower, from today onwards, for as long as life lasts, gone for refuge." that. Then the Blessed One taught Sīha the general a gradual discourse, that is, a discourse on giving, a discourse on virtue, a discourse on heaven. He explained the danger, the degradation, the defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that Sīha the general had a ready mind, a pliant mind, a mind free from hindrances, an uplifted mind, a confident mind, then he expounded the teaching peculiar to the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth, free from stains, readily absorbs dye; even so, in Sīha the general, right there on that seat, the stainless, undefiled Eye of Dhamma arose: “Whatever is of an origin nature, all that is of a cessation nature.” Then Sīha the general, having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, penetrated the Dhamma, crossed over doubt, dispelled perplexity, gained confidence, and become independent of others in the Teacher’s Dispensation, said to the Blessed One: “May the Blessed One, sir, accept tomorrow’s meal from me, together with the Sangha of bhikkhus.” The Blessed One accepted by his silence. Then Sīha the general, knowing the Blessed One’s acceptance, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him respectfully, and departed. Then Sīha the general addressed a certain man: “Go, my good man, find out about fresh meat.” Then Sīha the general, when that night had passed, had excellent hard and soft food prepared in his own residence, and had the time announced to the Blessed One: “It is time, sir! The meal is ready.” Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, went to Sīha the general’s residence; having gone there, he sat down on the prepared seat together with the Sangha of bhikkhus. Now at that time, many Nigaṇṭhas were going from street to street in Vesālī, from crossroad to crossroad, raising their arms, they cry out: "Today, General Sīha, having killed a fat animal, has prepared a meal for the recluse Gotama. The recluse Gotama, knowing it was specifically prepared for him, eats the meat, an act of evil." Then a certain man approached General Sīha; having approached, he whispered into General Sīha's ear: "Please, sir, know this! These many Nigaṇṭhas in Vesālī, from street to street, from crossroad to crossroad, raising their arms, are crying out: 'Today, General Sīha, having killed a fat animal, has prepared a meal for the recluse Gotama. The recluse Gotama, knowing it was specifically prepared for him, eats the meat, an act of evil.' Enough, sir! For a long time, these venerable ones have desired to disparage the Buddha, desired to disparage the Dhamma, desired to disparage the Saṅgha. And these venerable ones do not hesitate to falsely, vainly, untruly, and groundlessly accuse the Blessed One. And we would not intentionally deprive any living being of life, even for the sake of our own lives." Then General Sīha, with his own hands, satisfied and served the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, with choice hard and soft foods. Then General Sīha, when the Blessed One had eaten and removed his hand from the bowl, sat down to one side. To General Sīha, sitting to one side, the Blessed One instructed, inspired, encouraged, and gladdened with a Dhamma talk, then rose from his seat and departed. The Second. 3. The Discourse on the Noble Steed "Bhikkhus, endowed with eight qualities, a king's noble steed is worthy of a king, fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a king's asset. With which eight? Here, bhikkhus, a king's noble steed is well-bred on both sides – from its mother and from its father. It is born in a region where other noble steeds are born. Whatever food they give it – whether wet or dry... He consumes it carefully, without scattering it. He is disgusted to sit down or lie down in urine or feces. He is gentle, easy to live with, and does not disturb others. Whatever deceptions, frauds, crookedness, or deviousness he has, he reveals them as they are to the charioteer.