English
2. Mucalinda Chapter 1. Mucalinda Sutta 11. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Uruvelā, on the bank of the Nerañjarā River, at the foot of the Mucalinda tree, having just attained full enlightenment. At that time the Blessed One sat for seven days in one posture, experiencing the bliss of liberation. At that time a great unseasonal cloud arose, and for seven days there was a cold, windy, gloomy downpour. Then Mucalinda, the Nāga king, came forth from his abode, and having encircled the Blessed One's body seven times with his coils, he spread a great hood over his head, and stood there, thinking: "May the Blessed One not be cold, may the Blessed One not be hot, may the Blessed One not be touched by gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, or creeping things." Then, at the end of those seven days, the Blessed One arose from that concentration. Then Mucalinda, the Nāga king, knowing that the sky was clear and free of clouds, unwound his coils from the Blessed One's body, withdrew his own form, and having created the form of a young man, stood before the Blessed One, with joined palms, paying homage to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: "Happy is seclusion for one who is content, who has heard the Dhamma and sees it; Non-harming is happiness in the world, restraint towards all living beings. "Happy is detachment in the world, the overcoming of desires; The subduing of the conceit 'I am' – this indeed is the highest happiness." The first. 2. Kings Sutta 12. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. At that time, after their meal, having returned from their alms round, a number of bhikkhus were sitting together in the service hall, and this conversation arose among them: "Who, friends, among these two kings, is wealthier, or has greater possessions, or greater treasury, or greater dominion, or greater conveyances, or greater power, or greater..." or more powerful, or the Magadhan King Seniya Bimbisāra, or King Pasenadi of Kosala?” This talk, then, of those bhikkhus was interrupted and left unfinished. Then the Blessed One, having risen from seclusion in the evening, approached the service hall. Having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, “With what talk, bhikkhus, are you now gathered and assembled? And what talk of yours was interrupted and left unfinished?” “Here, venerable sir, after our meal, having returned from our alms round, as we were gathered and assembled in the service hall, this talk arose among us: ‘Who, friends, among these two kings is wealthier, or has greater possessions, or greater treasures, or a greater kingdom, or more vehicles, or a greater army, or is more potent, or more powerful—the Magadhan King Seniya Bimbisāra, or King Pasenadi of Kosala?’ This talk of ours, venerable sir, was interrupted and left unfinished, and then the Blessed One arrived.” “It is not fitting, bhikkhus, for you, sons of good families, who have gone forth from home to homelessness out of faith, that you should engage in such talk. When you are gathered, bhikkhus, there are two things to be done: either talk about Dhamma, or noble silence.” Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “Whatever sensual pleasure in the world, And whatever heavenly pleasure; These are not worth a sixteenth part Of the pleasure of the destruction of craving.” Second. 3. The Rod Discourse 13. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time, many young boys were hitting a snake with a stick between Sāvatthī and Jeta’s Grove. Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. He saw The Blessed One saw many boys between Sāvatthī and Jetavana, hitting a snake with a stick. Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: "Beings desiring happiness, who harms with a stick; Seeking his own happiness, after death he does not obtain happiness. "Beings desiring happiness, who does not harm with a stick; Seeking his own happiness, after death he obtains happiness." The third. 4. On Honors 14. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time the Blessed One was honored, respected, esteemed, revered, and venerated, and was a recipient of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick. The community of bhikkhus also was honored, respected, esteemed, revered, and venerated, and was a recipient of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick. But the wanderers of other sects were unhonored, unrespected, unesteemed, unvenerated, and unappreciated, and were not recipients of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick. Then those wanderers of other sects, unable to bear the honors shown to the Blessed One and the community of bhikkhus, seeing bhikkhus in villages and in forests, reviled, abused, angered, and harassed them with rude and harsh words. Then many bhikkhus approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said to the Blessed One: "At present, venerable sir, the Blessed One is honored, respected, esteemed, revered, and venerated, and is a recipient of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick. The community of bhikkhus also is honored, respected, esteemed, revered, and venerated, and is a recipient of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick. But the wanderers of other sects are unhonored, unrespected, unesteemed, unvenerated, and unappreciated, and are not recipients of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick." they are not honored, they do not gain robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites for the sick. Then, venerable sir, those other sectarians, the wanderers, unable to bear the Buddha’s honor, seeing the monks in villages and in the wilderness, abuse, revile, provoke, and harass them with rude and harsh words.” Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “In village or forest, touched by pleasure and pain, One should not burn oneself, nor others; Contacts touch due to attachment, How can contacts touch one without attachment?” The fourth. 5. The Discourse on the Lay Follower 15. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s Park. Now on that occasion a certain lay follower from Icchanangala had arrived in Savatthi for some purpose. Then that lay follower, having completed his business in Savatthi, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. To that lay follower, seated to one side, the Blessed One said this: “It has been a long time, lay follower, since you made this journey, that is, coming here.” “For a long time, venerable sir, I have wished to approach the Blessed One for an audience, but I was occupied with various duties. Thus I was unable to approach the Blessed One for an audience.” Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “Indeed, there is no suffering for him, Who has comprehended the Dhamma, is learned; See the one with possessions being tormented, People are bound to people.” The fifth. 6. The Discourse on the Pregnant Woman 16. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s Park. Now on that occasion a certain wanderer had a young female consort who was pregnant and about to give birth. Then that female wanderer said to that male wanderer: "Go you, brahmin, bring oil, which will be for me when I have given birth." When this was said, that male wanderer said to that female wanderer: "But from where, lady, shall I bring oil?" A second time, that female wanderer said to that male wanderer: "Go you, brahmin, bring oil, which will be for me when I have given birth." A second time, that male wanderer said to that female wanderer: "But from where, lady, shall I bring oil?" A third time, that female wanderer said to that male wanderer: "Go you, brahmin, bring oil, which will be for me when I have given birth." Now at that time, in the storehouse of King Pasenadi of Kosala, for a recluse or a brahmin, ghee or oil was given to drink as much as desired, but not to take out. Then it occurred to that male wanderer: "Indeed, in the storehouse of King Pasenadi of Kosala, for a recluse or a brahmin, ghee or oil is given to drink as much as desired, but not to take out. What if I, having gone to the storehouse of King Pasenadi of Kosala, having drunk as much oil as desired, having come home, and having vomited it up, were to give it, which will be for her when she has given birth?" Then that male wanderer, having gone to the storehouse of King Pasenadi of Kosala, having drunk as much oil as desired, having come home, was able neither to bring it up, nor to pass it down. He, afflicted by painful, intense, harsh, bitter feelings, tossed about, rolled about. Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. The Blessed One saw that male wanderer, afflicted by painful, intense, harsh Afflicted by severe feelings, Writhing, tossing about. Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance: Happy indeed are those who have nothing, For people who have nothing are free from defilements;