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See those with possessions suffering, People are bound in mind to people. (End of the sixth.) 7. The Discourse on the Only Son Thus have I heard – On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that time, a certain lay follower's only son, dear and pleasing, had passed away. Then many lay followers, with wet clothes, with wet hair, in the middle of the day, approached where the Blessed One was; having approached, having paid homage to the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. To those lay followers seated to one side, the Blessed One said this: "Why indeed, lay followers, have you come here in the middle of the day, with wet clothes and wet hair?" When this was said, that lay follower said this to the Blessed One: "My only son, venerable sir, dear and pleasing, has passed away. Therefore, we have come here in the middle of the day, with wet clothes and wet hair." Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance: Those greedy for the taste of dear forms, Both various divine beings and humans; Afflicted by sorrow, worn out, Go under the sway of the King of Death. But those who, day and night, Diligently abandon dear forms; They indeed dig up the root of sorrow, The bait of Death, which is hard to overcome. (End of the seventh.) 8. The Discourse on Suppavasa Thus have I heard – On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Kundika, in the Kundadhana forest. Now at that time, Suppavasa, a Koliyan daughter, had been carrying a fetus for seven years. For seven days, with a difficult birth, she by painful, intense, harsh, severe (feelings) Afflicted by pains, she endures with three thoughts: "Truly, that Blessed One is perfectly enlightened, who teaches the Dhamma for the abandoning of such suffering as this. Truly, well-practiced is the Sangha of disciples of that Blessed One, who practices for the abandoning of such suffering as this. Truly, very blissful is that Nibbāna, where such suffering as this is not found." Then Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, addressed her husband: "Come, dear sir, go to the Blessed One; having gone, bow your head at the feet of the Blessed One in my name; ask about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of body, strength, and comfortable dwelling— 'Venerable sir, Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, bows her head at the feet of the Blessed One; she asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of body, strength, and comfortable dwelling.' And say this: 'Venerable sir, Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, has carried a fetus for seven years. For seven days she has been in obstructed labor, afflicted by painful, severe, harsh, bitter pains, and she endures with three thoughts: Truly, that Blessed One is perfectly enlightened, who teaches the Dhamma for the abandoning of such suffering as this. Truly, well-practiced is the Sangha of disciples of that Blessed One, who practices for the abandoning of such suffering as this. Truly, very blissful is that Nibbāna, where such suffering as this is not found.'" "Very well," that Koliyan son, having assented to Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, went to the Blessed One; having gone, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that Koliyan son said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, bows her head at the feet of the Blessed One, she asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of body, strength, and comfortable dwelling; and she says this: 'Venerable sir, Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, has carried a fetus for seven years. For seven days she has been in obstructed labor, afflicted by painful, severe, harsh, bitter pains, with three He assented with his thoughts: "Truly, that Blessed One is a Perfectly Self-Awakened One, who teaches the Dhamma for the abandoning of such suffering as this. Truly, well-practiced is the Sangha of disciples of that Blessed One, who are practicing for the abandoning of such suffering as this. Truly, very pleasant is Nibbāna, where such suffering as this is not found." "May Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, be happy; may she be free from illness and give birth to a healthy son." And immediately upon the Blessed One's words, Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, happy, free from illness, gave birth to a healthy son. "Yes, Venerable Sir," that Koliyan son, having delighted in and approved of the Blessed One's words, rising from his seat, saluting the Blessed One, and circumambulating him clockwise, returned to his own home. That Koliyan son saw Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, happy, free from illness, having given birth to a healthy son. Seeing this, it occurred to him: "Truly, it is wonderful, sirs! Truly, it is amazing, sirs! The great power and great might of the Tathāgata, that Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, immediately upon the Blessed One's words, would be happy, free from illness, and give birth to a healthy son!" He was delighted, joyful, filled with rapture and happiness. Then Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, addressed her husband: "Come, dear son, go to the Blessed One; having approached him, bow your head to the Blessed One's feet in my name, saying: 'Venerable Sir, Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, bows her head to the Blessed One's feet'; and say this: 'Venerable Sir, Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, carried her pregnancy for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult birth, but now she is happy, free from illness, and has given birth to a healthy son. She invites the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal for seven days. May the Blessed One, Venerable Sir, please accept seven meals from Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, together with the Sangha of bhikkhus.'" "Very well," that Koliyan son, to Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daugh... Having promised his daughter, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, having saluted the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that Koliyan son said this to the Blessed One – "Suppavasa, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter bows her head at the Blessed One's feet; and she says this – 'Suppavasa, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter carried her pregnancy for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult birth, but now she is happy and well, and has given birth to a healthy son. She invites for seven days the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. May the Blessed One, venerable sir, please accept for Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, seven meals together with the Sangha of bhikkhus.'" Now at that time, by a certain lay follower, the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, had been invited for a meal for the next day. And that lay follower was a supporter of the venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Then the Blessed One addressed the venerable Mahāmoggallāna – "Come, Moggallāna, approach that lay follower; having approached, say this to that lay follower – 'Suppavasa, friend, the Koliyan daughter carried her pregnancy for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult birth, but now she is happy and well, and has given birth to a healthy son. She invites for seven days the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. Let Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, make seven meals, you will do so afterwards.' He is your supporter." "Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having assented to the Blessed One, approached that lay follower; having approached, he said this to that lay follower – "Suppavasa, friend, the Koliyan daughter carried her pregnancy for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult birth, but now she is happy and well, and has given birth to a healthy son. She invites for seven days the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. Let Suppavasa, the Koliyan daughter, make seven meals, you will do so afterwards." ” he said. “If, venerable sir, the venerable Mahāmoggallāna is surety for me for three things – for my possessions, for my life, and for my faith – then let Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, make seven meals, afterwards I will make them.” “I am surety for you, friend, for two things – for your possessions and for your life. But for faith, you yourself are the surety.” “If, venerable sir, the venerable Mahāmoggallāna is surety for me for two things – for my possessions and for my life – then let Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, make seven meals, afterwards I will make them.” Then the venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having convinced that lay follower, went to the Blessed One; having approached, he said to the Blessed One: “That lay follower, venerable sir, has been convinced by me; let Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, make seven meals, afterwards he will make them.” Then Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, for seven days, with her own hands, satisfied and served the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with choice hard and soft food, and she made that child pay homage to the Blessed One and to the entire community of bhikkhus. Then the venerable Sāriputta said to that child: “Are you well, child? Are you getting by? Is there no suffering at all?” “How can I be well, venerable Sāriputta? How can I be getting by? I have lived for seven years in a blood-jar.” Then Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, was delighted, joyful, and filled with happiness and gladness, thinking: “My son is conversing with the General of the Dhamma!” Then the Blessed One, knowing Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter, to be delighted, joyful, and filled with happiness and gladness, said to Suppavāsā, the Koliyan daughter: “Would you wish, Suppavāsā, for another son like this?” “I would wish, Blessed One, for seven other sons like this.” …they are.” Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “The unpleasant in the form of the pleasant, The unloved in the form of the loved;