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B0102050303nandavaggo (joy chapter)

English

"Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus, having assented to the Blessed One, rose from their seats, greeted the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise, packed up their lodgings, took their bowls and robes, and set out on tour towards the Vajji country. Touring gradually through the Vajji country, they approached the Vaggumudā River; having approached it, they made leaf-huts on the bank of the Vaggumudā River and entered the Rains Retreat. Then Venerable Yasojo, having entered the Rains Retreat, addressed the bhikkhus: "Friends, we were dismissed by the Blessed One, who desired our welfare, who sought our benefit, out of compassion, taking pity on us. Come now, friends, let us live in such a way that the Blessed One will be pleased with us as we live." "Yes, friend," those bhikkhus assented to Venerable Yasojo. Then those bhikkhus, living secluded, diligent, ardent, and resolute, all realized the three knowledges within that very Rains Retreat. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Sāvatthī as long as he wished, set out on tour towards Vesālī. Touring gradually, he arrived at Vesālī. There, it is said, the Blessed One was staying in Vesālī, in the Gabled Hall in the Great Wood. Then indeed the Blessed One, having encompassed with his mind the minds of the bhikkhus dwelling by the Vaggumudā river, addressed the venerable Ānanda: "This direction, Ānanda, seems to me to be filled with light, this direction, Ānanda, seems to me to be filled with radiance; the direction where the bhikkhus dwelling by the Vaggumudā river reside. It is not disagreeable for me to go there, to consider it. You, Ānanda, should send a messenger to the bhikkhus dwelling by the Vaggumudā river, saying: ‘The Teacher invites the venerables, the Teacher wishes to see the venerables.’" "Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and approached a certain bhikkhu; having approached him, he said to that bhikkhu: "Come, friend, go to where the bhikkhus dwelling by the Vaggumudā river are; having approached them, say to the bhikkhus dwelling by the Vaggumudā river thus: ‘The Teacher invites the venerables, the Teacher wishes to see the venerables.’" "Yes, friend," that bhikkhu replied to the venerable Ānanda, just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm, or flex his extended arm, even so – having disappeared from the peaked-roof hall in the Great Forest, he reappeared before those bhikkhus on the bank of the Vaggumudā river. Then that bhikkhu said to the bhikkhus dwelling by the Vaggumudā river: "The Teacher invites the venerables, the Teacher wishes to see the venerables." "Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to that bhikkhu, having put away their lodgings and taken their bowls and robes, just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm, or flex his extended arm, even so – having disappeared from the bank of the Vaggumudā river, they reappeared before the Blessed One in the peaked-roof hall in the Great Forest. Now at that time the Blessed One was seated in imperturbable concentration. Then it occurred to those bhikkhus: "In what dwelling, indeed, is the Blessed One dwelling now?" Then to those bhik It occurred to them: “The Blessed One is now dwelling in the imperturbable dwelling.” All of them sat down in imperturbable concentration. Then, when the night was far advanced, when the first watch had passed, Venerable Ānanda rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, and, bowing with joined hands towards the Blessed One, said to him: “The night, Bhante, is far advanced; the first watch has passed; the visiting bhikkhus have been sitting for a long time; may the Blessed One, Bhante, greet the visiting bhikkhus.” When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent. A second time, when the night was far advanced, when the middle watch had passed, Venerable Ānanda rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, and, bowing with joined hands towards the Blessed One, said to him: “The night, Bhante, is far advanced; the middle watch has passed; the visiting bhikkhus have been sitting for a long time; may the Blessed One, Bhante, greet the visiting bhikkhus.” A second time, the Blessed One remained silent. A third time, when the night was far advanced, when the last watch had passed, when the dawn had broken, when the night was smiling, Venerable Ānanda rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, and, bowing with joined hands towards the Blessed One, said to him: “The night, Bhante, is far advanced; the last watch has passed; the dawn has broken; the night is smiling; the visiting bhikkhus have been sitting for a long time; may the Blessed One, Bhante, greet the visiting bhikkhus.” Then the Blessed One rose from that concentration and addressed Venerable Ānanda: “If, Ānanda, you had known, even this much would not have occurred to you. I, Ānanda, and these five hundred bhikkhus, all of us were sitting in imperturbable concentration.” Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “He who has conquered the thorn of sensual desires, And abuse, and killing, and bondage; Like a mountain Like a mountain, he stands unshaken, in pleasure and pain he does not tremble, that monk. The Third. 4. The Sariputta Sutta Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. Now at that time, the venerable Sariputta was sitting not far from the Blessed One, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him. The Blessed One saw the venerable Sariputta sitting not far off, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him. Then, understanding this matter, the Blessed One uttered on that occasion this inspired utterance: Just as a rocky mountain, unmoving, well-established; So a monk, with the destruction of delusion, like a mountain, does not tremble. The Fourth. 5. The Mahamoggallana Sutta Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. Now at that time, the venerable Mahamoggallana was sitting not far from the Blessed One, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, with mindfulness of the body well-established internally. The Blessed One saw the venerable Mahamoggallana sitting not far off, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, with mindfulness of the body well-established internally. Then, understanding this matter, the Blessed One uttered on that occasion this inspired utterance: Mindfulness of the body established, restrained in the six spheres of contact; Constantly a monk, concentrated, would know his own Nibbana. The Fifth. 6. The Pilindavaccha Sutta Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now at that time, the venerable Pilindavaccha was addressing the monks with the address of an outcaste. Then a number of monks approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat on one they agreed and sat down. Seated to one side, those monks said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the venerable Pilindavaccha addresses the monks with the term 'outcaste'." Then the Blessed One addressed a certain monk: "Come, monk, in my name, address the monk Pilindavaccha: 'Friend Pilindavaccha, the Teacher calls you.'" "Yes, venerable sir," that monk replied to the Blessed One, and went to the venerable Pilindavaccha; having gone, he said to the venerable Pilindavaccha: "Friend Pilindavaccha, the Teacher calls you." "Yes, friend," the venerable Pilindavaccha replied to that monk, and went to the Blessed One; having gone, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To the venerable Pilindavaccha, seated to one side, the Blessed One said: "Is it true, Vaccha, that you address the monks with the term 'outcaste'?" "Yes, venerable sir." Then the Blessed One, recalling the past lives of the venerable Pilindavaccha, addressed the monks: "Monks, do not complain about the monk Vaccha. Monks, Vaccha does not address the monks with the term 'outcaste' out of malice. Monks, the monk Vaccha has been reborn in a brahmin family for five hundred consecutive births. That term 'outcaste' has been habitually used by him for a long time. That is why this Vaccha addresses the monks with the term 'outcaste'." Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: "In whom there is no deceit, no conceit, Who is free from greed, without possessiveness, without craving; Whose anger is dispelled, whose self is utterly cooled, He is a brahmin, he is a recluse, he is a monk." The Sixth. 7. Sakkudāna Sutta 27. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying at Rājagaha, He dwells in the Squirrels' Feeding Place in the Bamboo Grove. Now at that time, the venerable Mahākassapa was dwelling in Pippali Cave, having sat for seven days in one posture, having entered a certain concentration. Then the venerable Mahākassapa, at the end of those seven days, arose from that concentration. Then, to the venerable Mahākassapa, having arisen from that concentration, this thought occurred: "What if I were to enter Rājagaha for alms?" Now at that time, more than five hundred deities were eager to offer alms to the venerable Mahākassapa. Then the venerable Mahākassapa, having refused those more than five hundred deities, dressed in the morning, took his bowl and robe, and entered Rājagaha for alms. Now at that time, Sakka, king of the gods, wished to give alms to the venerable Mahākassapa. Having created the appearance of a weaver, he was weaving a thread. Sujā, the asura maiden, was filling the shuttle. Then the venerable Mahākassapa, walking for alms in Rājagaha, house by house, approached the dwelling of Sakka, king of the gods.