English
‘If I were to die at this evening time, what would be my destination? What would be my future state?’ “Do not fear, Mahānāma, do not fear, Mahānāma, your death will not be evil, your demise will not be evil. For, Mahānāma, an noble disciple endowed with four qualities is inclined towards Nibbāna, tending towards Nibbāna, gravitating towards Nibbāna. With which four? Here, Mahānāma, an noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is Arahant… …Buddha, Blessed One.’ In the Dhamma… …in the Sangha… …and is endowed with the virtues dear to the noble ones, unbroken… …conducive to concentration. Just as, Mahānāma, a tree inclined to the east, tending to the east, gravitating to the east, if its roots are cut, to which side would it fall?” “To the side, venerable sir, to which it is inclined, to which it tends, to which it gravitates.” “Even so, Mahānāma, an noble disciple endowed with these four qualities is inclined towards Nibbāna, tending towards Nibbāna, gravitating towards Nibbāna. Do not fear, Mahānāma, do not fear, Mahānāma, your death will not be evil, your demise will not be evil.” This is the Sutta on the Disposition for Latent Tendencies. “All beings desire happiness, who does not with a stick harms; Seeking his own happiness, After death he obtains happiness. This is a sutta related to latent tendencies. If among a herd of cattle, The bull goes straight; All of them go straight, When the leader goes straight. Even so among humans, He who is considered the best; If he practices Dhamma, How much more so the other people; The whole country sleeps happily, If the king is righteous. This is a sutta related to latent tendencies. 94. The Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. At that time, many bhikkhus were making robes for the Blessed One, thinking, "When the Blessed One's robes are finished, he will set out on a journey after three months." At that time, the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa were residing in Sāketa for some divine work. The carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa heard, "Indeed, many bhikkhus are making robes for the Blessed One. When the Blessed One's robes are finished, he will set out on a journey after three months." Then the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa stationed a man on the road, saying, "When you, good man, see the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, approaching, then inform us." That man, having stood for two or three days, saw the Blessed One approaching from afar. Having seen him, he went to where the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa were. Having approached, he said to the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa, "This, sirs, is the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, approaching. Now you may do as you think fit." Then the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa went to where the Blessed One was. Having approached and saluted the Blessed One, they followed behind the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One turned off the road and went to a certain tree root. Having approached, He sat down on the prepared seat. The carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa, having saluted the Blessed One, sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa spoke to the Blessed One thus: "When we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He will set out on tour from Sāvatthī in Kosala,' at that time there is discontent for us, there is sorrow, 'The Blessed One will be far from us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He has set out on tour from Sāvatthī in Kosala,' at that time there is discontent for us, there is sorrow, 'The Blessed One is far from us.' ...and so on... "But when we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He will set out on tour in Kāsi and Magadha,' at that time there is discontent for us, there is sorrow, 'The Blessed One will be far from us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He has set out on tour in Kāsi and Magadha,' at that time there is no little discontent for us, there is no little sorrow, 'The Blessed One is far from us.' "But when we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He will set out on tour in Magadha and Kāsi,' at that time there is satisfaction for us, there is joy, 'The Blessed One will be near us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He has set out on tour in Magadha and Kāsi,' at that time there is satisfaction for us, there is joy, 'The Blessed One is near us.' ...and so on... "But when we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He will set out on tour to Sāvatthī in Kosala,' at that time there is satisfaction for us, there is joy, 'The Blessed One will be near us.' "But when we, venerable sir, hear of the Blessed One, 'He is dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park,' at that time there is no little satisfaction for us, there is no little joy, 'The Blessed One is near us.'" "Therefore..." Ha, carpenters, the household life is crowded, a dusty path. Going forth is open air. And it is enough for you, carpenters, for heedfulness. “Is there for us, venerable sir, another crowding more crowded and more reckoned as crowded than this crowding?” “Which, then, carpenters, is another crowding more crowded and more reckoned as crowded than this crowding?” “Here, venerable sir, when King Pasenadi of Kosala desires to go to the pleasure park, those elephants of King Pasenadi of Kosala that are for riding, we harness them, and those wives of King Pasenadi of Kosala who are dear and pleasing, we seat one in front, one behind. And for those sisters, venerable sir, there is such a fragrance, just like a perfume box being opened right then, as befits royal maidens adorned with perfume. And for those sisters, venerable sir, there is such a bodily touch, just like a cotton tuft or a kapok tuft, as befits royal maidens raised in comfort. And at that time, venerable sir, the elephant must be guarded. Those sisters must also be guarded. One’s self must also be guarded. And we do not, venerable sir, know of generating an evil thought towards those sisters. This, venerable sir, is another crowding more crowded and more reckoned as crowded than this crowding.” “Therefore, carpenters, the household life is crowded, a dusty path. Going forth is open air. And it is enough for you, carpenters, for heedfulness. With four qualities, carpenters, an noble disciple is a stream-enterer, not subject to falling into states of woe, certain, bound for full enlightenment. “With which four? Here, carpenters, the well-instructed noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is Arahant… …Buddha…’ (He has faith) in the Buddha, in the Dhamma, in the Sangha. He dwells in a house with a mind free from stain and stinginess, open-handed, pure-handed, delighting in giving up, devoted to begging, delighting in sharing gifts, undivided. Indeed, O householders, an noble disciple endowed with these four qualities is a stream-enterer, not subject to falling into lower states, certain, bound for full enlightenment. "Indeed, O householders, you are endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: 'Thus is the Blessed One, Arahant... the Buddha, the Blessed One.' in the Dhamma... in the Sangha... Whatever gift there is in the family, all that is shared with the virtuous, those of good conduct. What do you think, O householders, how many people are there in Kosala who are equal to you in the matter of sharing gifts?" "It is our gain, Venerable Sir, it is well-obtained for us, Venerable Sir, that the Blessed One knows us thus." This is a discourse on the share of latent tendencies. Having offered one flower, for a thousand crores of aeons, among gods and humans, with the remainder, attained final Nibbana. This is a discourse on the share of latent tendencies. Under a green-shining Bodhi tree, a well-grown tree, one perception connected with the Buddha, I obtained, being mindful. From then, thirty aeons ago, I do not know a bad destination. The three knowledges have been realized, that is the impression of that perception. This is a discourse on the share of latent tendencies. For alms, into Kosala city, entered the foremost person, compassionate, before mealtime, the sage, destroyer of craving. A man had a garland in his hand, adorned with all kinds of flowers. He saw the Fully Enlightened One, preceded by the Sangha of monks. Entering by the royal road, honored by gods and humans. Delighted, having gladdened his mind, he approached the Fully Enlightened One. He, that fragrant garland, colorful, delightful, offered to the Fully Enlightened One, with his own pure hands. Then, like a flame of fire, from the Buddha's mouth... a star; A thousand-rayed flash of lightning, a meteor shot from his mouth. “Having circumambulated, the kinsman of the sun on his head; Having circled three times, he vanished above his head. “Seeing this wonder, this amazing hair-raising sight; Ananda, having put his outer robe over one shoulder, said this: “‘What is the cause of this smile, O Great Sage, please explain; The light of the Dhamma will arise, remove our doubt, O Sage. “‘To whom in all phenomena, knowledge always arises; He spoke to the doubting, wavering elder Ananda. “‘That person, Ananda, who placed his faith in me; For eighty-four eons, will not go to a bad destination. “‘Among the devas, he will enjoy divine splendor, ruling a divine kingdom; Among humans, he will be a lord of men, a king in the land. “‘He, in his last life, having gone forth and realized the Dhamma; Will be a Paccekabuddha, free from passion, named Vaṭaṃsaka. “‘When the mind is clear, there is no small offering; To the Tathagata, the Fully Enlightened One, or to his disciples. “‘Thus the Buddhas are inconceivable, the Buddha-dharmas are inconceivable; For those who have faith in the inconceivable, the result is inconceivable.’”