#Buddhist

The Buddha praises Venerable Sujāta as beautiful both inside and out.At Sāvatthī. Then Venerable Sujāta went to see the Buddha. The Buddha saw him coming off in the distance, and addressed the mendicants: “This gentleman is beautiful in both ways. He’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. And he has realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lives having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. [Read More]

When a certain monk neglects his duties in favor of solitude, other monks complain. The Buddha questions him, and finds that he is awakened.At Sāvatthī. Now at that time a certain junior monk, after his meal, on his return from alms-round, entered his dwelling, where he adhered to passivity and silence. And he didn’t help the mendicants out when it was time to sew robes. Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. [Read More]

Sāriputta and Moggallāna come together for a discussion, which touches on the use of psychic powers and energy. The two great monks end up warmly praising each other.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. At that time Venerables Sāriputta and Moggallāna were staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Sāriputta came out of retreat, went to Venerable Moggallāna, and exchanged greetings with him. [Read More]

Sāriputta says that there is nothing whose change, even the Buddha, would cause him sorrow.At Sāvatthī. There Sāriputta addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, mendicants!” “Reverend,” they replied. Sāriputta said this: “Just now, reverends, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: ‘Is there anything in the world whose changing and perishing would give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress in me?’ It occurred to me: ‘There is nothing in the world whose changing and perishing would give rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress in me. [Read More]

Moggallāna reflects that second absorption is the true noble silence, and the Buddha encourages him to develop it.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, mendicants!” “Reverend,” they replied. Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this: “Just now, reverends, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: ‘They speak of this thing called “noble silence”. [Read More]

An old jackal howls at dawn, but even they have more gratitude than someAt Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, did you hear an old jackal howling at the crack of dawn?” “Yes, sir.” “There might be some gratitude and thankfulness in that old jackal, but there is none in a certain person here who claims to be a follower of the Sakyan son. So you should train like this: ‘We will be grateful and thankful. [Read More]

A mangy jackal howls in discomfort, but even that would be a good rebirth for some.At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, did you hear an old jackal howling at the crack of dawn?” “Yes, sir.” “That old jackal has the disease called mange. Yet it still goes where it wants, stands where it wants, sits where it wants, and lies down where it wants. And the cool breeze still blows on it. A certain person here who claims to be a follower of the Sakyan son would be lucky to experience even such an incarnation. [Read More]

As a cat may suffer from eating too hastily, so a mendicant may suffer by not restraining senses.At Sāvatthī. Now at that time a certain junior mendicant socialized with families too often. The mendicants said to him, “Venerable, don’t socialize with families too often.” But that mendicant, when spoken to by the mendicants, did not stop. And then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. [Read More]

A mendicant who overly associates with the laity is like an elephant calf who tries to copy the great bull elephants.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a certain junior mendicant went to visit families too often. The mendicants said to him, “Venerable, don’t go to visit families too often.” But that mendicant, when spoken to by the mendicants, said this, “But these senior mendicants think they can go to visit families, so why can’t I? [Read More]

Warriors who sleep on wooden pillows remain vigilant, and so it is for the spiritual seeker.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “Mendicants, these days the Licchavis live using wood blocks as pillows, and they exercise diligently and keenly. [Read More]