5.
The Chapter on Old Age
1.
The Subject to Ageing Discourse
511. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Eastern Park, in Migāramātā's mansion. Now at that time, in the evening, the Blessed One, having emerged from seclusion, was seated in the afternoon sunshine, warming his back.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, having paid respect to the Blessed One, while stroking the Blessed One's limbs with his hand, he said this to the Blessed One - "Wonderful, Venerable Sir, marvellous, Venerable Sir! Now, Venerable Sir, the Blessed One's complexion is no longer so pure and bright, the limbs are all loose and wrinkled, the body is inclined forward, and an alteration of the faculties is seen - of the eye-faculty, the ear-faculty, the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty."
"So it is, Ānanda - subject to ageing in youth, subject to disease in health, subject to death in life. The complexion is no longer so pure and bright, the limbs are all loose and wrinkled, the body is inclined forward, and an alteration of the faculties is seen - of the eye-faculty, the ear-faculty, the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this -
Such a delightful image has been crushed by ageing.
It spares nothing, it crushes everything." The first.
2.
The Brahmin Uṇṇābha Discourse
512. At Sāvatthī. Then the brahmin Uṇṇābha approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Uṇṇābha said this to the Blessed One -
"These five faculties, Master Gotama, have different domains and different ranges, and do not experience each other's range and domain. Which five? The eye-faculty, the ear-faculty, the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty. Now, Master Gotama, for these five faculties having different domains and different ranges, not experiencing each other's range and domain, what is their refuge, and who experiences their range and domain?"
"These five faculties, brahmin, have different domains and different ranges, and do not experience each other's range and domain. Which five? The eye-faculty, the ear-faculty, the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty. For these five faculties, brahmin, having different domains and different ranges, not experiencing each other's range and domain, mind is their refuge, and mind experiences their range and domain."
"But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of the mind?" "Brahmin, mindfulness is the refuge of the mind." "But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of mindfulness?" "Brahmin, liberation is the refuge of mindfulness." "But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of liberation?" "Brahmin, Nibbāna is the refuge of liberation." "But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of Nibbāna?" "You have gone beyond the question, brahmin, you were not able to grasp the limit of the question. For, brahmin, the holy life is grounded upon Nibbāna, has Nibbāna as its ultimate goal, has Nibbāna as its final goal."
Then the brahmin Uṇṇābha, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and departed.
Then the Blessed One, soon after the brahmin Uṇṇābha had departed, addressed the monks - "Just as, monks, in a pinnacle building or a pinnacle hall with windows on the eastern side, when the sun is rising, having entered through the window, where would the ray be established?" "On the western wall, venerable sir." "Just so, monks, the brahmin Uṇṇābha's faith in the Truth-finder is settled, rooted, established, firm, unshakeable by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or Brahmā or anyone in the world. If, monks, at this time the brahmin Uṇṇābha were to die, there is no mental fetter by which the brahmin Uṇṇābha, being fettered, would come back again to this world." The second.
3.
The Sāketa Discourse
513. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāketa in the Añjana Grove, in the Deer Park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "Is there indeed, monks, a method by which method the five faculties are the five powers, and the five powers are the five faculties?"
"The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, have the Blessed One as their guide, have the Blessed One as their refuge. It would be good indeed, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement would occur to the Blessed One himself. Having heard from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it." "There is, monks, a method by which method the five faculties are the five powers, and the five powers are the five faculties.
And what, monks, is the method by which method the five faculties are the five powers, and the five powers are the five faculties? Whatever, monks, is the faith faculty, that is the power of faith; whatever is the power of faith, that is the faith faculty; whatever is the energy faculty, that is the power of energy; whatever is the power of energy, that is the energy faculty; whatever is the mindfulness faculty, that is the power of mindfulness; whatever is the power of mindfulness, that is the mindfulness faculty; whatever is the concentration faculty, that is the power of concentration; whatever is the power of concentration, that is the concentration faculty; whatever is the wisdom faculty, that is the power of wisdom; whatever is the power of wisdom, that is the wisdom faculty. Just as, monks, a river slanting towards the east, sloping towards the east, inclining towards the east, with an island in its middle. There is, monks, a method by which method that river is reckoned as just one stream. But there is also, monks, a method by which method that river is reckoned as just two streams.
And what, monks, is the method by which method that river is reckoned as just one stream? Whatever water, monks, is at the eastern end of that island, and whatever water is at the western end - this, monks, is the method by which method that river is reckoned as just one stream.
And what, monks, is the method by which method that river is reckoned as just two streams? Whatever water, monks, is at the northern end of that island, and whatever water is at the southern end - this, monks, is the method by which method that river is reckoned as just two streams. Just so, monks, whatever is the faith faculty, that is the power of faith; whatever is the power of faith, that is the faith faculty; whatever is the energy faculty, that is the power of energy; whatever is the power of energy, that is the energy faculty; whatever is the mindfulness faculty, that is the power of mindfulness; whatever is the power of mindfulness, that is the mindfulness faculty; whatever is the concentration faculty, that is the power of concentration; whatever is the power of concentration, that is the concentration faculty; whatever is the wisdom faculty, that is the power of wisdom; whatever is the power of wisdom, that is the wisdom faculty. Because of having developed and cultivated the five faculties, monks, a monk, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, dwells in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions." The third.
4.
The Eastern Porch Discourse
514. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī at the Eastern Porch. There the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Sāriputta - "Do you believe, Sāriputta - the faith faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal, etc. the wisdom faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal?"
"I do not go by faith in the Blessed One in this matter, venerable sir - the faith faculty, etc. the wisdom faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal. For those, venerable sir, to whom this would be unknown, unseen, not understood, not realized, not touched by wisdom, they would go by faith in others in this matter - the faith faculty, etc. the wisdom faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal. But for those, venerable sir, to whom this is known, seen, understood, realized, touched by wisdom, they are without uncertainty, without doubt in this matter - the faith faculty, etc. the wisdom faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal. And for me, venerable sir, this is known, seen, understood, realized, touched by wisdom. I am without uncertainty, without doubt in this matter - the faith faculty, etc. the wisdom faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal."
"Good, good, Sāriputta! For those, Sāriputta, to whom this would be unknown, unseen, not understood, not realized, not touched by wisdom, they would go by faith in others in this matter - the faith faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal, etc. the wisdom faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal. But for those, Sāriputta, to whom this is known, seen, understood, realized, touched by wisdom, they are without uncertainty, without doubt in this matter - the faith faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal, etc. the wisdom faculty, when developed and cultivated, is grounded upon the Deathless, heading for the Deathless, with the Deathless as its final goal." The fourth.
5.
The First Eastern Monastery Discourse
515. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Eastern Park, in Migāramātā's mansion. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "Because of having developed and cultivated how many faculties, monks, does a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declare the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being'?"
"The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, etc. "Because of having developed and cultivated one faculty, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.' Which one? The wisdom faculty. For a wise noble disciple, monks, faith following that becomes established, energy following that becomes established, mindfulness following that becomes established, concentration following that becomes established. Because of having developed and cultivated this one faculty, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.'" The fifth.
6.
The Second Eastern Monastery Discourse
516. The same source. "Because of having developed and cultivated how many faculties, monks, does a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declare the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being'?" "The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, etc. "Because of having developed and cultivated two faculties, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.' Which two? Noble wisdom and noble liberation. Whatever is his noble wisdom, monks, that is his wisdom faculty. Whatever is his noble liberation, monks, that is his concentration faculty. Because of having developed and cultivated these two faculties, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.'" The sixth.
7.
The Third Eastern Monastery Discourse
517. The same source. "Because of having developed and cultivated how many faculties, monks, does a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declare the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being'?" "The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, etc. "Because of having developed and cultivated four faculties, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.' Which four? The energy faculty, the mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, the wisdom faculty - because of having developed and cultivated these four faculties, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.'" The seventh.
8.
The Fourth Eastern Monastery Discourse
518. The same source. "Because of having developed and cultivated how many faculties, monks, does a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declare the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being'?" "The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, etc. "Because of having developed and cultivated five faculties, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.' Which five? The faith faculty, the energy faculty, the mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, the wisdom faculty - Because of having developed and cultivated these five faculties, monks, a monk who has eliminated the mental corruptions declares the final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.'" The eighth.
9.
The Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja Discourse
519. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in Ghosita's park. Now at that time final liberating knowledge had been declared by the Venerable Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - "Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being." Then several monks approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -
"Venerable sir, final liberating knowledge has been declared by the Venerable Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.' What reason indeed, venerable sir, did the Venerable Piṇḍolabhāradvāja see that he declared final liberating knowledge - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being'?"
"Because of having developed and cultivated three faculties, monks, final liberating knowledge was declared by the monk Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.' Which three? The mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, the wisdom faculty - because of having developed and cultivated these three faculties, monks, final liberating knowledge was declared by the monk Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.' And what is the goal of these three faculties, monks? Elimination is their goal. Elimination of what? Of birth, ageing and death. Seeing 'the elimination of birth, ageing and death', monks, final liberating knowledge was declared by the monk Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, I understand there is no more of this state of being.'" The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on the Market Town
520. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Aṅgas, where there was a market town of the Aṅgas named Āpaṇa. There the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Sāriputta - "Sāriputta, would a noble disciple who has gone to the Truth-finder with complete confidence, who is devoted to him, be uncertain or have sceptical doubt about the Truth-finder or the Truth-finder's teaching?"
"Venerable sir, a noble disciple who has gone to the Truth-finder with complete confidence, who is devoted to him, would not be uncertain or have sceptical doubt about the Truth-finder or the Truth-finder's teaching. For, venerable sir, for a noble disciple with faith this is to be expected - that he will dwell putting forth strenuous energy for the abandoning of unwholesome mental states and for the acquisition of wholesome mental states, steadfast, of firm effort, not shirking the responsibility regarding wholesome mental states. Whatever is his energy, venerable sir, that is his energy faculty.
"For, venerable sir, for a noble disciple with faith, putting forth strenuous energy, this is to be expected - that he will be mindful, endowed with the highest mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting what was done long ago and what was said long ago. Whatever is his mindfulness, venerable sir, that is his mindfulness faculty.
"For, venerable sir, for a noble disciple with faith, putting forth strenuous energy, mindful, this is to be expected - that having made release the object, he will gain concentration, he will gain unified focus of mind. Whatever is his concentration, venerable sir, that is his concentration faculty.
"For, venerable sir, for a noble disciple with faith, putting forth strenuous energy, mindful, with concentrated mind, this is to be expected - that he will thus understand: 'This wandering in the round of rebirths is without discernible beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings hindered by ignorance, fettered by craving, transmigrating and wandering in the round of rebirths. But with the complete fading away and cessation without remainder of that mass of darkness which is ignorance, this is the peaceful state, this is the sublime state, that is to say - the stilling of all activities, the relinquishment of all clinging, the elimination of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna. Whatever is his wisdom, venerable sir, that is his wisdom faculty.
"That noble disciple with faith, venerable sir, having thus striven again and again, having thus remembered again and again, having thus concentrated again and again, having thus understood again and again, thus believes: 'These indeed are those teachings which I had previously heard. Therefore I now dwell having touched them with the body, and having penetrated them with wisdom, I see.' Whatever is his faith, venerable sir, that is his faith faculty."
"Good, good, Sāriputta! Sāriputta, a noble disciple who has gone to the Truth-finder with complete confidence, who is devoted to him, would not be uncertain or have sceptical doubt about the Truth-finder or the Truth-finder's teaching. For, Sāriputta, for a noble disciple with faith this is to be expected - that he will dwell putting forth strenuous energy for the abandoning of unwholesome mental states and for the acquisition of wholesome mental states, steadfast, of firm effort, not shirking the responsibility regarding wholesome mental states. Whatever is his energy, Sāriputta, that is his energy faculty.
"For, Sāriputta, for a noble disciple with faith, putting forth strenuous energy, this is to be expected - that he will be mindful, endowed with the highest mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting what was done long ago and what was said long ago. Whatever is his mindfulness, Sāriputta, that is his mindfulness faculty.
"For, Sāriputta, for a faithful noble disciple with aroused energy, having established mindfulness, this is to be expected: having made release the object, he will gain concentration, he will gain unified focus of mind. Whatever is his concentration, Sāriputta, that is his concentration faculty.
"For, Sāriputta, for a faithful noble disciple with aroused energy, having established mindfulness, with concentrated mind, this is to be expected: he will thus understand - 'This wandering in the round of rebirths is without discernible beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings hindered by ignorance, fettered by craving, transmigrating and wandering in the round of rebirths. But with the complete fading away and cessation without remainder of that mass of darkness which is ignorance, this is the peaceful state, this is the sublime state, that is to say - the stilling of all activities, the relinquishment of all clinging, the elimination of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna. Whatever is his wisdom, Sāriputta, that is his wisdom faculty.
"That faithful noble disciple, Sāriputta, having thus striven again and again, having thus remembered again and again, having thus concentrated again and again, having thus understood again and again, thus believes - 'These indeed are those teachings which I had previously heard. Therefore I now dwell having touched them with the body, and having penetrated them with wisdom, I see.' Whatever is his faith, Sāriputta, that is his faith faculty." The tenth.
The Ageing Chapter is the fifth.
Its summary:
And four at the Eastern Park, Piṇḍola, and with Āpaṇa.