7.
The Discourse on the Deep Forest
190. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "Monks." "Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this - "I will teach you, monks, the exposition on the deep forest. Listen to that, pay close attention, I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
191. "Here, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain deep forest. For him dwelling in dependence on that deep forest, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is not attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this deep forest, and for me dwelling in dependence on this deep forest, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I do not attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty.' By that monk, monks, whether by night-time or by daytime, he should depart from that deep forest, he should not stay.
192. "Here again, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain deep forest. For him dwelling in dependence on that deep forest, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is not attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this deep forest. For me dwelling in dependence on this deep forest, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I do not attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty. But I have not gone forth from home into homelessness because of robes, not because of almsfood, etc. not because of lodging, etc. not because of the requisite of medicines for the sick have I gone forth from home into homelessness. And yet for me dwelling in dependence on this deep forest, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I do not attain.' By that monk, monks, having considered thus, he should depart from that deep forest, he should not stay.
193. "Here again, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain deep forest. For him dwelling in dependence on that deep forest, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this deep forest. For me dwelling in dependence on this deep forest, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty. But I have not gone forth from home into homelessness because of robes, not because of almsfood, etc. not because of lodging, etc. not because of the requisite of medicines for the sick have I gone forth from home into homelessness. And yet for me dwelling in dependence on this deep forest, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I attain.' By that monk, monks, having considered thus, he should stay in that deep forest, he should not depart.
194. "Here again, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain deep forest. For him dwelling in dependence on that deep forest, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this deep forest. For me dwelling in dependence on this deep forest, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty.' By that monk, monks, even for life he should stay in that deep forest, he should not depart.
195. "Here, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain village etc. dwells in dependence on a certain market town etc. dwells in dependence on a certain city etc. dwells in dependence on a certain country etc. dwells in dependence on a certain person. For him dwelling in dependence on that person, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is not attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this person. For me dwelling in dependence on this person, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I do not attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty.' By that monk, monks, whether by night-time or by daytime, he should depart from that person without asking permission, he should not follow him.
196. "Here again, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain person. For him dwelling in dependence on that person, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is not attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this person. For me dwelling in dependence on this person, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I do not attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty. But I have not gone forth from home into homelessness because of robes, not because of almsfood, etc. not because of lodging, etc. not because of the requisite of medicines for the sick have I gone forth from home into homelessness. And yet for me dwelling in dependence on this person, mindfulness that was not established does not become established, the unconcentrated mind does not become concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated do not go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I do not attain.' By that monk, monks, having considered thus, he should depart from that person with permission, he should not follow him.
197. "Here again, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain person. For him dwelling in dependence on that person, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this person. For me dwelling in dependence on this person, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty. But I have not gone forth from home into homelessness because of robes, not because of almsfood, etc. not because of lodging, etc. not because of the requisite of medicines for the sick have I gone forth from home into homelessness. And yet for me dwelling in dependence on this person, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I attain.' By that monk, monks, having considered thus, he should follow that person, he should not depart.
198. "Here again, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain person. For him dwelling in dependence on that person, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty. By that monk, monks, it should be considered thus - 'I dwell in dependence on this person. For me dwelling in dependence on this person, mindfulness that was not established becomes established, the unconcentrated mind becomes concentrated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained I attain. And whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty.' By that monk, monks, even for life that person should be followed, he should not depart, even if being driven away."
This is what the Blessed One said. Those monks, delighted, rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said.
The Discourse on the Deep Forest is concluded as seventh.