7.
The Discourse on Anuruddha
229. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then the carpenter Pañcakaṅga addressed a certain man - "Come, my good man, go to where the Venerable Anuruddha is; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Venerable Anuruddha's feet - 'The carpenter Pañcakaṅga, venerable sir, pays respect with his head at the Venerable Anuruddha's feet'; and say this - 'May the Venerable Anuruddha consent to accept a meal from the carpenter Pañcakaṅga for tomorrow as the fourth with himself, venerable sir; and may the Venerable Anuruddha please come early, venerable sir; the carpenter Pañcakaṅga, venerable sir, has much to do, has many duties with the king's business.'" "Yes, venerable sir," that man replied to the carpenter Pañcakaṅga and approached the Venerable Anuruddha; having approached, he paid respect to the Venerable Anuruddha and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that man said this to the Venerable Anuruddha - "The carpenter Pañcakaṅga, venerable sir, pays respect with his head at the Venerable Anuruddha's feet, and says thus - 'May the Venerable Anuruddha consent to accept a meal from the carpenter Pañcakaṅga for tomorrow as the fourth with himself, venerable sir; and may the Venerable Anuruddha please come early, venerable sir; the carpenter Pañcakaṅga, venerable sir, has much to do, has many duties with the king's business.'" The Venerable Anuruddha consented by silence.
230. Then the Venerable Anuruddha, after that night had passed, in the earlier period of the day, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of the carpenter Pañcakaṅga; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then the carpenter Pañcakaṅga with his own hand satisfied and served the Venerable Anuruddha with superior solid and soft food. Then the carpenter Pañcakaṅga, when the Venerable Anuruddha had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, having taken a certain low seat, sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the carpenter Pañcakaṅga said this to the Venerable Anuruddha -
"Here, venerable sir, elder monks, having approached me, said thus - 'Develop the limitless liberation of mind, householder.' Some elder monks said thus - 'Develop the exalted liberation of mind, householder.' This limitless liberation of mind, venerable sir, and this exalted liberation of mind - are these phenomena different in meaning and different in phrasing, or are they one in meaning and only different in phrasing?" "If so, householder, let what occurs to you about this very matter be stated. It will be unmistakable for you from this." "Venerable sir, it occurs to me thus - 'This limitless liberation of mind and this exalted liberation of mind - these phenomena are one in meaning and only different in phrasing.'" "This limitless liberation of mind, householder, and this exalted liberation of mind - these phenomena are different in meaning and different in phrasing. By this method too, householder, it should be known how these phenomena are different in meaning and different in phrasing.
"And what, householder, is the limitless liberation of mind? Here, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded one direction with a mind accompanied by friendliness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, and in every respect, he dwells having pervaded the entire world with a mind accompanied by friendliness, extensive, exalted, limitless, without enmity, without ill-will. With a mind accompanied by compassion... with a mind accompanied by altruistic joy... he dwells having pervaded one direction with a mind accompanied by equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; Thus above, below, across, everywhere, and in every respect, he dwells having pervaded the entire world with a mind accompanied by equanimity, extensive, exalted, limitless, without enmity, without ill-will. This is called, householder, the limitless liberation of mind.
231. "And what, householder, is the exalted liberation of mind? Here, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one tree-root as exalted. This is called, householder, the exalted liberation of mind. Here again, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three tree-roots as exalted. This too is called, householder, the exalted liberation of mind. Here again, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one village territory as exalted. This too is called, householder, the exalted liberation of mind. Here again, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three village territories as exalted. This too is called, householder, the exalted liberation of mind. Here again, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one great kingdom as exalted. This too is called, householder, the exalted liberation of mind. Here again, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three great kingdoms as exalted. This too is called, householder, the exalted liberation of mind. Here again, householder, a monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as the earth bounded by the ocean as exalted. This too is called, householder, the exalted liberation of mind. By this method, householder, it should be known how these phenomena are different in meaning and different in phrasing.
232. "Householder, there are these four rebirths into existence. What are the four? Here, householder, a certain one dwells having pervaded and resolved upon 'limited radiance'. Upon the body's collapse at death, he is reborn in the company of the gods of limited radiance. Here again, householder, a certain one dwells having pervaded and resolved upon 'immeasurable radiance'. Upon the body's collapse at death, he is reborn in the company of the gods of immeasurable radiance. Here again, householder, a certain one dwells having pervaded and resolved upon 'defiled radiance'. Upon the body's collapse at death, he is reborn in the company of the gods of defiled radiance. Here again, householder, a certain one dwells having pervaded and resolved upon 'pure radiance'. Upon the body's collapse at death, he is reborn in the company of the gods of pure radiance. These, householder, are the four rebirths into existence.
"There comes a time, householder, when those deities gather together in one place; when they have gathered together in one place, diversity of colour is evident, but not diversity of radiance. Just as, householder, a man might bring many oil lamps into one house. When they have been brought into one house, diversity of flame would be evident, but not diversity of radiance; just so, householder, there comes a time when those deities gather together in one place; when they have gathered together in one place, diversity of colour is evident, but not diversity of radiance.
"There comes a time, householder, when those deities disperse from there; when they disperse from there, diversity of colour is evident and diversity of radiance as well. Just as, householder, a man might remove those many oil lamps from that house. When they have been removed from there, diversity of flame would be evident and diversity of radiance as well; just so, householder, there comes a time when those deities disperse from there; when they disperse from there, diversity of colour is evident and diversity of radiance as well.
"Householder, those deities do not think thus - 'This is ours as permanent' or 'as stable' or 'as eternal,' but wherever those deities settle, right there those deities delight. Just as, householder, flies being carried by a carrying pole or by a basket do not think thus - 'This is ours as permanent' or 'as stable' or 'as eternal,' but wherever those flies settle, right there those flies delight; just so, householder, those deities do not think thus - 'This is ours as permanent' or 'as stable' or 'as eternal,' but wherever those deities settle, right there those deities delight."
233. When this was said, the Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna said this to the Venerable Anuruddha - "Good, venerable sir Anuruddha! And I have here a further question to ask. Those deities, venerable sir, who are radiant - are all those of limited radiance, or are there here some deities of immeasurable radiance?" "In that respect, friend Kaccāna, there are here some deities of limited radiance, but there are here some deities of immeasurable radiance." "What, venerable sir Anuruddha, is the cause, what is the condition, by which among those deities reborn in one order of gods, there are here some deities of limited radiance, but there are here some deities of immeasurable radiance?"
"If so, friend Kaccāna, I will ask you a question about this very matter. As it pleases you, so you should answer it. What do you think, friend Kaccāna, that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one tree-root as 'exalted', and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three tree-roots as 'exalted' - of these two developments of mind, which development of mind is more exalted?" "That monk, venerable sir, who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three tree-roots as 'exalted' - this of these two developments of mind is more exalted."
"What do you think, friend Kaccāna, that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three tree-roots as 'exalted', and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one village territory as 'exalted' - of these two developments of mind, which development of mind is more exalted?" "That monk, venerable sir, who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one village territory as 'exalted' - this of these two developments of mind is more exalted."
"What do you think, friend Kaccāna, that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one village territory as 'exalted', and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three village territories as 'exalted' - of these two developments of mind, which development of mind is more exalted?" "That monk, venerable sir, who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three village territories as 'exalted' - this of these two developments of mind is more exalted."
"What do you think, friend Kaccāna, that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three village territories as 'exalted', and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one great kingdom as 'exalted' - of these two developments of mind, which development of mind is more exalted?" "That monk, venerable sir, who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one great kingdom as 'exalted' - this of these two developments of mind is more exalted."
"What do you think, friend Kaccāna, that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as one great kingdom as 'exalted', and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three great kingdoms as 'exalted' - of these two developments of mind, which development of mind is more exalted?" "That monk, venerable sir, who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three great kingdoms as 'exalted' - this of these two developments of mind is more exalted."
"What do you think, friend Kaccāna, that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as two or three great kingdoms as 'exalted', and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as the earth bounded by the ocean as 'exalted' - of these two developments of mind, which development of mind is more exalted?" "That monk, venerable sir, who dwells having pervaded and resolved upon as far as the earth bounded by the ocean as 'exalted' - this of these two developments of mind is more exalted." "This, friend Kaccāna, is the cause, this is the condition, by which among those deities reborn in one order of gods, there are here some deities of limited radiance, but there are here some deities of immeasurable radiance."
234. "Good, venerable sir Anuruddha! And I have here a further question to ask. As far as, venerable sir, deities are radiant - are all those of defiled radiance, or are there here some deities of pure radiance?" "In that respect, friend Kaccāna, there are here some deities of defiled radiance, but there are here some deities of pure radiance." "What, venerable sir Anuruddha, is the cause, what is the condition, by which among those deities reborn in one order of gods, there are here some deities of defiled radiance, but there are here some deities of pure radiance?"
"If so, friend Kaccāna, I will make a simile for you. By means of a simile some wise men here understand the meaning of what is said. Just as, friend Kaccāna, when an oil lamp is burning, the oil is impure and the wick is impure. Because of the impurity of the oil and because of the impurity of the wick, it burns as if dimly; just so, friend Kaccāna, here a certain monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon 'defiled radiance'; his bodily inertia is not well calmed, his sloth and torpor are not well removed, his restlessness and remorse are not well disciplined. Because of the bodily inertia not being well calmed, because of the sloth and torpor not being well removed, because of the restlessness and remorse not being well disciplined, he burns as if dimly. Upon the body's collapse at death, he is reborn in the company of the gods of defiled radiance. Just as, friend Kaccāna, when an oil lamp is burning, the oil is pure and the wick is pure. Because of the purity of the oil and because of the purity of the wick, it does not burn as if dimly; just so, friend Kaccāna, here a certain monk dwells having pervaded and resolved upon 'pure radiance'. His bodily inertia is well calmed, his sloth and torpor are well removed, his restlessness and remorse are well disciplined. Because of the bodily inertia being well calmed, because of the sloth and torpor being well removed, because of the restlessness and remorse being well disciplined, he does not burn as if dimly. Upon the body's collapse at death, he is reborn in the company of the gods of pure radiance. This, friend Kaccāna, is the cause, this is the condition, by which among those deities reborn in one order of gods, there are here some deities of defiled radiance, but there are here some deities of pure radiance."
235. When this was said, the Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna said this to the Venerable Anuruddha - "Good, venerable sir Anuruddha! Venerable sir, the Venerable Anuruddha does not say thus - 'Thus have I heard' or 'Thus it ought to be'; and yet, venerable sir, the Venerable Anuruddha speaks just thus: 'Those deities are thus, those deities are such.' It occurs to me, venerable sir, thus - 'Certainly the Venerable Anuruddha has previously dwelt together with those deities, conversed, and engaged in discussion.'" "Certainly this speech has been spoken by you, friend Kaccāna, having approached and accused, but I will explain to you - 'For a long time, friend Kaccāna, I have previously dwelt together with those deities, conversed, and engaged in discussion.'"
When this was said, the Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna said this to the carpenter Pañcakaṅga - "It is a gain for you, householder, it is well gained for you, householder, that you have abandoned that matter of uncertainty, and we have received this exposition of the Teaching for hearing."
The Discourse on Anuruddha is concluded as seventh.