3.
The Discourse on Mahākaccāna and a Single Excellent Night
279. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Tapoda Monastery. Then the Venerable Samiddhi, having risen towards the break of dawn, approached the hot springs to bathe his limbs. Having bathed his limbs at the hot springs, having come out, he stood wearing a single robe, drying his limbs. Then a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire hot springs, approached the Venerable Samiddhi; having approached, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity said this to the Venerable Samiddhi - "Do you remember, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night?" "No indeed, friend, I do not remember the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night. But do you, friend, remember the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night?" "I too, monk, do not remember the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night. But do you remember, monk, the verses on one who has an auspicious night?" "No indeed, friend, I do not remember the verses on one who has an auspicious night. But do you, friend, remember the verses on one who has an auspicious night?" "I too, monk, do not remember the verses on one who has an auspicious night. Learn, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night; master, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night; remember, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night. The synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night is beneficial, monk, and is fundamental to the holy life." This that deity said; having said this, she disappeared right there.
280. Then the Venerable Samiddhi, after that night had passed, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Samiddhi said this to the Blessed One -
"Here I, venerable sir, having risen towards the break of dawn, approached the hot springs to bathe my limbs. Having bathed my limbs at the hot springs, having come out, I stood wearing a single robe, drying my limbs. Then, venerable sir, a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire hot springs, approached me; having approached, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity said this to me - 'Do you remember, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night?'
When this was said, I, venerable sir, said this to that deity - 'No indeed, friend, I do not remember the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night. But do you, friend, remember the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night?' 'I too, monk, do not remember the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night. But do you remember, monk, the verses on one who has an auspicious night?' 'No indeed, friend, I do not remember the verses on one who has an auspicious night. But do you, friend, remember the verses on one who has an auspicious night?' 'I too, monk, do not remember the verses on one who has an auspicious night. Learn, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night; master, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night; remember, monk, the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night. The synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night is beneficial, monk, and is fundamental to the holy life.' This, venerable sir, that deity said; having said this, she disappeared right there. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the synopsis and analysis of one who has an auspicious night." "If so, monk, listen, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Samiddhi assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
What is past has been abandoned, and the future has not yet arrived.
Unshakable, unagitated, knowing that, one should develop it.
For there is no bargaining with that one, Death with his great army.
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered the dwelling. Then, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this occurred to those monks - "Friends, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling -
What is past has been abandoned, and the future has not yet arrived.
Unshakable, unagitated, knowing that, one should develop it.
For there is no bargaining with that one, Death with his great army.
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
"Who now could explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail?"
Then those monks had this thought: "This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life. The Venerable Mahākaccāna is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. What if we were to approach the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached, we should ask the Venerable Mahākaccāna about this matter."
281. Then those monks approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached, they exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Mahākaccāna. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Venerable Mahākaccāna - "Friend Kaccāna, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling -
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
Then, friend Kaccāna, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this occurred to us - 'Friends, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling -
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
Who now could explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail?' Then, friend Kaccāna, this occurred to us - 'This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life. The Venerable Mahākaccāna is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. What if we were to approach the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached, we should ask the Venerable Mahākaccāna about this matter.' Let the Venerable Mahākaccāna explain."
"Just as, friends, a man desiring the substance, seeking the substance, wandering about in search of the substance, of a great tree standing with substance, having passed over the root, having passed over the trunk, might think the substance should be sought in the branches and leaves; thus it is with the venerable ones, when the Teacher is present before you, having passed over that Blessed One, you think this matter should be asked of us. For, friends, the Blessed One is one who knows what is to be known, one who sees what is to be seen, become vision, become knowledge, become the Teaching, become the supreme, the speaker, the proclaimer, the one who leads to the meaning, the giver of the Deathless, the lord of the Teaching, the Truth-finder. And that was the time when you should have asked the Blessed One himself about this matter. As the Blessed One would have answered you, so you should have remembered it."
"Certainly, friend Kaccāna, the Blessed One is one who knows what is to be known, one who sees what is to be seen, become vision, become knowledge, become the Teaching, become the supreme, the speaker, the proclaimer, the one who leads to the meaning, the giver of the Deathless, the lord of the Teaching, the Truth-finder. And that was the time when we should have asked the Blessed One himself about this matter; as the Blessed One would have answered us, so we should have remembered it. But the Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life; The Venerable Mahākaccāna is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. Let the Venerable Mahākaccāna explain, without finding it troublesome."
"If so, friends, listen and pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, friend," those monks assented to the Venerable Mahākaccāna. The Venerable Mahākaccāna said this -
"Friends, that which the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling -
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
I, friends, understand in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail, thus -
282. "And how, friends, does one follow after the past? Thus my eye was in the past period of time, thus forms - there consciousness is bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is bound by desire and lust one delights in that, delighting in that one follows after the past. Thus my ear was in the past period of time, thus sounds - etc. thus my nose was in the past period of time, thus odours - thus my tongue was in the past period of time, thus flavours - thus my body was in the past period of time, thus tangible objects - thus my mind was in the past period of time, thus mental phenomena - there consciousness is bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is bound by desire and lust one delights in that, delighting in that one follows after the past - thus, friends, one follows after the past.
"And how, friends, does one not follow after the past? Thus my eye was in the past period of time, thus forms - there consciousness is not bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is not bound by desire and lust one does not delight in that, not delighting in that one does not follow after the past. Thus my ear was in the past period of time, thus sounds - etc. thus my nose was in the past period of time, thus odours - thus my tongue was in the past period of time, thus flavours - thus my body was in the past period of time, thus tangible objects - thus my mind was in the past period of time, thus mental phenomena - there consciousness is not bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is not bound by desire and lust, one does not delight in that, not delighting in that one does not follow after the past - thus, friends, one does not follow after the past.
283. "And how, friends, does one long for the future? Thus my eye may be in the future period of time, thus forms - one directs the mind towards the attainment of what has not been attained, by reason of the mind's aspiration one delights in that, delighting in that one longs for the future. Thus my ear may be in the future period of time, thus sounds - etc. thus my nose may be in the future period of time, thus odours - thus my tongue may be in the future period of time, thus flavours - thus my body may be in the future period of time, thus tangible objects - thus my mind may be in the future period of time, thus mental phenomena - one directs the mind towards the attainment of what has not been attained, by reason of the mind's aspiration one delights in that, delighting in that one longs for the future - thus, friends, one longs for the future.
"And how, friends, does one not long for the future? Thus my eye may be in the future period of time, thus forms - one does not direct the mind towards the attainment of what has not been attained, by reason of the mind's non-aspiration one does not delight in that, not delighting in that one does not long for the future. Thus my ear may be in the future period of time, thus sounds - etc. thus my nose may be in the future period of time, thus odours - thus my tongue may be in the future period of time, thus flavours - thus my body may be in the future period of time, thus tangible objects - thus my mind may be in the future period of time, thus mental phenomena - one does not direct the mind towards the attainment of what has not been attained, by reason of the mind's non-aspiration one does not delight in that, not delighting in that one does not long for the future - thus, friends, one does not long for the future.
284. "And how, friends, is one drawn away regarding present phenomena? Friend, the eye and forms - both of these are present. If regarding that present consciousness is bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is bound by desire and lust one delights in that, delighting in that one is drawn away regarding present phenomena. Friend, the ear and sounds... etc. friend, the nose and odours... friend, the tongue and flavours... friend, the body and tangible objects... friend, the mind and mental phenomena - both of these are present. If regarding that present consciousness is bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is bound by desire and lust one delights in that, delighting in that one is drawn away regarding present phenomena - thus, friends, one is drawn away regarding present phenomena.
"And how, friends, is one not drawn away regarding present phenomena? Friend, the eye and forms - both of these are present. If regarding that present consciousness is not bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is not bound by desire and lust one does not delight in that, not delighting in that one is not drawn away regarding present phenomena. Friend, the ear and sounds... etc. friend, the nose and odours... friend, the tongue and flavours... friend, the body and tangible objects... friend, the mind and mental phenomena - both of these are present. If regarding that present consciousness is not bound by desire and lust, because consciousness is not bound by desire and lust one does not delight in that, not delighting in that one is not drawn away regarding present phenomena - thus, friends, one is not drawn away regarding present phenomena.
285. "Friends, that which the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling -
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
"I, friends, understand in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail, thus. But if you wish, venerable ones, you may approach the Blessed One himself and ask about this matter. As the Blessed One answers you, so you should remember it."
Then those monks, having delighted in and given thanks for the Venerable Mahākaccāna's saying, rose from their seats and 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, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling -
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
Then, venerable sir, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this occurred to us - "Friends, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling -
What is past has been abandoned, and the future has not yet arrived.
Unshakable, unagitated, knowing that, one should develop it.
For there is no bargaining with that one, Death with his great army.
That one indeed is called 'one who has an auspicious night,' the peaceful sage declares."
"Who now could explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail?" Then this occurred to us, venerable sir - 'This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life. The Venerable Mahākaccāna is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. What if we were to approach the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached, we should ask the Venerable Mahākaccāna about this matter.' Then we, venerable sir, approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached, we asked the Venerable Mahākaccāna about this matter. For us, venerable sir, the Venerable Mahākaccāna explained the meaning with these characteristics, with these terms, with these phrases."
"Monks, Mahākaccāna is wise; monks, Mahākaccāna is of great wisdom. Monks, if you had asked me about this matter, I too would have answered it in exactly the same way as it was answered by Mahākaccāna. This indeed is its meaning. And thus you should remember it."
This is what the Blessed One said. Those monks, delighted, rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said.
The Discourse on Mahākaccāna and the Auspicious Single Night is concluded as third.