1.
The Discourse on the Advice to Anāthapiṇḍika
383. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the householder Anāthapiṇḍika was sick, afflicted, severely ill. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika addressed a certain man - "Come, my good man, go to where the Blessed One is; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet - 'The householder Anāthapiṇḍika, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill. He pays respect with his head at the Blessed One's feet.' And go to where the Venerable Sāriputta is; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Venerable Sāriputta's feet - 'The householder Anāthapiṇḍika, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill. He pays respect with his head at the Venerable Sāriputta's feet.' And say this: 'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Venerable Sāriputta would approach the dwelling of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, out of compassion.'"
"Yes, venerable sir," that man replied to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika and approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that man said this to the Blessed One - "The householder Anāthapiṇḍika, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill. He pays respect with his head at the Blessed One's feet." And he approached the Venerable Sāriputta; having approached, he paid respect to the Venerable Sāriputta and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that man said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "The householder Anāthapiṇḍika, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill. He pays respect with his head at the Venerable Sāriputta's feet; and he says thus - 'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Venerable Sāriputta would approach the dwelling of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, out of compassion.'" The Venerable Sāriputta consented by silence.
384. Then the Venerable Sāriputta, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, with the Venerable Ānanda as his attendant monk, approached the dwelling of the householder Anāthapiṇḍika; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika - "Is it bearable for you, householder, is it endurable? Are unpleasant feelings receding for you, not advancing; is their receding evident, not their advancing?"
"It is not bearable for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding. Just as, venerable sir Sāriputta, a strong man were to crush one's head with a sharp point; just so indeed for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, exceeding winds strike at my head. It is not bearable for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding. Just as, venerable sir Sāriputta, a strong man were to bind one's head with a tight leather strap as a head-band; just so indeed for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, there are exceeding headaches in my head. It is not bearable for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding. Just as, venerable sir Sāriputta, a skilled butcher or a butcher's apprentice were to cut through the belly with a sharp butcher's knife; just so indeed for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, exceeding winds cut through my belly. It is not bearable for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding. Just as, venerable sir Sāriputta, two strong men, having seized a weaker man by both arms, were to scorch and thoroughly burn him over a charcoal pit; just so indeed for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, there is an exceeding burning in my body. It is not bearable for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding."
385. "Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the eye, and consciousness based upon the eye will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the ear, and consciousness based upon the ear will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the nose, and consciousness based upon the nose will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the tongue, and consciousness based upon the tongue will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the body, and consciousness based upon the body will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the mind, and consciousness based upon the mind will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to matter, and consciousness based upon matter will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to sound... etc. I will not cling to odour... I will not cling to flavour... I will not cling to tangible object... I will not cling to mental objects, and consciousness based upon mental objects will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to eye-consciousness, and consciousness based upon eye-consciousness will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to ear-consciousness... I will not cling to nose-consciousness... I will not cling to tongue-consciousness... I will not cling to body-consciousness... I will not cling to mind-consciousness, and consciousness based upon mind-consciousness will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to eye-contact, and my consciousness will not be dependent on eye-contact.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to ear-contact... I will not cling to nose-contact... I will not cling to tongue-contact... I will not cling to body-contact... I will not cling to mind-contact, and my consciousness will not be dependent on mind-contact.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to feeling born of eye-contact, and my consciousness will not be dependent on feeling born of eye-contact.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to feeling born of ear-contact... I will not cling to feeling born of nose-contact... I will not cling to feeling born of tongue-contact... I will not cling to feeling born of body-contact... I will not cling to feeling born of mind-contact, and my consciousness will not be dependent on feeling born of mind-contact.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
386. "Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the solid element, and consciousness based upon the solid element will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the liquid element... I will not cling to the heat element... I will not cling to the air element... I will not cling to the space element... I will not cling to the consciousness element, and consciousness based upon the consciousness element will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to matter, and consciousness based upon matter will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to feeling... I will not cling to perception... I will not cling to activities... I will not cling to consciousness, and consciousness based upon consciousness will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the plane of infinite space, and consciousness based upon the plane of infinite space will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the plane of infinite consciousness... I will not cling to the plane of nothingness... I will not cling to the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, and consciousness based upon the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train.
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to this world, and consciousness based upon this world will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will not cling to the world beyond, and consciousness based upon the world beyond will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train. Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'Whatever has been seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, repeatedly sought after, pondered over by the mind - that too I will not cling to, and consciousness based upon that will not be mine.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train."
387. When this was said, the householder Anāthapiṇḍika wailed and shed tears. Then the Venerable Ānanda said this to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika - "Are you clinging, householder, are you sinking, householder?" "I am not, venerable sir Ānanda, clinging, nor am I sinking; but for a long time the Teacher has been attended upon by me, and the monks who cultivate the mind; and such a talk on the Teaching has never been heard by me before." "Indeed, householder, such a talk on the Teaching does not occur to laypeople clad in white; such a talk on the Teaching, householder, occurs to those who have gone forth." "If so, venerable sir Sāriputta, let such a talk on the Teaching occur to laypeople clad in white too. There are indeed, venerable sir, sons of good family with little dust in their eyes; through not hearing they are declining from the Teaching; there will be those who understand the Teaching."
Then the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Ānanda, having exhorted the householder Anāthapiṇḍika with this exhortation, rose from their seats and departed. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, soon after the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Ānanda had departed, died and was reborn in the Tusita realm. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the young god, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Anāthapiṇḍika the young god addressed the Blessed One in verses -
Dwelt in by the King of the Teaching, generating joy for me.
By this mortals are purified, not by clan or by wealth.
Should wisely investigate the Teaching, thus he becomes purified therein.
Even a monk who has gone beyond, this would be his highest."
This Anāthapiṇḍika the young god said. The Teacher was approving. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the young god - "The Teacher approves of me," having paid respect to the Blessed One and circumambulated him keeping him on his right, disappeared right there.
388. Then the Blessed One, after that night had passed, addressed the monks - "This night, monks, a certain young god, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Jeta's Grove, approached me; having approached, he paid respect to me and stood to one side. Standing to one side, that young god addressed me in verses -
Dwelt in by the King of the Teaching, generating joy for me.
By this mortals are purified, not by clan or by wealth.
Should wisely investigate the Teaching, thus he becomes purified therein.
Even a monk who has gone beyond, this would be his highest."
"This, monks, that young god said. 'The Teacher approves of me,' having paid respect to me and circumambulated me keeping me on his right, disappeared right there."
When this was said, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One - "That, venerable sir, must surely be Anāthapiṇḍika the young god. The householder Anāthapiṇḍika, venerable sir, was devoted to the Venerable Sāriputta." "Good, good, Ānanda! Whatever, Ānanda, is to be attained by reasoning, that has been attained by you. That, Ānanda, is Anāthapiṇḍika the young god."
This is what the Blessed One said. Delighted, the Venerable Ānanda rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said.
The Discourse on the Exhortation to Anāthapiṇḍika is concluded as first.