1.
The Chapter on a Reed
1.
The Discourse on Crossing the Flood
1. Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then a certain deity, 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, that deity said this to the Blessed One - "How did you, sir, cross the flood?" "Without standing still, friend, without striving, I crossed the flood." "But in what way did you, sir, without standing still, without striving, cross the flood?" "When I stood still, friend, then I sank; when I strived, friend, then I was swept away. Thus, friend, without standing still, without striving, I crossed the flood."
Without standing still, without striving, one who has crossed over attachment in the world." -
This is what that deity said, and the Teacher approved. Then that deity, thinking, "The Teacher has approved of me," paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and disappeared right there.
2.
The Discourse on Release
2. At Sāvatthī. Then a certain deity, 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, that deity said this to the Blessed One -
"Do you know, sir, the release, the deliverance, the seclusion of beings?"
"I do know, friend, the release, the deliverance, the seclusion of beings."
"But in what way do you, sir, know the release, the deliverance, the seclusion of beings?"
"With the utter elimination of delight in becoming, with the extinction of perception and consciousness, with the cessation and peace of feelings - thus, friend, I know the release, the deliverance, the seclusion of beings."
3.
The Discourse on Being Swept Along
3. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
For one who is swept along by ageing, there are no shelters.
Seeing this danger in death,
One should do meritorious deeds that bring happiness."
For one who is swept along by ageing, there are no shelters.
Seeing this danger in death,
One who seeks peace should abandon worldly gains."
4.
The Discourse on Passing By
4. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
The stages of life gradually give up;
Seeing this danger in death,
One should do meritorious deeds that bring happiness."
The stages of life gradually give up;
Seeing this danger in death,
One seeking peace should abandon worldly gains."
5.
The Discourse on How Many to Cut
5. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
A monk who has gone beyond how many attachments is called a crosser of the mental floods?"
A monk who has gone beyond five attachments is called a crosser of the mental floods."
6.
The Discourse on Being Awake
6. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
By how many does one gather dust, by how many does one become purified?"
By five does one gather dust, by five does one become purified."
7.
The Discourse on Not Fully Known
7. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
They are asleep and do not awaken. It is time for them to awaken."
Those are the Perfectly Enlightened Ones, who, having rightly understood, fare evenly amidst the uneven."
8.
The Discourse on the Very Confused
8. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
They are asleep and do not awaken. It is time for them to awaken."
Those are the Perfectly Enlightened Ones, who, having rightly understood, fare evenly amidst the uneven."
9.
The Discourse on One Fond of Conceit
9. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
Nor is there sagacity for the unconcentrated.
Though dwelling alone in the forest, negligent,
He cannot cross beyond the realm of Death."
With lofty mind, everywhere released,
While dwelling alone in the forest, diligent,
He can cross beyond the realm of Death."
10.
The Discourse on the Forest
10. At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Blessed One in verse -
Eating one meal a day, by what does their beauty become clear?"
They sustain themselves with the present, therefore their beauty becomes clear.
By this fools wither away, like a green reed that is cut."
The Chapter on a Reed is first.
Its summary:
Being Awake, Not Fully Known, Very Confused, One Fond of Conceit;
The Forest is spoken as the tenth, by that the chapter is called.