5.
The Discourse About Hatthaka
35. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Āḷavī on the cattle path in a siṃsapā grove on a mattress of leaves. Then Hatthaka of Āḷavī, walking up and down for leg exercise, wandering about, saw the Blessed One seated on the cattle path in a siṃsapā grove on a mattress of leaves. Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Hatthaka of Āḷavī said this to the Blessed One - "I hope, venerable sir, the Blessed One slept happily?" "Yes, young man, I slept happily. And of those who sleep happily in the world, I am one of them."
"Cold, venerable sir, is the wintry night, the eight days between the months is the time of snowfall, rough is the ground trampled by cattle hooves, thin is the mattress of leaves, sparse are the leaves of the tree, cold are the ochre robes, and a cold high-altitude wind blows. And yet the Blessed One says thus - 'Yes, young man, I slept happily. And of those who sleep happily in the world, I am one of them.'"
"If so, young man, I will ask you a question about this very matter. As it pleases you, so you should answer it. What do you think, young man, suppose here a householder or a householder's son had a pinnacle chamber, plastered inside and out, sheltered from the wind, with bolts fastened and windows closed. In it there might be a divan spread with a long-fleeced woollen cover, spread with a white woollen cover, spread with a woollen cover embroidered with flowers, with an excellent antelope-hide spread, with a canopy above and red cushions at both ends; and an oil lamp would burn there; and four wives would be in attendance with agreeable service. What do you think, young man, would he sleep happily or not? Or how is it here?" "He would sleep happily, venerable sir. And of those who sleep happily in the world, he would be one of them."
"What do you think, young man, might there arise for that householder or householder's son fevers born of lust, bodily or mental, by which fevers born of lust, being burnt, he would sleep in suffering?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"That lust, young man, by which that householder or householder's son, being burnt by fevers born of lust, would sleep in suffering - that lust has been abandoned by the Truth-finder, its root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future. Therefore I slept happily.
"What do you think, young man, might there arise for that householder or householder's son fevers born of hate? Etc. Fevers born of delusion, bodily or mental, by which fevers born of delusion, being burnt, he would sleep in suffering?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"Whatever delusion, young man, by which a householder or a householder's son, being burnt by the fever born of delusion, would sleep in suffering, that delusion has been abandoned by the Truth-finder, its root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future. Therefore I slept happily."
Who does not cling to sensual pleasures, become cooled, without clinging.
The peaceful one sleeps happily, having attained peace of mind." The fifth.