Majjhima Nikaya - Bakkula Sutta

124. Bakkula Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA III
III. 3. 4. Bakkulasuttaü
(124) The Wonderful Things About Venerable Bakkula

I heard thus. At one time venerable Bakkula lived in the squirrels' sanctuary in
the bamboo grove in Rajagaha. Then Acela-Kassapa a friend of venerable Bakkula
when he was a householder approached him, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a
side and said.
ßFor how long was venerable Bakkula a homeless one?û
ßFriend, I was homeless for eighty years.û
ßFriend Bakkula, during these eighty years, how many times did you indulge in
sexual things?û
ßFriend, Kassapa, I should not be questioned in that manner, as during these
eighty years, how many times did you indulge in sexual things? Friend Kassapa,
you should question me thus, during these eighty years, how many times did
sexual perceptions arise to you?
ßFriend Bakkula, during these eighty years, how many times didsexual perceptions
arise to you?û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of a
single sexual perception that has arisen to meû
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of a single sexual percepton during these
eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable
Bakkulaû
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of a
single angry, hurting perception that has arisen to meû
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of a single angry, hurtingpercepton during
these eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable
Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of a
single sensual thought that has arisen to meû
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of a single sensual thought during these
eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable
Bakkulaû
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of a
single angry, hurting thought that has arisen to meû
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of a single angry, hurting thought during
these eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable
Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
accepting a robe from a householder.û
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of accepting a robe from a householder
during these eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of
venerable Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
cutting the robe with an instrument.û
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of cutting the robe with an instrument
during these eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of
venerable Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
sewing the robe with a needle.û
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of sewing the robe with a needle during
these eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable
Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
dyeing the robe with dye.û
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of dyeing the robe with dye during these
eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable
Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
sewing the katina robe.û
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of sewing the katina robe, during these
eighty years. I bear this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable
Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
employing co-associates to sew the robe, ... re ... accepting an invitation, ...
re ... even the arising of the thought. O! Someone should invite me!.û
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know ofemploying co-associates to sew the robe,
... re ... accepting an invitation, ... re ... even the arising of the thought.
O! Someone should invite me!óuring these eighty years. I bear this as a
wonderful and surprising thing of venerable Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
sitting inisde a house, ... re ... partaking food inside a house, ... re ...
observing even the minor sign of a woman, ... re ... ... teaching a woman at
least the four lines of a verse, ... re ... ... approaching the attendance hall
of the bhikkhunis, ... re ... teaching the bhikkhnis, ... re ... ñeachingthe
trainee novices female or male, ... re ... .û
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know ofsitting inside a house, ... re ... .
teaching the trainee novices female or male, during these eighty years. I bear
this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Kassapa, during these eighty years of homeless life, I do not know of
ordaining someone, ... re ... confering the higher ordination to someone, ... re
... providing requisites to someone or attending to a novice, ... re ... ...
taking a steam bath , ... re ... ... using bathing powder to bathe, ... re ...
employing a co-associate to massage the body, ... re ... ñhe arising of an
ailment even for a short while, ... re ... . `partaking of some medicine for a
sickness, at least some green porridge, ... re ... sleeping turned to the wrong
side, ... re ... . sleeping, ... re ... . observing rains at the end of the
village
ßThat venerable Bakkula does not know of ordaining someone, ... re ... .
observing the rains at the end of the village, during these eighty years. I bear
this as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable Bakkula.û
ßFriend, it was only for seven days that I partook the countryman's morsels with
a debt, on the eighth day I realized extinction
ßIt was only for seven days that venerable Bakkula partook the countryman's
morsels with a debt, on the eighth day he realized extinction. I bear this as a
wonderful and surprising thing of venerable Bakkula.û
ßFriend, Bakkula, may I obtain the going forth and the higher ordination in this
Dispensation,' There upon Acela Kassapa obtained the going forth and the higher
ordination, in that DispensationNot long after the higher ordination of
venerable Kassapa, he withdrew from the crowd, abode zealous for dispelling and
attained the noble end of the holy life here and now, for which sons of clansmen
rightfully go forth homeless. He knew that birth was destroyed, the holy life
was lived, what should be done was done, knew there was nothing more to wish.
Venerable Kassapa became one of the perfect.
Not long afterwards venerable Bakkula took a bunch of keys and went from one
dwelling to the other saying, `Friends, come! Today, will be my final
extinction.
That, venerable Bakkula took a bunch of keys and went from one dwelling to the
other saying, `Friends, come! Today, will be my final extinction. I bear this
too, as a wonderful and surprising thing of venerable Bakkula.û
Venerable Bakkula attained final extinction in the midst of the Community of
bhikkhus seated.
That, venerable Bakkula attained final extinction in the midst of the Community
of bhikkhus seated. I bear this too, as a wonderful and surprising thing of
venerable Bakkula.û