Majjhima Nikaya - Mahagosinga Sutta

32. Mahagosinga Sutta - English Majjhima Nikàya I
4. 2. Mahàgosingasuttaü
(32) The longer Discourse in the Gosinga Forest

I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One lived in the Gosinga Sàla forest, with many well
versed elder disciples such as venerables Sàriputta, Mahàmoggallàna,
Mahàkassapa, Anuruddha, Revata, ânanda and many other well versed elder
disciples. Venerable Mahàmoggallàna getting up from his seclusion in the evening
approached venerable Mahàkassapa and said; Kassapa, let us go to venerable
Sàriputta, to hear the Teaching. Venerable Mahàkassapa agreed and venerable
Mahàmoggallàna, venerable Mahàkassapa and venerable Anuruddha approached
venerable Sàriputta. Venerable ânanda saw venerables, Mahàmoggallàna,
Mahàkassapa and Anuruddha approaching venerable Sàriputta to hear the Teaching
and venerable ânanda approached venerable Revata and said, friend, Revata, the
Great Men are approaching venerable Sàriputta to hear the Teaching, shall we too
go to hear the Teaching. Venerable Revata agreed and venerable Revata and
venerable
ânanda approached venerable Sàriputta.
Venerable Sàriputta saw venerables Revata and ânanda coming in the distance and
said, welcome friend, ânanda, the close and near attendant of the Blessed One.
Friend, ânanda, in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing the flowers
in full bloom, give a heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu would adorn this Sàla
forest? Friend, Sàriputta, a learned bhikkhu, who bears all the Teaching,
treasures that, which is good at the beginning,in the middle and at the end, and
declares the completely pure holy life. Of that Teaching he should become a
bearer by words and practise and an experiencer of it through penetration. He
would teach it to the fourfold gatherings, with the words coming to him without
difficulty, for the destruction of the latent tendencies of those with sharp
mental faculties. Friend, Sàriputta, such a bhikkhu would adorn the Gosinga.
Sàla forest.
When this was said, venerable Sàriputta addressed venerable Revata, Friend,
Revata, venerable ânanda has declared this according to his understanding, now
we ask you: Friend Revata, in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing,
the flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu would
adorn this Sàla forest? Friend, Sàriputta, a bhikkhu who is fond of seclusion,
yoked to internal appeasement of the mind. He would not neglect jhàna, endowed
with wise reflection, and would develop the abidings without thoughts and
discursive thoughts. Such a bhikkhu would adorn the Gosinga Sàla forest.
When this was said, venerable Sàriputta addressed venerable Anuruddha: Friend,
Anuruddha, venerable Revata has declared this according to his understanding,
now we ask you. Anuruddha, in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing,
the flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu would
adorn this Sàla forest? Friend, Sàriputta, the bhikkhu with the heavenly eye
purified beyond human would look at the thousandfold world systems. Like a man
who has climbed to the top most storey of his mansion would be looking at a disc
with thousandfold circumferences. In the same manner the bhikkhu with the
heavenly eye purified beyond human would look at the thousandfold world systems.
Such a bhikkhu would adorn the Gosinga Sàla forest.
When this was said, venerable Sàriputta addressed venerable Mahàkassapa, Friend,
Kassapa, venerable Anuruddha has declared this according to his understanding,
now we ask you. Kassapa. in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing,
the flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu would
adorn this Sàla forest? Friend, Sàriputta, the bhikkhu, a forest dweller praises
forest dwelling. A partaker of morsel food praises the partaking of morsel food.
A rag robe wearer, praises wearing rag-robes. Confined to three robes, praises
that. With few desires praises few desires, and satisfied praises satisfaction
Secluded praises seclusion, withdrawn, praises withdrawal from the crowd. With
aroused effort, praises arousal of effort and virtuous, praises endowment of
virtues. Concentrated praises endowment of concentration and wise praises
endowment of wisdom. Released praises endowment of release and endowed with the
knowledge and vision of release, praises the knowledge and vision of release.
Such a bhikkhu would adorn the Gosinga Sàla forest.
When this was said, venerable Sàriputta addressed venerable Mahàmoggallàana
Friend, Moggallàna, venerable Mahàkassapa has declared this according to his
understanding, now we ask you. Friend, Moggallàna, in the moon light, the Sàla
forest is very pleasing, the flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent. What
kind of bhikkhu would adorn this Sàla forest? Friend, Sàriputta, two bhikkhus
discussing a deep point in the Teaching would ask questions from each other.
Would find replies for each others questions. They would not fall out with each
other, their talk would be timely and beneficial. Such a bhikkhu would adorn the
Gosinga Sàla forest.
Then venerable Mahàmoggallàna addressed venerable Sàriputta. Friend, Sàriputta
we all have declared this according to our understanding. Now we ask you.
Friend, Sàriputta, in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing, the
flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent, what kind of bhikkhu would adorn
this Sàla forest. Here, friend, Moggallàna, the bhikkhu wields power over the
mind, and does not abide in the power of the mind. Whatever abiding he desires
to abide in the morning, in that, he abides in the morning. Whatever abiding he
desires to abide in the mid day, in that he abides in the mid day. Whatever
abiding he desires to abide in the evening, in that he abides in the evening.
Like a head anointed king, or his chief minister who had a casket full of
clothes of various colours, would choose the set of clothes he wanted to wear in
the morning, in the mid day, and in the evening. In the same manner the bhikkhu
wields power over the mind and does not abide in the power of the mind. In
whatever abidings he desires to abide, in the morning, at mid day, and in the
evening, in that respective abiding he abides in the morning, at mid day, and in
the evening. Such a bhikkhu adorns the Gosinga Sàla forest.
Then venerable Sàriputta said thus to those venerable ones-Let us approach the
Blessed One, and inform all this and as he explains it let us bear it in mind.
Those venerable ones agreed and they approached the Blessed One, worshipped and
sat on a side. Then venerable Sàriputta said thus to the Blessed One: Venerable
sir, venerable Revata and venerable ânanda approached me to hear the Teaching, I
seeing venerables Revata and ânanda coming in the distance, said welcome friend,
ânanda, the close and near attendant of the Blessed One. Friend, ânanda, in the
moon light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing the flowers in full bloom give a
heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu would adorn this Sàla forest. ? Venerable
sir, then venerable ânanda said: Friend, Sàriputta, a learned bhikkhu, treasures
the Teaching which is good at the beginning, in the middle and at the end. That
Teaching which declares the completely pure holy life. Of that Teaching he
should become a bearer by words and practise and an experiencer through
penetration He would teach it to the fourfold gatherings, the words coming to
him without difficulty, for the destruction of the latent tendencies of those
with sharp mental faculties. Friend, Sàriputta, such a bhikkhu would adorn the
Gosinga. Sàla forest. Good Sàriputta, as ânanda himself has explained, is
learned bears the Teaching and treasures the Teaching good at the beginning, in
the middle and at the end. The Teaching which declares the complete and pure
holy life. He bears it in mind by words and practise and experiences it through
penetration and he teaches the four gatherings, the words coming to him without
difficulty, for the destruction of the latent tendencies of those with sharp
mental faculties.
When this was said, venerable sir, I addressed venerable Revata. Friend, Revata,
venerable ânanda has declared this according to his understanding, now we ask
you: Revata, in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing, the flowers in
full bloom give a heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu would adorn this Sàla
forest?. When this was said, venerable Revata said thus to me. Friend,
Sàriputta, a bhikkhu fond of seclusion, yoked to the internal appeasement of
mind, would not neglect jhàna, endowed with wise reflection. [1] He would
develop the abidings overcoming thoughts and discursive thoughts. Such a bhikkhu
would adorn the Gosinga Sàla forest. Good, Sàriputta, As Revata himself explains
is fond of seclusion yoked to the internal appeasement of mind, does not neglect
jhàna develops abidings overcoming thoughts and discursive thoughts.
When this was said, venerable sir, I told venerable Anuruddha: Friend,
Anuruddha, venerable Revata has declared this according to his understanding,
now we ask you. Friend, Anuruddha, in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very
pleasing, the flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu
would adorn this Sàla forest?. When this was said venerable Anuruddha said thus
to me. Friend, Sàriputta, the bhikkhu with the heavenly eye purified beyond
human would look at the thousandfold world systems. Like a man who has climbed
to the top most storey of his mansion would look at a disc with a thousandfold
circumference. In the same manner the bhikkhu with the heavenly eye purified
beyond human would look at the thousandfold world systems. Such a bhikkhu would
adorn the Gosinga Sàla forest. Good, Sàriputta, as Anuruddha himself explains
with the heavenly eye purified beyond human, he looks at the thousandfold world
systems
When this was said, venerable sir, I told venerable Mahàkassapa, Friend,
Kassapa, venerable Anuruddha has declared this according to his understanding,
now we ask you. Friend, Kassapa, in the moon light, the Sàla forest is very
pleasing, the flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent. What kind of bhikkhu
would adorn this Sàla forest? When this was said, venerable Mahàkassapa said
thus to me. Friend, Sàriputta, the bhikkhu a forest dweller praises dwelling in
the forest. Partaking morsel food praises the partaking of morsel food. A rag
robe wearer, praises wearing rag-robes. Confined to three robes, praises that
and with few desires praises few desires. Satisfied praises satisfaction, and
secluded praises seclusion. Withdrawing from the crowd, praises withdrawal from
the crowd. With aroused effort, praises arousal of effort and virtuous praises
endowment of virtues. Concentrated praises endowment of concentration and wise,
praises endowment of wisdom. Released praises endowment of release. Endowed with
the knowledge and vision of release, praises the knowledge and vision of
release. Such a bhikkhu would adorn the Gosinga Sàla forest. Good, Sàriputta, As
Kassapa himself explains he a forest dweller praises forest dwelling, himself
endowed with the knowledge and vision of release praises the knowledge and
vision of release. .
When this was said, venerable sir, I told venerable Mahàmoggallàana Friend,
Moggallàna, venerable Mahàkassapa has declared this according to his
understanding, now we ask you. Friend, Moggallàna, in the moon light, the Sàla
forest is very pleasing, the flowers in full bloom give a heavenly scent. What
kind of bhikkhu would adorn this Sàla forest? Friend, Sàriputta, two bhikkhus
discussing a deep point in the Teaching would ask questions from each other.
They would find replies for each others questions, would not fall out with each
other. Their talk would be timely and beneficial. Such a bhikkhu would adorn the
Gosinga Sàla forest. Good, Sàriputta, As Moggallàana himself explains he is a
good preacher.
Then venerable Mahàmoggallàna said thus to the Blessed One: venerable sir,then I
said to venerable Sàriputta. Friend, Sàriputta we all have declared this
according to our understanding, now we ask you. Friend, Sàriputta, in the moon
light, the Sàla forest is very pleasing, the flowers in full bloom give a
heavenly scent, what kind of bhikkhu would adorn this Sàla forest. When this was
said venerable Sàriputta said thus to me. Here, friend, Moggallàna, the bhikkhu
wields power over the mind, and does not abide in the power of the mind.
Whatever abiding he desires to abide in the morning, in that he abides in the
morning, whatever abiding he desires to abide, at mid day, in that he abides, at
mid day, whatever abiding he desires to abide in the evening, in that he abides
in the evening. Like a head anointed king, or his chief minister who had a
casket full of clothes of various colours. From it he would choose whatever set
of clothes he wanted to wear in the morning, in the mid day, and in the evening.
In the same manner the bhikkhu wields power over the mind and does not abide in
the power of the mind. Whatever abiding he desires to abide in the morning, at
mid day and in the evening, in that respective abiding he abides respectively
Friend, Moggallàna, such a bhikkhu adorns the Gosinga Sàla forest. Good
Moggallàna! As Sàriputta himself explains it, he wields power over the mind, and
does not abide in the power of the mind. Whatever abiding he desires to abide in
the morning, at mid day and in the evening, in those and those he would abide
respectively..
When this was said venerable Sàriputta said thus to the Blessed One -Venerable
sir, Whose words are the best?. Sàriputta, all these are good words, in a
certain order, yet listen to what I have to say: Here, Sàriputta, the bhikkhu,
when the meal is over and returning from the alms round sits in a cross-legged
posture, keeping his body straight and mindfulness established in front. The he
determines, until my mind is released without desires, I would not change this
posture. Sàriputta, such a bhikkhu, adorns the Gosinga Sàla forest.
The Blessed One said thus and the venerable ones delighted in the words of the
Blessed One.
[1] Would not neglect jhàna endowed with wise reflection (anãràkata jhàno
vipassanàya samannàgato). When jhànas are practised, they should be accompanied
with wise reflection. 'vipassanà bhàvanà' is this wise reflection and it is none
other than reflecting that those pure thought moments are impermanent, changing,
so they are unpleasant, and so it is foolish to appropriate them as me or mine.
This helps the yogi to drop the self view little by little.