Majjhima Nikaya - Tevijja-vacchagotta Sutta

71. Tevijja-vacchagotta Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA II
II. 3. 1. Tevijja-vacchagottasuttaü
(71) The three Vedas to Vacchagotta

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the gabled hall in the
great forest in Vesali. At that time the wandering ascetic Vacchagotta was
living in the wandering ascetic's hall Ekapundarikà. The Blessed One putting on
robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes entered Vesali for alms. It
occurred to the Blessed One, it is too early to go for alms in Vesali. What if I
approach the wandering ascetic's hall Ekapundarikà and approach the ascetic
Vacchagotta. Then the Blessed One approached the wandering ascetic's hall and
the ascetic Vacchagotta. He saw the Blessed One approaching and said, Come!
Blessed One. It's after a long time that the Blessed One came, may the Blessed
One take a seat. Here the seat is ready. The Blessed One sat on the prepared
seat and the wandering ascetic Vacchagotta too taking a low seat sat on a side,
and said to the Blessed One.
ßVenerable sir, I have heard this said: The recluse Gotama is all knowing and
all seeing and acknowledges remainderless knowledge and vision in this manner,
`while walking, standing, lying or awake, constantly and continually knowledge
and vision is established, to me'. Venerable sir, those who say, these words,
`The recluse Gotama is all knowing and all seeing and acknowledges remainderless
knowledge and vision:while walking, standing, lying or awake, constantly and
continually,' Are they saying the words of good Gotama and are they not blaming
the Blessed One falsely? Vaccha, those who say, the recluse Gotama is all
knowing and all seeing and acknowledges remainderless knowledge and vision,
while walking, standing, lying or awake, constantly and continually. They, do
not say my words, they blame me falsely.
Venerable sir, saying how would it be said, correctly not blaming the Blessed
One falsely? `The recluse Gotama knows the three knowledges. Saying it thus they
would be saying the right thing, and not blaming me falsely. Vaccha, whenever I
desire, I recollect the manifold previous births, such as one birth, two births,
with all modes and all details, thus I recall the manifold previous births.
Vaccha, when I desire, with the purified heavenly eye beyond human, see beings
disappearing and appearing, in unexalted and exalted states, beautiful and ugly,
in good and bad states, -- I see beings, according their actions. Vaccha,
destroying desires, my mind released and released through wisdom, here and now
by myself realising I abide. Vaccha, if it is said, the recluse Gotama knows the
three knowledges, saying it thus, you would be saying the right thing and not
blaming me falsely'.
When this was said, the wandering ascetic Vacchagotta said thus to the Blessed
One: Good Gotama, are there any laymen who without giving up the lay bonds,
would make an end of unpleasàntness after death? No, Vaccha, there aren't any
laymen who have made an end of unpleasantness. Without giving up the lay bonds.
Good Gotama, are there any laymen born in heaven after death without giving up
the lay bonds? Vaccha, not one hundred, not two hundred, not three hundred, not
four hundred, not five hundred, many more, are born in heaven after death
without giving up the lay bonds. Good Gotama, are there any ascetics who have
made an end of unpleasantness after death? No, Vaccha, there isn't any ascetic,
who has madean end of unpleasantness, after death. Good Gotama, are there any
ascetics who are born in heaven after death? Vaccha, I recollected so many as
ninety one world cycles and did not see any ascetic born in heaven, except for a
certain one who was of the view, there are results for actions. Good Gotama, if
that is so, all other faiths are useless even without a birth in heaven.
The Blessed One said thus and wandering ascetic Vacchagotta delighted in the
words of the Blessed One.