Majjhima Nikaya - Vekhanassa Sutta

80. Vekhanassa Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA II
II. 3. 10. Vekhanassasuttaü
(80) Advice to the Wandering Ascetic Vekhanassa

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by
Anàthapiõóika in Jeta's grove in Savatthi. Then the wandering ascetic Vekhanassa
approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings and stood on a side and
uttered a solemn utterance. 'This is the most excellent appearance. '
'Kaccayana, why do you say, this is the most excellent appearance? What is that
most excellent appearance?' .
'Good Gotama, when there is no other appearance more noble and exalted than
that, it is the most excellent appearance. '
'Kaccayana, how is that appearance, which has no other appearance more noble and
exalted than that. '
'Good Gotama, when there is no other appearance more noble and exalted than
that, it is the most excellent appearance. '
'Kaccayana, does it extend lengthwise?''Good Gotama, as there is no other
appearance more noble and exalted than that, it is said to be the highest
appearance, and it cannot be pointed out. '
'Kaccàyana, it is like this. There is a man who says, I desire and love the most
beautiful woman in this state: Then he is asked Good man, the most beautiful
woman you desire, is she of warrior clan, brahmin clan, householder clan or from
an out caste clan? When asked, he would say No. Then he is asked. Good man, the
most beautiful woman you desire and love, do you know, of what clan she is. do
you know whether she is tall, short or medium. Do you know whether she is dark,
fair or brown? Do you know in which village, hamlet or town she lives? When
asked he says, No. Then he is told, good man, do you desire and love someone
whom you do not know and have not seen? Then he would say, yes. 'What do you
think Kaccàyana. Doesn't this talk turn out to be stupid talk?'
'Good Gotama, when that is so, that man's talk turns out to be stupid talk. '
'In the same manner Kaccàyana, you say, good Gotama, when there is no other
appearance more noble and exalted than that, it is the most excellent
appearance, and that appearance you do not point out. '
'Good Gotama, it is like a lepis gem of good birth, with eight facets, well
completed and when placed in the orange coloured blanket, shines, emits heat and
illuminates. The self would be of that appearance, healthy after death. '
'Kaccayana, what do you think, of these two, the lapis gem of good birth, with
eight facets, well completed and placed in the orange coloured blanket, and the
worms and fire flies in the darkness of the night, which give the more excellent
appearance in shining, emitting heat and illuminating?'
'Good Gotama, of these two appearances the more excellent appearance would be
the worms and fire flies in the darkness of the night. '
'Kaccayana, of these two, the worms and fire flies in the darkness of the night
and a lighted oil lamp, which gives the more excellent appearance in shining,
emitting heat and illuminating?'
'Good Gotama, of these two appearances, the more excellent appearance would be
the lighted oil lamp. '
'Kaccayana, of these two, the lighted oil lamp for the darkness of the night,
and a large mass of fire, for the darkness of the night, which gives the more
excellent appearance in shining, emitting heat and illuminating?'
'Good Gotama, of these two appearances, the more excellent appearance would be a
large mass of fire for the darkness. '
'Kaccayana, of these two, a large mass of fire for the darkness, and the morning
star, in the last watch of the night, when the sky is clear, which gives the
more excellent appearance in shining, emitting heat and illuminating?'.
'Good Gotama, of these appearances, the more excellent appearance would be the
morning star in the last watch of the night, when the sky is clear. '
'Kaccayana, of these two, the morning star in the last watch of the night, when
the sky is clear, and the full moon at mid night when the sky is clear without
clouds, which gives the more excellent appearance in shining, emitting heat and
illuminating?'
'Good Gotama, of these two appearances, the more excellent appearance would be
the full moon at mid night when the sky is clear without clouds?'
'Kaccayana, of these two, the full moon at mid night when the sky is clear
without clouds and the sun in the sky at mid day in Summer, which gives the more
excellent appearance in shining, emitting heat and illuminating?'
'Good Gotama, of these two appearances, the more excellent would be the sun in
the sky at mid day in Summer time. '
'Kaccayana, the excellence of many of these gods surpasses the excellence of the
moon and sun, I know them, yet I would not tell whose appearance is more noble
and more excellent than the other's appearance. Yet, you say, this appearance,
which is inferior even to the appearance of the worms and fireflies, is the most
noble and excellent appearance. That too you would not point out. '.
'Kaccayana, five are the strands of sensual pleasures. What are the five?
Pleasing agreeable forms cognizable by eye consiousness arousing fondness and
sensual desires. Pleasing agreeable sounds, --Pleasing agreeable smells,
-Pleasing agreeable tastes, --- Pleasing agreeable touches cognizable by body
consciousness arousing fondness and sensual desires. Kaccayana, these are the
five strands of sensual pleasures on account of them arises pleasantness and
pleasure. Thus from the senses is sensual pleasures, of sensual pleasures the
highest sensual pleasure is declared'. [1]
When this was said the wandering ascetic Vekhanassa said thus to the
BlessedOne-'Indeed wonderful are the words of good Gotama, from the senses is
sense pleasures, of sensual pleasures the highest pleasure is told by me. '.
'Kaccayana, you of another faith, another liking, another yoking, without
knowing the training, would not know the senses, the sense pleasures, and of
sensual pleasures the highest sensual pleasure. Kaccayana, those perfected
bhikkhus, desires destroyed, lived the holy life, done what should be done, put
down the weight, have attained the highest good, have destroyed the desires 'to
be' and knowing rightly released, would know the senses, the sensual pleasures,
and the highest sensual pleasure. '.
When this was said the wandering ascetic Vekhanassa was angry and displeased and
cursed and reviled the Blessed One. 'It is the recluse gotama who says evil
words. In this manner certain recluses and brahmins, not knowing the beginning
and not seeing the end acknowledge birth is destroyed. The holy life is lived,
what should be done is done, there is nothing more to wish. These their words
are empty and foolish. '
'There Kaccayana, those recluses and brahmins who not knowing the beginning and
not seeing the end, acknowledge birth is destroyed, the holy life is lived, what
should be done is done, there is nothing more to wish. They should be rightfully
blamed. YetKaccàyana, leave alone the beginning and the end. Let any wise man
come, not crafty and fraudulent, is straightforward I will instruct him and
advise him. If he follows the method as instructed, before long he himself will
rightfully know. Thus he will be rightfully released from this bond of
ignorance. Kaccayana, like a toddler who would have strings tied on his arms,
legs and the neck and when he is grown up and his mental faculties are mature
those bonds would be broken and he would know. I am free of those bonds. In the
same manner let any wise man come, who is not crafty and fraudulent, is
straightforward, I will instruct him and advise him, and if he follows the
method as instructed, before long he himself will rightfully know. Thus he will
be rightfully released from this bond of ignorance. '
When this was said, the wandering ascetic Vekhanassa said thus: ßGood Gotama,
now I understand. It is as though something over turned is reinstalled. As
something covered is made manifest. It is as though the path is shown to someone
who has lost his way. As though an oil lamp is lighted for those who have sight
to see forms in the darkness. In various ways, the Teaching is explained, by
good Gotama. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community
of bhikkhus. May I be remembered as a lay disciple who has taken refuge from
today until I die.û



[1] Of sensual pleasures the highest sensual pleasure is declared (kàmasukhà
kàmagga sukhaü tattha aggam akkhàyatiti). This is explained in many a sutta as
the sensual pleasures enjoyed by a man seeing a young girl of warrior clan,
brahmin clan, or householder clan, of about the age of fifteen or sixteen years.
Seeing her, touching her etc.