Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Minor Collection (Khuddaka)

Ud, part 31

With Meghiya · Meghiyasutta

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So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Cālikā, on the Cālikā mountain. Now, at that time Venerable Meghiya was the Buddha’s attendant. Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “Sir, I’d like to enter Jantu village for alms.” “Please, Meghiya, go at your convenience.”

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā cālikāyaṁ viharati cālike pabbate. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā meghiyo bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti. Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “icchāmahaṁ, bhante, jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisitun”ti. “Yassadāni tvaṁ, meghiya, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.

Then Meghiya robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Jantu village for alms. After the meal, on his return from almsround in Jantu village, he went to the shore of Kimikālā River. As he was going for a walk along the shore of the river he saw a lovely and delightful mango grove. Seeing this, it occurred to him, “Oh, this mango grove is lovely and delightful! This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive. If the Buddha allows me, I’ll come back to this mango grove to meditate.”

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Jantugāme piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkami. Addasā kho āyasmā meghiyo kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīre jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno ambavanaṁ pāsādikaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ. Disvānassa etadahosi: “pāsādikaṁ vatidaṁ ambavanaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ. Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāya. Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, āgaccheyyāhaṁ imaṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.

Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding,

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“If the Buddha allows me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.”

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ. Jantugāme piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ. Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīre jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno ambavanaṁ pāsādikaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ. Disvāna me etadahosi: ‘pāsādikaṁ vatidaṁ ambavanaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ. Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāya. Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, āgaccheyyāhaṁ imaṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā’ti. Sace maṁ, bhante, bhagavā anujānāti, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.

When he had spoken, the Buddha said to him, “We’re alone, Meghiya. Wait until another mendicant comes.”

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā āyasmantaṁ meghiyaṁ etadavoca: “āgamehi tāva, meghiya, ekakamhi tāva, yāva aññopi koci bhikkhu āgacchatī”ti.

For a second time Meghiya said to the Buddha, “Sir, the Buddha has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement. But I have. If you allow me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.” For a second time the Buddha said, “We’re alone, Meghiya. Wait until another mendicant comes.”

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “bhagavato, bhante, natthi kiñci uttari karaṇīyaṁ, natthi katassa vā paticayo. Mayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, atthi uttari karaṇīyaṁ, atthi katassa paticayo. Sace maṁ bhagavā anujānāti, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ meghiyaṁ etadavoca: “āgamehi tāva, meghiya, ekakamhi tāva, yāva aññopi koci bhikkhu āgacchatī”ti.

For a third time Meghiya said to the Buddha, “Sir, the Buddha has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement. But I have. If you allow me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.” “Meghiya, since you speak of striving in meditation, what can I say? Please, Meghiya, go at your convenience.”

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “bhagavato, bhante, natthi kiñci uttari karaṇīyaṁ, natthi katassa vā paticayo. Mayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, atthi uttari karaṇīyaṁ, atthi katassa paticayo. Sace maṁ bhagavā anujānāti, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti. “Padhānanti kho, meghiya, vadamānaṁ kinti vadeyyāma? Yassadāni tvaṁ, meghiya, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.

Then Meghiya got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went to that mango grove, and, having plunged deep into it, sat at the root of a certain tree for the day’s meditation. But while Meghiya was meditating in that mango grove he was beset mostly by three kinds of bad, unskillful thoughts, namely, sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena taṁ ambavanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ ambavanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi. Atha kho āyasmato meghiyassa tasmiṁ ambavane viharantassa yebhuyyena tayo pāpakā akusalā vitakkā samudācaranti, seyyathidaṁ— kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko.

Then he thought, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! I’ve gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, but I’m still harassed by these three kinds of bad, unskillful thoughts: sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.”

Atha kho āyasmato meghiyassa etadahosi: “acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Saddhāya ca vatamhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā. Atha ca panimehi tīhi pāpakehi akusalehi vitakkehi anvāsattā, seyyathidaṁ— kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkena”.

Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Meghiya came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and told the Buddha what had happened.

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idha mayhaṁ, bhante, tasmiṁ ambavane viharantassa yebhuyyena tayo pāpakā akusalā vitakkā samudācaranti, seyyathidaṁ— kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi: ‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Saddhāya ca vatamhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā. Atha ca panimehi tīhi pāpakehi akusalehi vitakkehi anvāsattā, seyyathidaṁ— kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkena’”.

“Meghiya, when the heart’s release is not ripe, five things help it ripen. What five?

“Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā pañca dhammā paripākāya saṁvattanti. Katame pañca?

Firstly, a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates. This is the first thing …

Idha, meghiya, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ paṭhamo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.

Furthermore, a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. This is the second thing …

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ dutiyo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.

Furthermore, a mendicant gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart and leads solely to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. This is the third thing …

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā, santuṭṭhikathā, pavivekakathā, asaṁsaggakathā, vīriyārambhakathā, sīlakathā, samādhikathā, paññākathā, vimuttikathā, vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā; evarūpāya kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Aparipākāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ tatiyo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.

Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. This is the fourth thing …

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati, akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ catuttho dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.

Furthermore, a mendicant is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. This is the fifth thing that, when the heart’s release is not ripe, helps it ripen. These are the five things that, when the heart’s release is not ripe, help it ripen.

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ pañcamo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati. Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ime pañca dhammā paripākāya saṁvattanti.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be ethical …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ sīlavā bhavissati, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharissati, ācāragocarasampanno, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhissati sikkhāpadesu.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā, santuṭṭhikathā, pavivekakathā, asaṁsaggakathā, vīriyārambhakathā, sīlakathā, samādhikathā, paññākathā, vimuttikathā, vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā; evarūpāya kathāya nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be energetic …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ āraddhavīriyo viharissati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be wise …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ paññavā bhavissati, udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

But then, a mendicant grounded on these five things should develop four further things. They should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, mindfulness of breathing to cut off thinking, and perception of impermanence to uproot the conceit ‘I am’. When you perceive impermanence, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized. Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain extinguishment in this very life.”

Tena ca pana, meghiya, bhikkhunā imesu pañcasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya cattāro dhammā uttari bhāvetabbā— asubhā bhāvetabbā rāgassa pahānāya, mettā bhāvetabbā byāpādassa pahānāya, ānāpānassati bhāvetabbā vitakkupacchedāya, aniccasaññā bhāvetabbā asmimānasamugghātāya. Aniccasaññino hi, meghiya, anattasaññā saṇṭhāti, anattasaññī asmimānasamugghātaṁ pāpuṇāti diṭṭheva dhamme nibbānan”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Lesser thoughts and subtle thoughts arise, springing up in the mind. Not understanding these thoughts, one with mind astray runs from one thing to the next.

“Khuddā vitakkā sukhumā vitakkā, Anugatā manaso uppilāvā; Ete avidvā manaso vitakke, Hurā huraṁ dhāvati bhantacitto.

Having understood these thoughts that arise, springing up in the mind, an awakened one—keen, restrained, and mindful— has given them up without remainder.”

Ete ca vidvā manaso vitakke, Ātāpiyo saṁvaratī satīmā; Anugate manaso uppilāve, Asesamete pajahāsi buddho”ti. Paṭhamaṁ.