Bāhiyasuttaṃ [Ud 1.10, PTS 7–9]

10.

The Discourse on Bāhiya

10. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth was living at Suppāraka on the ocean shore, honoured, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed, an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicine for the sick. Then this reflection arose in the mind of Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth when he had gone to a private place and was in seclusion - "Those who in the world are Worthy Ones or have attained the path of arahantship - I am one of them."

Then a deity who was a former blood-relation of Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth, compassionate, desiring his welfare, having known with her mind the reflection in the mind of Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth, approached Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth; having approached, she said this to Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth - "You are indeed not a Worthy One, Bāhiya, nor have you attained the path of arahantship. You do not even have the practice by which you would be a Worthy One or would have attained the path of arahantship."

"Then who now in the world with its gods are Worthy Ones or have attained the path of arahantship?" "There is, Bāhiya, in the northern districts a city named Sāvatthī. There that Blessed One is dwelling now, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. For that Blessed One, Bāhiya, is a Worthy One and expounds the Teaching for arahantship."

Then Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth, stirred by that deity, departed from Suppāraka at that very moment. Staying only one night everywhere, he approached Sāvatthī, Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time several monks were walking up and down in the open air. Then Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth approached those monks; having approached, he said this to those monks - "Where, venerable sirs, is the Blessed One dwelling now, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One? We wish to see that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One." "The Blessed One has entered the inhabited area for almsfood, Bāhiya."

Then Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth, being in a hurry, having left Jeta's Grove and entered Sāvatthī, saw the Blessed One walking for almsfood in Sāvatthī - inspiring, confidence-inspiring, with peaceful faculties, with peaceful mind, having attained the highest taming and serenity, tamed, guarded, with restrained faculties, an elephant. Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, having fallen at the Blessed One's feet with his head, he said this to the Blessed One - "Let the Blessed One expound to me the Teaching, venerable sir; let the Fortunate One expound the Teaching, which would be for my welfare and happiness for a long time." When this was said, the Blessed One said this to Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth - "It is not the right time yet, Bāhiya, we have entered the inhabited area for almsfood."

For the second time Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth said this to the Blessed One - "But it is difficult to know, venerable sir, the obstacles to the Blessed One's life or the obstacles to my life. Let the Blessed One expound to me the Teaching, venerable sir; let the Fortunate One expound the Teaching, which would be for my welfare and happiness for a long time." For the second time the Blessed One said this to Bāhiya of the Bark-cloth - "It is not the right time yet, Bāhiya, we have entered the inhabited area for almsfood."

For the third time Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth said this to the Blessed One - "But it is difficult to know, venerable sir, the obstacles to the Blessed One's life or the obstacles to my life. Let the Blessed One expound to me the Teaching, venerable sir; let the Fortunate One expound the Teaching, which would be for my welfare and happiness for a long time."

"Therefore, Bāhiya, you should train thus: 'In the seen there will be merely the seen, in the heard there will be merely the heard, in the sensed there will be merely the sensed, in the cognised there will be merely the cognised.' Thus indeed, Bāhiya, should you train. When, Bāhiya, in the seen there will be merely the seen, in the heard there will be merely the heard, in the sensed there will be merely the sensed, in the cognised there will be merely the cognised, then you, Bāhiya, will not be by that; when you, Bāhiya, are not by that, then you, Bāhiya, will not be therein; when you, Bāhiya, are not therein, then you, Bāhiya, will be neither here nor beyond nor in between the two. This itself is the end of suffering."

Then through this brief proclamation of the Teaching by the Blessed One, the mind of Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth was liberated from the mental corruptions by non-clinging, at that very moment.

Then the Blessed One, having exhorted Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth with this brief exhortation, departed. Then, soon after the Blessed One had departed, a cow with a young calf, having attacked Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth, deprived him of life.

Then the Blessed One, having walked for almsfood in Sāvatthī, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, together with several monks, having gone out from the city, saw Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth deceased; having seen them, he addressed the monks - "Take, monks, the body of Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth; having placed it on a small bed, having carried it out, cremate it; and make a monument for him. A fellow in the holy life of yours, monks, has died."

"Yes, venerable sir," those monks, having assented to the Blessed One, having placed the body of Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth on a small bed, having carried it out, having cremated it, and having made a monument for him, approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One - "The body of Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth has been cremated, venerable sir, and a monument for him has been made. What is his destination, what is his future life?" "Monks, Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth was wise; he practised in conformity with the Teaching; and he did not vex me on account of the Teaching. Monks, Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth has attained final Nibbāna."

Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -