9.
The Discourse on the Nun
159.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda was dwelling at Kosambī in Ghosita's park.
Then a certain nun addressed a certain man -
"Come, my good man, go to where the noble Ānanda is;
having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the noble Ānanda's feet -
'The nun of such and such a name, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill.
She pays respect with her head at the noble Ānanda's feet.'
And say this:
'It would be good, venerable sir, if the noble Ānanda would approach the nuns' quarters where that nun is, out of compassion.'"
"Yes, lady," that man replied to that nun and approached the Venerable Ānanda;
having approached, he paid respect to the Venerable Ānanda and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, that man said this to the Venerable Ānanda -
"The nun of such and such a name, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill. She pays respect with her head at the Venerable Ānanda's feet, and says thus - 'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Venerable Ānanda would approach the nuns' quarters where that nun is, out of compassion.'" The Venerable Ānanda consented by silence.
Then the Venerable Ānanda, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, approached the nuns' quarters where that nun was. That nun saw the Venerable Ānanda coming from afar. Having seen him, she covered herself up to the head and lay down on the small bed. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached that nun; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Venerable Ānanda said this to that nun -
"This body, sister, has arisen from nutriment, in dependence on nutriment. Nutriment is to be abandoned. This body, sister, has arisen from craving, in dependence on craving. Craving is to be abandoned. This body, sister, has arisen from conceit, in dependence on conceit. Conceit is to be abandoned. This body, sister, has arisen from sexual intercourse. And the destruction of the bridge to sexual intercourse has been spoken of by the Blessed One.
"This body, sister, has arisen from nutriment, in dependence on nutriment. Nutriment is to be abandoned" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Here, sister, a monk, having reflected wisely, takes food - "Not for amusement, not for intoxication, not for adornment, not for beautification, only for the presence and sustenance of this body, for the cessation of harm, for the support of the holy life. Thus: I shall ward off the old feeling and shall not give rise to a new feeling. And there will be for me progress, blamelessness, and comfortable dwelling." He, at a later time, in dependence on nutriment, abandons nutriment. "This body, sister, has arisen from nutriment, in dependence on nutriment. Nutriment is to be abandoned" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"This body, sister, has arisen from craving, in dependence on craving. Craving is to be abandoned" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Here, sister, a monk hears - 'The monk of such and such a name, it is said, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, dwells in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions.' He thinks thus: 'When indeed will I too, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge myself, having attained, dwell in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions!' He, at a later time, in dependence on craving, abandons craving. "This body, sister, has arisen from craving, in dependence on craving. Craving is to be abandoned" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"This body, sister, has arisen from conceit, in dependence on conceit. Conceit is to be abandoned" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Here, sister, a monk hears - 'The monk of such and such a name, it is said, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, dwells in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions.' He thinks thus: "That venerable one indeed, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, will dwell in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions; why then not I!" He, at a later time, in dependence on conceit, abandons conceit. "This body, sister, has arisen from conceit, in dependence on conceit. Conceit is to be abandoned" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"This body, sister, is arisen from sexual intercourse. And destruction of the bridge to sexual intercourse has been spoken of by the Blessed One."
Then that nun, having risen from the bed, having arranged her upper robe on one shoulder, having fallen at the Venerable Ānanda's feet with her head, said this to the Venerable Ānanda - "A transgression overcame me, venerable sir, as one who was foolish, as one who was confused, as one who was unwholesome, in that I acted thus. May the noble Ānanda accept my transgression as a transgression for the sake of restraint in the future." "Truly, sister, a transgression overcame you as one who was foolish, as one who was confused, as one who was unwholesome, in that you acted thus. But since you, sister, having seen the transgression as a transgression, make amends according to the Teaching, we accept it from you. For this is growth, sister, in the Noble One's discipline: whoever, having seen a transgression as a transgression, makes amends according to the Teaching, and commits to restraint in the future." The ninth.