4.
The Discourse on They Are Not
34.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
Then many deities of the Satullapa group, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side.
Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
There are desirable things here to which one is bound;
In which being heedless, to the state of no return,
A person does not come from the realm of Death."
By the removal of desire, misery is removed;
By the removal of misery, suffering is removed."
Lust for thoughts is a person's sensual pleasure;
The various things remain just so in the world,
But here the wise remove desire for them.
One should overcome every mental fetter;
Sufferings do not befall one who does not cling
To mentality-materiality, one who owns nothing.
He has cut off craving here in mentality-materiality;
Him, with knots cut, free from trouble, desireless,
Seeking they did not find;
Gods and humans, here or beyond,
In the heavens or in all abodes."
Gods and humans, here or beyond;
The highest among men, working for the welfare of people,
Those who venerate him are praiseworthy."
Who venerate him thus liberated;
Having understood the Teaching, having abandoned sceptical doubt,
Those monks too become ones who have gone beyond attachment."