2.
The Brahmin Uṇṇābha Discourse
512.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the brahmin Uṇṇābha approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the brahmin Uṇṇābha said this to the Blessed One -
"These five faculties, Master Gotama, have different domains and different ranges, and do not experience each other's range and domain. Which five? The eye-faculty, the ear-faculty, the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty. Now, Master Gotama, for these five faculties having different domains and different ranges, not experiencing each other's range and domain, what is their refuge, and who experiences their range and domain?"
"These five faculties, brahmin, have different domains and different ranges, and do not experience each other's range and domain. Which five? The eye-faculty, the ear-faculty, the nose-faculty, the tongue-faculty, the body-faculty. For these five faculties, brahmin, having different domains and different ranges, not experiencing each other's range and domain, mind is their refuge, and mind experiences their range and domain."
"But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of the mind?" "Brahmin, mindfulness is the refuge of the mind." "But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of mindfulness?" "Brahmin, liberation is the refuge of mindfulness." "But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of liberation?" "Brahmin, Nibbāna is the refuge of liberation." "But, Master Gotama, what is the refuge of Nibbāna?" "You have gone beyond the question, brahmin, you were not able to grasp the limit of the question. For, brahmin, the holy life is grounded upon Nibbāna, has Nibbāna as its ultimate goal, has Nibbāna as its final goal."
Then the brahmin Uṇṇābha, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and departed.
Then the Blessed One, soon after the brahmin Uṇṇābha had departed, addressed the monks - "Just as, monks, in a pinnacle building or a pinnacle hall with windows on the eastern side, when the sun is rising, having entered through the window, where would the ray be established?" "On the western wall, venerable sir." "So too, monks, the brahmin Uṇṇābha's faith in the Truth-finder is settled, rooted, established, firm, unshakeable by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or Brahmā or anyone in the world. If, monks, at this time the brahmin Uṇṇābha were to die, there is no mental fetter by which the brahmin Uṇṇābha, being fettered, would come back again to this world." The second.