6.
The Discourse on Assaji
88.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Now at that time the Venerable Assaji was dwelling in Kassapa's Park, sick, afflicted, severely ill.
Then the Venerable Assaji addressed his attendants -
"Come, friends, approach the Blessed One;
having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet -
'Assaji, venerable sir, the monk is sick, afflicted, severely ill.
He pays respect with his head at the Blessed One's feet.'
And say thus -
'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would approach the monk Assaji, out of compassion.'"
"Yes, friend," those monks, having assented to the Venerable Assaji, 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 -
"Assaji, venerable sir, the monk is sick, etc.
It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would approach the monk Assaji, out of compassion."
The Blessed One consented by silence.
Then the Blessed One, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Assaji. The Venerable Assaji saw the Blessed One coming from afar. Having seen him, he stirred on his bed. Then the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Assaji - "Enough, Assaji, do not stir on your bed. There are these seats prepared; I will sit down there." The Blessed One sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Assaji - "Is it bearable for you, Assaji, is it endurable? etc. is their receding evident, not their advancing?"
"It is not bearable for me, venerable sir, etc. their advancing is evident, not their receding." "Do you have no remorse, Assaji, no regret?" "Indeed, venerable sir, I have no small remorse, no small regret." "But does your self not blame you regarding morality, Assaji?" "My self does not blame me regarding morality, venerable sir." "If indeed, Assaji, your self does not blame you regarding morality, then what is your remorse and what is your regret?" "Formerly, venerable sir, during my illness, having repeatedly calmed the bodily activities, I dwelt thus; but I do not attain that concentration. For me, venerable sir, not attaining that concentration, it occurs thus - 'Am I not declining?'" "Those ascetics and brahmins, Assaji, who regard concentration as the essence, who regard concentration as the goal of the ascetic life, for them not attaining that concentration, it occurs thus - 'Are we not declining?'"
"What do you think, Assaji, is materiality permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." Etc. consciousness... etc. Therefore here... etc. Seeing thus... etc. He understands: ... there is no more coming back to any state of being." If he feels a pleasant feeling, he understands: 'It is impermanent.' He understands: 'It is not clung to.' He understands: 'It is not delighted in.' If he feels a painful feeling, he understands: 'It is impermanent.' He understands: 'It is not clung to.' He understands: 'It is not delighted in.' If he feels a neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant feeling, he understands: 'It is impermanent.' Etc. He understands: 'It is not delighted in.' If he feels a pleasant feeling, he feels it unbound; if he feels a painful feeling, he feels it unbound; if he feels a neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant feeling, he feels it unbound. Feeling a feeling bounded by the body, he understands: 'I feel a feeling bounded by the body.' Feeling a feeling bounded by life, he understands: 'I feel a feeling bounded by life.' He understands: 'Upon the body's collapse, beyond the exhaustion of life, right here all that is felt, not delighted in, will become cool.'
"Just as, Assaji, an oil lamp would burn dependent on oil and dependent on a wick; through the exhaustion of that very oil and wick, being without nutriment, it would be extinguished. So too, Assaji, a monk feeling a feeling bounded by the body, understands: 'I feel a feeling bounded by the body.' Feeling a feeling bounded by life, he understands: 'I feel a feeling bounded by life.' He understands: 'Upon the body's collapse, beyond the exhaustion of life, right here all that is felt, not delighted in, will become cool.'" The sixth.