6.
The Discourse on Cessation
166.
There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks - etc.
"Here, friend, a monk accomplished in morality, accomplished in concentration, accomplished in wisdom, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it -
there is this possibility.
If he should not attain final liberating knowledge in this very life, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, he might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it -
there is this possibility."
When this was said, the Venerable Udāyī said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "This is impossible, friend Sāriputta, there is no chance that that monk, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is not this possibility."
For the second time, etc. For the third time the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks - "Here, friend, a monk accomplished in morality, accomplished in concentration, accomplished in wisdom, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility. If he should not attain final liberating knowledge in this very life, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, he might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility."
For the third time the Venerable Udāyī said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "This is impossible, friend Sāriputta, there is no chance that that monk, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is not this possibility."
Then this occurred to the Venerable Sāriputta: "Up to the third time the Venerable Udāyī protests against me, and no monk gives thanks to me. What if I were to approach the Blessed One?" Then the Venerable Sāriputta approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks - "Here, friend, a monk accomplished in morality, accomplished in concentration, accomplished in wisdom, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility. If he should not attain final liberating knowledge in this very life, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, he might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility."
When this was said, the Venerable Udāyī said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "This is impossible, friend Sāriputta, there is no chance that that monk, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is not this possibility."
For the second time, etc. For the third time the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks - "Here, friend, a monk accomplished in morality, accomplished in concentration, accomplished in wisdom, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility. If he should not attain final liberating knowledge in this very life, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, he might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility."
For the third time the Venerable Udāyī said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "This is impossible, friend Sāriputta, there is no chance that that monk, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is not this possibility."
Then this occurred to the Venerable Sāriputta: "Even in the presence of the Blessed One, the Venerable Udāyī protests against me up to the third time, and no monk approves of me. What if I were to remain silent." Then the Venerable Sāriputta remained silent.
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Udāyī: "But what mind-made body do you acknowledge, Udāyī?" "Those gods, venerable sir, who are immaterial, perception-made." "What indeed is the use of your speaking, Udāyī, you fool, you inexperienced one! You too imagine you should speak!" Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "So indeed, Ānanda, you will look on indifferently while an elder monk is being harassed. Indeed, Ānanda, there will be no compassion for an elder monk being harassed."
Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Here, monks, a monk accomplished in morality, accomplished in concentration, accomplished in wisdom might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility. If he should not attain final liberating knowledge in this very life, having passed beyond the company of gods who feed on edible food, reborn in a certain mind-made body, he might attain the cessation of perception and feeling and might emerge from it - there is this possibility." This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered the dwelling.
Then the Venerable Ānanda, soon after the Blessed One had departed, approached the Venerable Upavāṇa; having approached, he said this to the Venerable Upavāṇa: "Here, friend Upavāṇa, others harass elder monks. We are not released from that. It would not be wonderful, friend Upavāṇa, if the Blessed One, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, were to speak concerning this very matter, in such a way that the Venerable Upavāṇa himself here might reply. Just now timidity has come upon us." Then the Blessed One, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, went to the assembly hall; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Upavāṇa:
"Possessed of how many qualities, Upavāṇa, is an elder monk dear to his fellow monks in the holy life, agreeable, respected and esteemed?" "Possessed of five qualities, venerable sir, an elder monk is dear to his fellow monks in the holy life, agreeable, respected and esteemed. Which five? Here, venerable sir, an elder monk is virtuous, etc. having accepted the training rules he trains in them; he is very learned, etc. thoroughly penetrated by view; he is of good speech, of good conversation, endowed with polished speech, distinct, free from drooling, capable of making the meaning clear; he is one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life; With the elimination of the mental corruptions, etc. having realised, having attained, dwells. Possessed of these five qualities, venerable sir, an elder monk is dear to his fellow monks in the holy life, agreeable, respected and esteemed."
"Good, good, Upavāṇa! Possessed of these five qualities, Upavāṇa, an elder monk is dear to his fellow monks in the holy life, agreeable, respected and esteemed. If these five qualities, Upavāṇa, were not found in an elder monk, his fellow monks in the holy life would not honour him, would not respect him, would not revere him, would not venerate him on account of broken teeth, grey hair, or wrinkled skin. But because, Upavāṇa, these five qualities are found in an elder monk, therefore his fellow monks in the holy life honour him, respect him, revere him, venerate him." The sixth.