5.
The Discourse on Puṇṇa
88.
Then the Venerable Puṇṇa approached the Blessed One;
having approached, etc.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Puṇṇa said this to the Blessed One -
"It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would expound to me the Teaching in brief, so that having heard the Teaching from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute."
"There are, Puṇṇa, forms cognisable by eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing. If a monk delights in that, asserts it, and remains grasping it. For him delighting in that, asserting it, remaining grasping it, delight arises. 'From the arising of delight comes the arising of suffering, Puṇṇa' - I say, etc. There are, Puṇṇa, flavours cognisable by tongue, etc. There are, Puṇṇa, mental phenomena cognisable by mind that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing. If a monk delights in that, asserts it, and remains grasping it. For him delighting in that, asserting it, remaining grasping it, delight arises. 'From the arising of delight comes the arising of suffering, Puṇṇa' - I say.
"There are, Puṇṇa, forms cognisable by eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing. If a monk does not delight in that, does not assert it, and does not remain grasping it, for him not delighting in that, not asserting it, not remaining grasping it, delight ceases. 'From the cessation of delight comes the cessation of suffering, Puṇṇa' - I say, etc. There are, Puṇṇa, mental phenomena cognisable by mind that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing. If a monk does not delight in that, does not assert it, and does not remain grasping it, for him not delighting in that, not asserting it, not remaining grasping it, delight ceases. 'From the cessation of delight comes the cessation of suffering, Puṇṇa' - I say.
"You, Puṇṇa, having been exhorted by me with this brief exhortation, in which country will you dwell?" "There is, venerable sir, a country named Sunāparanta, there I will dwell."
"Fierce indeed, Puṇṇa, are the people of Sunāparanta; harsh indeed, Puṇṇa, are the people of Sunāparanta. If, Puṇṇa, the people of Sunāparanta revile and abuse you, what will you think there, Puṇṇa?"
"If, venerable sir, the people of Sunāparanta revile and abuse me, there it will occur to me thus - 'Good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, very good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, in that they do not strike me with the hand.' Thus it will be here, Blessed One; thus it will be here, Fortunate One."
"But if, Puṇṇa, the people of Sunāparanta strike you with the hand, what will you think there, Puṇṇa?"
"If, venerable sir, the people of Sunāparanta strike me with the hand, there it will occur to me thus - 'Good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, very good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, in that they do not strike me with a clod.' Thus it will be here, Blessed One; thus it will be here, Fortunate One."
"But if, Puṇṇa, the people of Sunāparanta strike you with a clod, what will you think there, Puṇṇa?"
"If, venerable sir, the people of Sunāparanta strike me with a clod, there it will occur to me thus - 'Good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, very good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, in that they do not strike me with a stick.' Thus it will be here, Blessed One; thus it will be here, Fortunate One."
"But if, Puṇṇa, the people of Sunāparanta strike you with a stick, what will you think there, Puṇṇa?"
"If, venerable sir, the people of Sunāparanta strike me with a stick, there it will occur to me thus - 'Good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, very good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, in that they do not strike me with a knife.' Thus it will be here, Blessed One; thus it will be here, Fortunate One."
"But if, Puṇṇa, the people of Sunāparanta strike you with a knife, what will you think there, Puṇṇa?"
"If, venerable sir, the people of Sunāparanta strike me with a knife, there it will occur to me thus - 'Good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, very good indeed are these people of Sunāparanta, in that they do not deprive me of life with a sharp knife.' Thus it will be here, Blessed One; thus it will be here, Fortunate One."
"But if, Puṇṇa, the people of Sunāparanta deprive you of life with a sharp knife, what will you think there, Puṇṇa?"
"If, venerable sir, the people of Sunāparanta deprive me of life with a sharp knife, there it will occur to me thus - 'There are disciples of that Blessed One who, being troubled, ashamed, and disgusted with the body and with life, seek one who would take their life with a knife. That has been obtained by me without seeking - one who would take my life with a knife.' Thus it will be here, Blessed One; thus it will be here, Fortunate One."
"Good, good, Puṇṇa! You, Puṇṇa, endowed with this self-control and peace, will be able to dwell in the Sunāparanta country. Now do as you think fit, Puṇṇa."
Then the Venerable Puṇṇa, 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, having set in order his lodging, taking his bowl and robe, set out on a journey towards the Sunāparanta country. Wandering on a journey gradually, he arrived at the Sunāparanta country. There the Venerable Puṇṇa dwelt in the Sunāparanta country. Then the Venerable Puṇṇa within that one rainy season established about five hundred male lay followers. Within that one rainy season he established about five hundred female lay followers. Within that one rainy season he realised the three true knowledges. Within that one rainy season he attained final Nibbāna.
Then several monks approached the Blessed One, etc. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One - "Venerable sir, the son of good family named Puṇṇa who was exhorted by the Blessed One with a brief exhortation has died. What is his destination, what is his future life?"
"Monks, the son of good family Puṇṇa was wise; he practised in conformity with the Teaching, and he did not vex me on account of the Teaching. Monks, the son of good family Puṇṇa has attained final Nibbāna." The fifth.