10.
The Discourse on Samiddhi
20.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Tapoda Monastery.
Then the Venerable Samiddhi, having risen towards the break of dawn, approached the hot springs to bathe his limbs.
Having bathed his limbs at the hot springs, having come out, he stood wearing a single robe, drying his limbs.
Then a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire hot springs, approached the Venerable Samiddhi;
having approached, standing in the sky, she addressed the Venerable Samiddhi in verse -
Having enjoyed, monk, you should seek alms, let not the time pass you by."
Therefore without having enjoyed I seek alms, let not the time pass me by."
Then that deity, having alighted on the earth, said this to the Venerable Samiddhi - "You are young, monk, gone forth, a youth with black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life, one who has not played in sensual pleasures. Enjoy, monk, human sensual pleasures; do not abandon what is visible here and now to run after what is temporal."
"I, friend, am not abandoning what is visible here and now to run after what is temporal. Rather, friend, I am abandoning what is temporal to run after what is visible here and now. For sensual pleasures, friend, have been declared by the Blessed One as temporal, having much suffering, much anguish; the danger here is greater. This Teaching is visible here and now, immediately effective, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be individually experienced by the wise."
"And how, monk, have sensual pleasures been declared by the Blessed One as temporal, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater? How is this Teaching visible here and now, immediately effective, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be individually experienced by the wise?"
"I, friend, am new, recently gone forth, newly come to this Teaching and discipline. I am not able to explain it in detail. This Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is dwelling at Rājagaha in the Tapoda Monastery. Having approached that Blessed One, ask about this matter. As the Blessed One answers you, so you should remember it."
"It is not easy, monk, for us to approach that Blessed One, as he is surrounded by other influential deities. If indeed you, monk, having approached that Blessed One, were to ask about this matter, we too would come for the hearing of the Teaching." "Yes, friend," the Venerable Samiddhi, having assented to that deity, 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 Samiddhi said this to the Blessed One -
"Here I, venerable sir, having risen towards the break of dawn, approached the hot springs to bathe my limbs. Having bathed my limbs at the hot springs, having come out, I stood wearing a single robe, drying my limbs. Then, venerable sir, a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire hot springs, approached me; having approached, standing in the sky, she addressed me with this verse -
Having enjoyed, monk, you should seek alms, let not the time pass you by."
"When this was said, I, venerable sir, replied to that deity in verse -
Therefore without having enjoyed I seek alms, let not the time pass me by."
"Then, venerable sir, that deity, having stood firmly on the earth, said this to me - 'You are young, monk, gone forth, a mere youth with black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life, one who has not played his fill in sensual pleasures. Enjoy, monk, human sensual pleasures; do not, having abandoned what is visible here and now, run after what is temporal.'
"When this was said, venerable sir, I said this to that deity - 'I indeed, friend, am not, having abandoned what is visible here and now, running after what is temporal; but I indeed, friend, having abandoned what is temporal, am running after what is visible here and now. For sensual pleasures, friend, have been declared by the Blessed One as temporal, having much suffering, much anguish; the danger here is greater. This Teaching is visible here and now, immediately effective, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be individually experienced by the wise.'
"When this was said, venerable sir, that deity said this to me - 'And how, monk, are sensual pleasures declared by the Blessed One as temporal, with much suffering, much anguish; the danger here is greater? How is this Teaching visible here and now, immediately effective, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be individually experienced by the wise?' When this was said, venerable sir, I said this to that deity - 'I indeed, friend, am new, recently gone forth, newly come to this Teaching and discipline, I am not able to explain it in detail. This Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is dwelling at Rājagaha in the Tapoda Monastery. Having approached that Blessed One, ask about this matter. As the Blessed One answers you, so you should remember it.'
"When this was said, venerable sir, that deity said this to me - 'It is not easy, monk, for us to approach that Blessed One, surrounded by other influential deities. If indeed you, monk, having approached that Blessed One, would ask about this matter, we too would come for the hearing of the Teaching.' If, venerable sir, that deity's word is true, that deity is right here, not far away."
When this was said, that deity said this to the Venerable Samiddhi - "Ask, monk, ask, monk, what I have attained."
Then the Blessed One addressed that deity in verses -
Not fully understanding what can be expressed, they come under the bond of Death.
For that does not exist for him, by which one might speak of him - that is not his;
If you understand, speak, demon."
"I, venerable sir, do not understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would speak in such a way that I might understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief."
Whoever imagines thus would dispute on account of that;
One unshaken in the three discriminations,
For him there is no 'equal' or 'superior';
If you understand, speak, demon."
"I, venerable sir, do not understand in detail the meaning of this too that the Blessed One has spoken in brief. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would speak in such a way that I might understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief."
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;
If you understand, speak, demon."
"I, venerable sir, understand in detail the meaning of what the Blessed One has spoken in brief thus -
Or by body, anything in the whole world;
Having abandoned sensual pleasures, mindful and fully aware,
One should not pursue suffering connected with harm."