6.
The Discourse on the Carpenter
1002.
At Sāvatthī.
Now at that time several monks were doing robe-making work for the Blessed One -
"When the robe is finished, the Blessed One will set out on a journey after the three months."
Now at that time the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa were dwelling at Sādhuka on some business.
The carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa heard -
"It seems several monks are doing robe-making work for the Blessed One -
'When the robe is finished, the Blessed One will set out on a journey after the three months.'"
Then the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa stationed a man on the road - "When you, my good man, should see the Blessed One coming, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, then you should inform us." Having stood for two or three days, that man saw the Blessed One coming from afar. Having seen him, he approached the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa; having approached, he said this to the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa - "This, venerable sir, is that Blessed One coming, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. Now do as you think fit."
Then the carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa approached the Blessed One; having approached, having paid respect to the Blessed One, they followed closely behind the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, having turned aside from the road, approached a certain tree-root; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. The carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa, having paid respect to the Blessed One, sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those carpenters Isidatta and Purāṇa said this to the Blessed One -
"When we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will set out on a journey from Sāvatthī to the Kosalans,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is sorrow - 'The Blessed One will be far from us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has set out on a journey from Sāvatthī to the Kosalans,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is sorrow - 'The Blessed One is far from us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will set out on a journey from the Kosalans to the Mallas,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is sorrow - 'The Blessed One will be far from us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has set out on a journey from the Kosalans to the Mallas,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is sorrow - 'The Blessed One is far from us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from the Mallas to the Vajjis,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is displeasure - 'The Blessed One will be far from us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has departed on a journey from the Mallas to the Vajjis,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is displeasure - 'The Blessed One is far from us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from the Vajjis to the Kāsis,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is displeasure - 'The Blessed One will be far from us.' But when, venerable sir, we hear about the Blessed One - 'He has departed on a journey from the Vajjis to the Kāsis,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is displeasure - 'The Blessed One is far from us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from the Kāsis to Magadha,' at that time there is displeasure for us, there is displeasure - 'The Blessed One will be far from us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has departed on a journey from the Kāsis to Magadha,' at that time there is no small displeasure for us, there is no small displeasure - 'The Blessed One is far from us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from Magadha to the Kāsis,' at that time there is pleasure for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One will be near to us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has departed on a journey from Magadha to the Kāsis,' at that time there is pleasure for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One is near to us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from the Kāsis to the Vajjis,' at that time there is pleasure for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One will be near to us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has departed on a journey from the Kāsis to the Vajjis,' at that time there is pleasure for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One is near to us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from the Vajjians to the Mallas,' at that time there is joy for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One will be near to us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has departed on a journey from the Vajjians to the Mallas,' at that time there is joy for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One is near to us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from the Mallas to Kosala,' at that time there is joy for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One will be near to us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He has departed on a journey from the Mallas to Kosala,' at that time there is joy for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One is near to us.'
"But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He will depart on a journey from Kosala to Sāvatthī,' at that time there is joy for us, there is pleasure - 'The Blessed One will be near to us.' But when we, venerable sir, hear about the Blessed One - 'He is dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park,' at that time there is no small joy for us, there is no small pleasure - 'The Blessed One is near to us.'
"Therefore, carpenters, the household life is confinement, a path of dust; going forth is the open air. And it is enough for you, carpenters, for diligence." "There is indeed for us, venerable sir, another confinement other than this confinement, more confining and reckoned as more confining." "But what is that for you, carpenters, another confinement other than this confinement, more confining and reckoned as more confining?"
"Here, venerable sir, when King Pasenadi of Kosala wishes to go out to the pleasure ground, we harness those elephants of King Pasenadi of Kosala that are fit for riding, and we seat those wives of King Pasenadi of Kosala who are dear and agreeable, one in front and one behind. Now, venerable sir, the fragrance of those ladies is such as of a perfume casket just being opened, as is fitting for princesses adorned with scent. Now, venerable sir, the bodily touch of those ladies is such as cotton-wool or silk-cotton, as is fitting for princesses delicately nurtured. At that time, venerable sir, the elephant must be guarded, those ladies must be guarded, and oneself must be guarded. But we, venerable sir, do not directly know that we aroused an evil mind towards those ladies. This is for us, venerable sir, another confinement other than this confinement, more confining and reckoned as more confining."
"Therefore, carpenters, the household life is confinement, a path of dust; going forth is the open air. And it is enough for you, carpenters, for diligence. Carpenters, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.
"With which four? Here, carpenters, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He dwells at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, generous in giving, with purified hands, delighting in relinquishment, accessible to requests, delighting in giving and sharing. Carpenters, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.
"You, carpenters, are endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. Whatever gift there is in the family, all that is undivided with those who are moral and of good character. What do you think, carpenters, how many kinds of people are there among the Kosalans who are equal to you, that is to say - in giving and sharing?" "It is a gain for us, venerable sir, it is well gained for us, venerable sir! That the Blessed One understands us thus." The sixth.