3.
The Discourse on the Lay Follower Dīghāvu
999.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Now at that time the lay follower Dīghāvu was sick, afflicted, severely ill.
Then the lay follower Dīghāvu addressed his father, the householder Jotika -
"Come, householder, approach the Blessed One;
having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet -
'Dīghāvu, venerable sir, the lay follower, is sick, afflicted, severely ill.
He pays respect with his head at the Blessed One's feet.'
And say this:
'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would approach the dwelling of the lay follower Dīghāvu, out of compassion.'"
"Yes, dear son," the householder Jotika, having assented to the lay follower Dīghāvu, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the householder Jotika said this to the Blessed One -
"Dīghāvu, venerable sir, the lay follower, is sick, afflicted, severely ill.
He pays respect with his head at the Blessed One's feet.
And he says thus:
'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would approach the dwelling of the lay follower Dīghāvu, out of compassion.'"
The Blessed One consented by silence.
Then the Blessed One, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of the lay follower Dīghāvu; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the lay follower Dīghāvu - "Is it bearable for you, Dīghāvu, is it endurable? Are unpleasant feelings receding, not advancing; is their receding evident, not their advancing?" "It is not bearable for me, venerable sir, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding." "Therefore, Dīghāvu, you should train thus - 'I shall be endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha - "Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One." Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. I shall be endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration.' Thus indeed, Dīghāvu, should you train."
"These four factors of stream-entry, venerable sir, that have been taught by the Blessed One, those qualities exist in me, and I am seen in those qualities. For I, venerable sir, am 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. I am endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration." "Therefore, Dīghāvu, having established yourself in these four factors of stream-entry, you should further develop six qualities conducive to true knowledge. Here, Dīghāvu, dwell observing impermanence in all activities, perceiving suffering in what is impermanent, perceiving non-self in what is suffering, perceiving abandoning, perceiving dispassion, perceiving cessation." Thus indeed, Dīghāvu, should you train."
"These six qualities conducive to true knowledge, venerable sir, that have been taught by the Blessed One, those qualities exist in me, and I am seen in those qualities. For I, venerable sir, dwell observing impermanence in all activities, perceiving suffering in what is impermanent, perceiving non-self in what is suffering, perceiving abandoning, perceiving dispassion, perceiving cessation. But, venerable sir, this occurs to me: 'May this householder Jotika not fall into vexation after my passing.'" "Do not, dear Dīghāvu, think thus. Come now, dear Dīghāvu, whatever the Blessed One has told you, that you should pay close attention to."
Then the Blessed One, having exhorted the lay follower Dīghāvu with this exhortation, rose from his seat and departed. Then the lay follower Dīghāvu, not long after the Blessed One had departed, died. Then several monks 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 - "Venerable sir, the lay follower named Dīghāvu who was exhorted by the Blessed One with a brief exhortation has died. What is his destination, what is his future life?" "Monks, the lay follower Dīghāvu was wise; he practised in conformity with the Teaching, and he did not vex me on account of the Teaching. Monks, the lay follower Dīghāvu, with the utter elimination of the five lower mental fetters, is one of spontaneous birth, attaining final nibbāna there, not subject to return from that world." The third.