2.
The Discourse on the Lion
12.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Now at that time many well-known Licchavis were seated together assembled in the council hall, speaking in many ways in praise of the Buddha, in praise of the Teaching, in praise of the Community.
Now at that time the general Sīha, a disciple of the Jains, was seated in that assembly. Then this occurred to the general Sīha - "Without doubt that Blessed One must be a Worthy One, a Perfectly Enlightened One, since these many well-known Licchavis are seated together assembled in the council hall, speaking in many ways in praise of the Buddha, in praise of the Teaching, in praise of the Community. What if I were to approach that Blessed One for an audience, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One?" Then the general Sīha approached Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta; having approached, he said this to Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta - "I wish, venerable sir, to approach the ascetic Gotama for an audience."
"But why would you, Sīha, being a proponent of the efficacy of action, approach the ascetic Gotama for an audience, who is a proponent of the inefficacy of action? For, Sīha, the ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the inefficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for non-doing, and by that he trains his disciples." Then whatever intention the general Sīha had to go to see the Blessed One, that subsided.
For the second time many well-known Licchavis were seated together assembled in the council hall, speaking in many ways in praise of the Buddha... etc. of the Teaching... etc. in praise of the Community. For the second time this occurred to the general Sīha - "Without doubt that Blessed One must be a Worthy One, a Perfectly Enlightened One, since these many well-known Licchavis are seated together assembled in the council hall, speaking in many ways in praise of the Buddha, of the Teaching... etc. in praise of the Community. What if I were to approach that Blessed One for an audience, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One?" Then the general Sīha approached Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta; having approached, he said this to Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta - "I wish, venerable sir, to approach the ascetic Gotama for an audience."
"But why would you, Sīha, being a proponent of the efficacy of action, approach the ascetic Gotama for an audience, who is a proponent of the inefficacy of action? For, Sīha, the ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the inefficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for non-doing, and by that he trains his disciples." For the second time whatever intention the general Sīha had to go to see the Blessed One, that subsided.
For the third time many well-known Licchavis were seated together assembled in the council hall, speaking in many ways in praise of the Buddha... etc. of the Teaching... etc. in praise of the Community. For the third time this occurred to the general Sīha - "Without doubt that Blessed One must be a Worthy One, a Perfectly Enlightened One, since these many well-known Licchavis are seated together assembled in the council hall, speaking in many ways in praise of the Buddha, in praise of the Teaching, in praise of the Community. What will these Jains do to me, whether consulted or not consulted? What if I, without consulting the Jains, were to approach that Blessed One for an audience, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One?"
Then the general Sīha departed from Vesālī with about five hundred chariots in the middle of the day to see the Blessed One. Having gone by vehicle as far as the ground was passable for vehicles, he descended from the vehicle and went on foot. Then the general Sīha approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the general Sīha said this to the Blessed One -
"I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the inefficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for non-doing, and by that he trains his disciples.' Those who, venerable sir, say thus - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the inefficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for non-doing, and by that he trains his disciples' - are they, venerable sir, speaking what has been said by the Blessed One, and do they not misrepresent the Blessed One with what is untrue, and do they explain what is in conformity with the Teaching, and does no reasonable counter-argument come to a blameworthy position? For we do not wish to misrepresent the Blessed One, venerable sir."
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the inefficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for non-doing, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the efficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for doing, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is an annihilationist, he expounds the Teaching for annihilation, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who detests, he expounds the Teaching for detesting, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who removes, he expounds the Teaching for removal, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is an austere ascetic, he expounds the Teaching for austere asceticism, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one without a womb, he expounds the Teaching for being without a womb, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"There is, Sīha, a method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who gives comfort, he expounds the Teaching for comfort, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the inefficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for non-doing, and by that he trains his disciples'? For I, Sīha, teach the non-doing of bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct; I teach the non-doing of various evil unwholesome mental states. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the inefficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for non-doing, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the efficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for the efficacy of action, and by that he trains his disciples'? For I, Sīha, teach the doing of bodily good conduct, good verbal conduct, good mental conduct; I teach the doing of various wholesome mental states. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is a proponent of the efficacy of action, he expounds the Teaching for doing, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is an annihilationist, he expounds the Teaching for annihilation, and by that he trains his disciples'? For I, Sīha, teach the annihilation of lust, hate, and delusion; I teach the annihilation of various evil unwholesome mental states. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is an annihilationist, he expounds the Teaching for annihilation, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who detests, he expounds the Teaching for detesting, and by that he trains his disciples'? For I, Sīha, detest bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct; I detest the attainment of various evil unwholesome mental states. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who detests, he expounds the Teaching for detesting, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who removes, he expounds the Teaching for removal, and by that he trains his disciples'? For I, Sīha, expound the Teaching for the removal of lust, hate, and delusion; I expound the Teaching for the removal of various evil unwholesome mental states. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who removes, he expounds the Teaching for removal, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is an austere ascetic, he expounds the Teaching for austere asceticism, and by that he trains his disciples'? I call causing remorse, Sīha, evil unwholesome mental states - bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct. For whom, Sīha, those evil unwholesome mental states causing remorse have been abandoned, their root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future, him I call 'an austere ascetic.' For the Truth-finder, Sīha, those evil unwholesome mental states causing remorse have been abandoned, their root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is an austere ascetic, he expounds the Teaching for austere asceticism, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one without a womb, he expounds the Teaching for being without a womb, and by that he trains disciples'? For whom, Sīha, lying in a womb in the future, the production of rebirth, has been abandoned, its root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future, him I call 'one without a womb.' For the Truth-finder, Sīha, lying in a womb in the future, the production of rebirth, has been abandoned, its root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one without a womb, he expounds the Teaching for being without a womb, and by that he trains his disciples.'
"And what, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who brings comfort, he expounds the Teaching for comfort, and by that he trains disciples'? For I, Sīha, am one who brings comfort with the supreme comfort, I expound the Teaching for comfort, and by that I train disciples. This, Sīha, is the method by which method one speaking rightly would say of me - 'The ascetic Gotama is one who gives comfort, he expounds the Teaching for comfort, and by that he trains his disciples.'
When this was said, the general Sīha said this to the Blessed One - "Excellent, venerable sir, excellent, venerable sir! Etc. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life."
"Investigate thoroughly, Sīha. Thorough investigation is good for well-known people like you." "By this, venerable sir, I am exceedingly delighted and satisfied with the Blessed One, that the Blessed One said thus to me - 'Investigate thoroughly, Sīha. Thorough investigation is good for well-known people like you.' For if, venerable sir, heterodox followers had obtained me as a disciple, they would carry a banner around almost the whole of Vesālī - 'The general Sīha has become our disciple.' And yet the Blessed One says thus - 'Investigate thoroughly, Sīha. Thorough investigation is good for well-known people like you.' I, venerable sir, for the second time go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Teaching, and to the Community of monks. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life."
"For a long time, Sīha, your family has been like a well for the Jains, so that you might think a lump of food should be given to those of them who have arrived." "By this, venerable sir, I am exceedingly delighted and satisfied with the Blessed One, that the Blessed One said thus to me - 'For a long time, Sīha, your family has been like a well for the Jains, so that you might think a lump of food should be given to those of them who have arrived.' I have heard this, Venerable Sir - 'The ascetic Gotama says thus - Gifts should be given only to me, gifts should be given only to my disciples; Only what is given to me is of great fruit, what is given to others is not of great fruit; Only what is given to my disciples is of great fruit, what is given to the disciples of others is not of great fruit' - and yet the Blessed One encourages me to give even to the Jains. But, venerable sir, we shall know the proper time for this. I, venerable sir, for the third time go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Teaching, and to the Community of monks. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life."
Then the Blessed One gave a progressive discourse to the general Sīha, as follows - a talk on giving, a talk on morality, a talk on heaven; he made known the danger, degradation, and defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that the general Sīha was of pliant mind, of tender mind, of mind free from hindrances, of elated mind, of confident mind, then he made known that proclamation of the Teaching which the Buddhas have themselves discovered - suffering, origin, cessation, path. Just as a pure cloth, free from stains, would properly receive dye; even so, in the general Sīha, in that very seat, the stainless, spotless eye of the Teaching arose - "Whatever has the nature of arising, all that has the nature of cessation."
Then the general Sīha, having seen the Teaching, having attained the Teaching, having understood the Teaching, having penetrated the Teaching, having crossed over doubt, having gone beyond uncertainty, having attained self-confidence, not relying on others in the Teacher's instruction, said this to the Blessed One - "May the Blessed One consent to accept a meal from me tomorrow together with the Community of monks, venerable sir." The Blessed One consented by silence.
Then the general Sīha, having learned of the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from his seat, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and departed. Then the general Sīha addressed a certain man - "Go, hey man, find out about available meat." Then the general Sīha, after that night had passed, having had superior solid and soft food prepared at his own dwelling, announced the time to the Blessed One - "It is time, venerable sir! The meal is ready."
Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of the general Sīha; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat together with the Community of monks. Now at that time several Jains in Vesālī, going from road to road, from crossroads to crossroads, having raised their arms, were crying out - "Today the general Sīha, having killed a fat beast, has prepared a meal for the ascetic Gotama. The ascetic Gotama knowingly consumes meat specifically prepared for him, dependent on that action."
Then a certain man approached the general Sīha; having approached, he whispered to the general Sīha - "May you know, venerable sir! These several Jains in Vesālī, going from road to road, from crossroads to crossroads, having raised their arms, are crying out - 'Today the general Sīha, having killed a fat beast, has prepared a meal for the ascetic Gotama. The ascetic Gotama knowingly consumes meat specifically prepared for him, dependent on that action.' Enough, sir! For a long time those venerable ones have been desirous of blaming the Buddha, desirous of blaming the Teaching, desirous of blaming the Community. And those venerable ones do not tire of misrepresenting that Blessed One with what is untrue, hollow, false, and not factual; and we would not intentionally deprive a living being of life even for the sake of our life."
Then the general Sīha with his own hand satisfied and served the Community of monks headed by the Buddha with superior solid and soft food. Then the general Sīha, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, sat down to one side. The Blessed One, having instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened the general Sīha seated to one side with a talk on the Teaching, rose from his seat and departed. The second.