4.
The Discourse on the Lump of Cow Dung
96.
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, that monk said this to the Blessed One -
"Is there indeed, venerable sir, any materiality, which materiality is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and will remain the same for eternity?
Is there indeed, venerable sir, any feeling, which feeling is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and will remain the same for eternity?
Is there indeed, venerable sir, any perception, which perception... etc.
Is there indeed, venerable sir, any activities, which activities are permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and will remain the same for eternity?
Is there indeed, venerable sir, any consciousness, which consciousness is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and will remain the same for eternity?"
"There is not, monk, any materiality, which materiality is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and will remain the same for eternity.
There is not, monk, any feeling...
any perception...
any activities...
any consciousness, which consciousness is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and will remain the same for eternity."
Then the Blessed One, having taken a small lump of cow dung in his hand, said this to that monk - "Even this much acquisition of individual existence, monk, is not permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and will remain the same for eternity. If, monk, even this much acquisition of individual existence were permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, this abiding by the holy life would not be evident for the complete elimination of suffering. But because, monk, even this much acquisition of individual existence is not permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, therefore abiding by the holy life is evident for the complete elimination of suffering.
"Once in the past, monk, I was a head-anointed king of the ruling caste. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand cities, with Kusāvatī the royal city as chief. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand mansions, with the Teaching mansion as chief. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand pinnacled houses, with the Great Cul-de-sac pinnacled house as chief. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand divans, made of ivory, made of hardwood, made of gold, spread with long-fleeced woollen covers, spread with white woollen covers, spread with woollen coverlets embroidered with flowers, with excellent spreads of kadali deer hide, with canopies above, with red pillows at both ends. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand elephants, with golden ornaments, golden banners, covered with golden netting, with the elephant king Uposatha as chief. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand horses, with golden ornaments, golden banners, covered with golden netting, with the horse king Valāhaka as chief. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand chariots, with golden ornaments, golden banners, covered with golden netting, with the Vejayanta chariot as chief. For me, monk, being that head-anointed king of the ruling caste, there were eighty-four thousand jewels, with the jewel treasure as chief. For me, monk... etc. there were eighty-four thousand women, with Queen Subhaddā as chief. For me, monk... etc. there were eighty-four thousand warriors of the warrior caste, following me, with the chief of the army treasure as chief. For me, monk... etc. there were eighty-four thousand cows, with fine cloth tethers, with bronze milk pails. For me, monk... etc. there were eighty-four thousand tens of millions of garments, of fine linen, of fine silk, of fine wool, of fine cotton. For me, monk... etc. there were eighty-four thousand pots of boiled rice; food was brought morning and evening.
"Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand cities, there is only one city in which I dwell at that time - Kusāvatī the royal city. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand mansions, there is only one mansion in which I dwell at that time - the Teaching mansion. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand pinnacle chambers, there is only one pinnacle chamber in which I dwell at that time - the Great Array pinnacle chamber. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand divans, there is only one divan which I use at that time - one made of ivory or made of sandalwood or made of gold or made of silver. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand elephants, there is only one elephant which I mount at that time - the king of elephants Uposatha. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand horses, there is only one horse which I mount at that time - the king of horses Valāhaka. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand chariots, there is only one chariot which I mount at that time - the Vejayanta chariot. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand women, there is only one woman who attends upon me at that time - either a woman of the warrior caste or a woman of mixed caste. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand times ten million garments, there is only one suit of garments which I wear at that time - whether fine linen or fine silk or fine wool or fine cotton. Now, monk, of those eighty-four thousand pots of boiled rice, there is only one pot of boiled rice from which I eat at most a measure of rice and the curry suitable for it. Thus, monk, all those activities are past, ceased, changed. Thus impermanent indeed, monk, are activities. Thus unstable indeed, monk, are activities. Thus without comfort indeed, monk, are activities. This is enough, monk, to become disenchanted with all activities, enough to become dispassionate, enough to become liberated." The fourth.