10.
The Discourse on the Peacock's Feeding Ground
10.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Peacocks' Feeding Ground in the wandering ascetics' park.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
"Monks."
"Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"Monks, endowed with three qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans. With which three? With the aggregate of morality of one beyond training, with the aggregate of concentration of one beyond training, with the aggregate of wisdom of one beyond training - Monks, endowed with these three qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans.
"Furthermore, monks, endowed with three qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans. With which three? With the wonder of supernormal power, with the wonder of mind-reading, with the wonder of instruction - Monks, endowed with these three qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans.
"Furthermore, monks, endowed with three qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans. With which three? With right view, with right knowledge, with right liberation - Monks, endowed with these three qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans.
"Monks, endowed with two qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans. Which two? With true knowledge, with conduct - Monks, endowed with these two qualities, a monk is one who has reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, and the ultimate consummation, and is foremost of gods and humans. This verse too, monks, was spoken by Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra -
One accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, he is foremost among gods and humans."
"Now this verse, monks, was well spoken by Sanaṅkumāra, not badly spoken; connected with benefit, not connected with harm; approved by me. I too, monks, say thus -
One accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, he is foremost among gods and humans." The tenth.