2.
The Discourse on With Residue of Clinging
12.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
Then the Venerable Sāriputta, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood.
Then this occurred to the Venerable Sāriputta:
"It is still very early to walk for almsfood in Sāvatthī. What if I were to approach the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics?"
Then the Venerable Sāriputta approached the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with those heterodox wandering ascetics.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Now at that time, when those heterodox wandering ascetics were sitting together assembled, this discussion arose - "Whoever indeed, friends, with residue of clinging dies, all such are not released from hell, not released from the animal realm, not released from the sphere of ghosts, not released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world." Then the Venerable Sāriputta neither delighted in nor protested against what those heterodox wandering ascetics had said. Without delighting in and without protesting against, he rose from his seat and departed - "I shall understand the meaning of this statement in the presence of the Blessed One." Then the Venerable Sāriputta, having walked for almsfood in Sāvatthī, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Blessed One -
"Here I, venerable sir, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking my bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood. Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me: 'It is still very early to walk for almsfood in Sāvatthī; What if I were to approach the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics?' Then, venerable sir, I approached the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics; having approached, I exchanged friendly greetings with those heterodox wandering ascetics. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, I sat down to one side. Now at that time, when those heterodox wandering ascetics were sitting together assembled, this discussion arose - 'Whoever indeed, friends, with residue of clinging dies, all such are not released from hell, not released from the animal realm, not released from the sphere of ghosts, not released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world.' Then, venerable sir, I neither delighted in nor protested against what those heterodox wandering ascetics had said. Without delighting in and without protesting against, I rose from my seat and departed - 'I shall understand the meaning of this statement in the presence of the Blessed One.'"
"And who, Sāriputta, are the heterodox wandering ascetics, foolish and inexperienced, and who will know one with residue of clinging as 'with residue of clinging,' or one without residue of clinging as 'without residue of clinging'!
"There are these nine persons, Sāriputta, with residue of clinging, who when dying are released from hell, released from the animal realm, released from the sphere of ghosts, released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world. Which nine? Here, Sāriputta, a certain person is one who fulfils morality, one who fulfils concentration, one who practises to a moderate degree in wisdom. He, with the utter elimination of the five lower mental fetters, becomes an attainer of final nibbāna in the interval. This, Sāriputta, is the first person with residue of clinging who when dying is released from hell, released from the animal realm, released from the sphere of ghosts, released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, here a certain person is one who fulfils the moral precepts, one who fulfils concentration, one who practises to a moderate degree in wisdom. He, with the utter elimination of the five lower mental fetters, becomes an attainer of final nibbāna after the interval, etc. becomes an attainer of final nibbāna without exertion, etc. becomes an attainer of final nibbāna through exertion, etc. becomes an upstream-goer heading toward the Akaniṭṭha realm. This, Sāriputta, is the fifth person with residue of clinging who, when dying, is released from hell, released from the animal realm, released from the sphere of ghosts, released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, here a certain person is one who fulfils the moral precepts, one who practises to a moderate degree in concentration, one who practises to a moderate degree in wisdom. He, with the utter elimination of the three mental fetters and with the reduction of lust, hate, and delusion, becomes a once-returner, who, having come to this world only once more, makes an end of suffering. This, Sāriputta, is the sixth person with residue of clinging who, when dying, is released from hell, etc. released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, here a certain person is one who fulfils the moral precepts, one who practises to a moderate degree in concentration, one who practises to a moderate degree in wisdom. He, with the utter elimination of the three mental fetters, becomes one who has sown the seed of rebirth one last time, having produced just one human existence, he makes an end of suffering. This, Sāriputta, is the seventh person with residue of clinging who, when dying, is released from hell, etc. released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, here a certain person is one who fulfils the moral precepts, one who practises to a moderate degree in concentration, one who practises to a moderate degree in wisdom. He, with the utter elimination of the three mental fetters, becomes a family-to-family goer, having transmigrated and wandered through two or three families, he makes an end of suffering. This, Sāriputta, is the eighth person with residue of clinging who, when dying, is released from hell, etc. released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, here a certain person is one who fulfils the moral precepts, one who practises to a moderate degree in concentration, one who practises to a moderate degree in wisdom. He, with the utter elimination of the three mental fetters, becomes one with seven rebirths at the utmost, having transmigrated and wandered among gods and humans for seven rebirths at the utmost, he makes an end of suffering. This, Sāriputta, is the ninth person with residue of clinging who, when dying, is released from hell, released from the animal realm, released from the sphere of ghosts, released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world.
"And who, Sāriputta, are the heterodox wandering ascetics, foolish and inexperienced, and who will know one with residue of clinging as 'one with residue of clinging', or one without residue of clinging as 'one without residue of clinging'! These, Sāriputta, are the nine persons with residue of clinging who, when dying, are released from hell, released from the animal realm, released from the sphere of ghosts, released from the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world. Until now, Sāriputta, this exposition of the Teaching has not occurred to me for monks, nuns, male lay followers, and female lay followers. What is the reason for this? Lest having heard this exposition of the Teaching they might fall into negligence. But, Sāriputta, this exposition of the Teaching has been spoken by me with the intention of answering a question." The second.