Yasojasuttaṃ [Ud 3.3, PTS 25–27]

3.

The Discourse on Yasoja

23. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time about five hundred monks headed by Yasoja had arrived at Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. And those visiting monks, exchanging friendly greetings with the resident monks, preparing lodgings, setting in order their bowls and robes, were making loud sounds and great sounds.

Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "Who are these, Ānanda, making loud sounds and great sounds, like fishermen, methinks, at a fish haul?" "These, venerable sir, are about five hundred monks headed by Yasoja who have arrived at Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. Those visiting monks, exchanging friendly greetings with the resident monks, preparing lodgings, setting in order their bowls and robes, are making loud sounds and great sounds." "Then, Ānanda, in my name address those monks - 'The Teacher calls the venerable ones.'"

"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One and approached those monks; having approached, he said this to those monks - "The Teacher calls the venerable ones." "Yes, friend," those monks replied to the Venerable Ānanda and approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To those monks seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:

"Why are you, monks, making loud sounds and great sounds, like fishermen, methinks, at a fish haul?" When this was said, the Venerable Yasoja said this to the Blessed One - "These, venerable sir, are about five hundred monks who have arrived at Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. These visiting monks, exchanging friendly greetings with the resident monks, preparing lodgings, setting in order their bowls and robes, are making loud sounds and great sounds." "Go, monks, I dismiss you; you should not dwell near me."

"Yes, venerable sir," those monks replied to the Blessed One, and rising from their seats, having paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on their right, set in order their lodgings, and taking their bowls and robes, set out on a journey towards the Vajjis. Wandering on a journey gradually among the Vajjis, they approached the river Vaggumudā; having approached, they built leaf huts on the bank of the river Vaggumudā and entered the rains retreat.

Then the Venerable Yasoja addressed the monks who had entered the rains retreat - "We, friends, have been dismissed by the Blessed One, who desires our welfare, who seeks our benefit, who is compassionate, out of compassion. Come, friends, let us lead our life in such a way that the Blessed One would be pleased with us as we dwell thus." "Yes, friend," those monks assented to the Venerable Yasoja. Then those monks, dwelling withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, within that one rainy season all realised the three true knowledges.

Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Sāvatthī as long as he liked, set out on a journey towards Vesālī. Wandering on a journey gradually, he arrived at Vesālī. There the Blessed One stayed at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.

Then the Blessed One, having encompassed the minds of the monks dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā with his mind and attended to them, addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "This direction seems to me as if filled with light, Ānanda, this direction seems to me as if filled with radiance, Ānanda; the direction in which the monks dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā dwell. It is not disagreeable for me to pay attention to going there. You should send a messenger, Ānanda, to the monks dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā: 'The Teacher calls the venerable ones, the Teacher wishes to see the venerable ones.'"

"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda, having assented to the Blessed One, approached a certain monk; having approached, he said this to that monk - "Come, friend, approach the monks dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā; having approached, say this to the monks dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā: 'The Teacher calls the venerable ones, the Teacher wishes to see the venerable ones.'"

"Yes, friend," that monk, having assented to the Venerable Ānanda, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from the Pinnacled Hall in the Great Wood, appeared before those monks on the bank of the river Vaggumudā. Then that monk said this to the monks dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā: "The Teacher calls the venerable ones, the Teacher wishes to see the venerable ones."

"Yes, friend," those monks, having assented to that monk, having set in order their lodging, taking their bowls and robes, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from the bank of the river Vaggumudā, appeared before the Blessed One in the Pinnacled Hall in the Great Wood. Now at that time the Blessed One was seated in the imperturbable concentration. Then those monks had this thought: "With which abiding is the Blessed One dwelling at present?" Then those monks had this thought: "The Blessed One is dwelling at present with the imperturbable abiding." They all sat down in the imperturbable concentration.

Then the Venerable Ānanda, when the night was far advanced, when the first watch had passed, having risen from his seat, having arranged his upper robe on one shoulder, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, said this to the Blessed One - "The night has passed, venerable sir; the first watch has gone; the visiting monks have been seated for a long time; let the Blessed One exchange friendly greetings with the visiting monks, venerable sir." When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent.

For the second time the Venerable Ānanda, when the night was far advanced, when the middle watch had passed, having risen from his seat, having arranged his upper robe on one shoulder, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, said this to the Blessed One - "The night has passed, venerable sir; the middle watch has gone; the visiting monks have been seated for a long time; let the Blessed One exchange friendly greetings with the visiting monks, venerable sir." For the second time the Blessed One remained silent.

For the third time the Venerable Ānanda, when the night was far advanced, when the last watch had passed, when dawn had risen, when the night had a joyful face, having risen from his seat, having arranged his upper robe on one shoulder, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, said this to the Blessed One - "The night has passed, venerable sir; the last watch has gone; dawn has risen; the night has a joyful face; the visiting monks have been seated for a long time; let the Blessed One, venerable sir, greet the visiting monks."

Then the Blessed One, having emerged from that concentration, addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "If you, Ānanda, had known, even this much would not have occurred to you. I, Ānanda, and these five hundred monks, all sat in imperturbable concentration."

Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -