3.
The Discourse to Saṅgārava
193.
Then the brahmin Saṅgārava approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the brahmin Saṅgārava said this to the Blessed One -
"What now, Master Gotama, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby sometimes sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied?
But what, Master Gotama, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby sometimes sacred verses that have not been studied for a long time come to mind, how much more those that have been studied?"
"At the time, brahmin, when one dwells with a mind pervaded by sensual lust, overcome by sensual lust, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen sensual lust, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, at that time one does not understand and does not see the welfare of others as it really is, at that time one does not understand and does not see the welfare of both as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied. Just as, brahmin, a bowl of water mixed with lac or turmeric or indigo or crimson. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would not understand and would not see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when one dwells with a mind pervaded by sensual lust, overcome by sensual lust, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen sensual lust, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, the welfare of others etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when one dwells with a mind pervaded by anger, overcome by anger, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen anger, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, the welfare of others etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied. Just as, brahmin, a bowl of water heated by fire, boiling, producing hot steam. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would not understand and would not see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when one dwells with a mind pervaded by anger, overcome by anger, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen anger, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, the welfare of others etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when one dwells with a mind pervaded by sloth and torpor, overcome by sloth and torpor, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen sloth and torpor, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, the welfare of others etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied. Just as, brahmin, a bowl of water covered over with moss and aquatic plants. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would not understand and would not see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when one dwells with a mind pervaded by sloth and torpor, overcome by sloth and torpor, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen sloth and torpor, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, the welfare of others etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when one dwells with a mind pervaded by restlessness and remorse, overcome by restlessness and remorse, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen restlessness and remorse, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, the welfare of others etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied. Just as, brahmin, a bowl of water stirred by the wind, agitated, swaying, producing waves. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would not understand and would not see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when one dwells with a mind pervaded by restlessness and remorse, overcome by restlessness and remorse, and does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen restlessness and remorse, at that time one does not understand and does not see one's own welfare as it really is, the welfare of others etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when he dwells with a mind pervaded by sceptical doubt, overcome by sceptical doubt, and he does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen sceptical doubt, at that time he does not understand and does not see as it really is his own welfare, nor the welfare of others, etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied. Just as, brahmin, a bowl of water turbid, stirred up, become muddy, placed in darkness. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would not understand and would not see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when he dwells with a mind pervaded by sceptical doubt, overcome by sceptical doubt, and he does not understand as it really is the escape from arisen sceptical doubt, at that time he does not understand and does not see as it really is his own welfare, nor the welfare of others, etc. the welfare of both at that time one does not understand and does not see as it really is, sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied.
"But at the time, brahmin, when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by sensual lust, nor overcome by sensual lust, and he understands as it really is the escape from arisen sensual lust, at that time he understands and sees as it really is his own welfare, at that time he understands and sees as it really is the welfare of others, at that time he understands and sees as it really is the welfare of both; sacred verses that have not been studied for a long time come to mind, how much more those that have been studied. Just as, brahmin, a bowl of water unmixed with lac or turmeric or indigo or crimson. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would understand and would see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by sensual lust, etc.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by anger, etc. just as, brahmin, a bowl of water not heated by fire, not boiling, not producing hot steam. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would understand and would see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by anger, etc.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by sloth and torpor, etc. just as, brahmin, a bowl of water not covered over by moss and aquatic plants. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would understand and would see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by sloth and torpor, etc.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by restlessness and remorse, etc. just as, brahmin, a bowl of water not stirred by the wind, not agitated, not swaying, not producing waves. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would understand and would see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by restlessness and remorse, etc.
"Furthermore, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by sceptical doubt, nor overcome by sceptical doubt, and he understands as it really is the escape from arisen sceptical doubt, at that time he understands and sees as it really is his own welfare, at that time he understands and sees as it really is the welfare of others, at that time he understands and sees as it really is the welfare of both; sacred verses that have not been studied for a long time come to mind, how much more those that have been studied. Just as, brahmin, a bowl of water clear, bright, undisturbed, placed in the light. There a man with good eyesight, reviewing his own facial reflection, would understand and would see it as it really is. So too, brahmin, at the time when he does not dwell with a mind pervaded by sceptical doubt, nor overcome by sceptical doubt, and he understands as it really is the escape from arisen sceptical doubt, at that time he understands and sees as it really is his own welfare, nor the welfare of others, etc. nor the welfare of both at that time he understands and sees as it really is; sacred verses that have not been studied for a long time come to mind, how much more those that have been studied.
"This, brahmin, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby sometimes sacred verses that have been studied for a long time do not come to mind, how much more those that have not been studied. But this, brahmin, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby sometimes sacred verses that have not been studied for a long time come to mind, how much more those that have been studied."
"Excellent, Master Gotama! Etc. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life." The third.