7.
The First Discourse on the Great Question
27.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
Then several monks, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood.
Then those monks had this thought:
"It is still very early to walk for almsfood in Sāvatthī;
what if we were to approach the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics?"
Then those monks approached the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics; having approached, they exchanged friendly greetings with those heterodox wandering ascetics. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, they sat down to one side. When those monks were seated to one side, those heterodox wandering ascetics said this to them:
"The ascetic Gotama, friends, expounds the Teaching thus to his disciples: 'Come, monks, directly know all phenomena; having directly known all phenomena, dwell'; we too, friends, expound the Teaching thus to our disciples: 'Come, friends, directly know all phenomena; having directly known all phenomena, dwell.' Here, friends, what is the distinction, what is the disparity, what is the difference between the ascetic Gotama and us, that is to say, regarding expounding the Teaching or regarding instruction?"
Then those monks neither delighted in nor protested against what those heterodox wandering ascetics had said. Without delighting in and without protesting against, they rose from their seats and departed - "We shall understand the meaning of this statement in the presence of the Blessed One."
Then those monks, having walked for almsfood in Sāvatthī, after the meal, having returned from their alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -
"Here we, venerable sir, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking our bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood. Then this occurred to us, venerable sir - 'It is still very early to walk for almsfood in Sāvatthī; what if we were to approach the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics?' Then we, venerable sir, approached the park of the heterodox wandering ascetics; having approached, we exchanged friendly greetings with those heterodox wandering ascetics. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, we sat down to one side. When we were seated to one side, venerable sir, the heterodox wandering ascetics said this to us:
'The ascetic Gotama, friends, expounds the Teaching thus to his disciples: Come, monks, directly know all phenomena; having directly known all phenomena, dwell; we too, friends, expound the Teaching thus to our disciples: Come, friends, directly know all phenomena; having directly known all phenomena, dwell. Here, friends, what is the distinction, what is the disparity, what is the difference between the ascetic Gotama and us, that is to say, regarding expounding the Teaching or regarding instruction?'
"Then we, venerable sir, neither delighted in nor protested against what those heterodox wandering ascetics had said. Without delighting in and without protesting against, we rose from our seats and departed - 'We shall understand the meaning of this statement in the presence of the Blessed One.'"
"Monks, heterodox wandering ascetics who speak thus should be told thus - 'Friend, one question, one synopsis, one explanation; two questions, two synopses, two explanations; three questions, three synopses, three explanations; four questions, four synopses, four explanations; five questions, five synopses, five explanations; six questions, six synopses, six explanations; seven questions, seven synopses, seven explanations; eight questions, eight synopses, eight explanations; nine questions, nine synopses, nine explanations; ten questions, ten synopses, ten explanations.' Thus asked, monks, heterodox wandering ascetics will not be able to explain, and furthermore they will fall into vexation. What is the reason for this? Because, monks, it is not within their domain. I do not see anyone, monks, in the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, among the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, who could satisfy the mind with an explanation of these questions, except for the Truth-finder or a disciple of the Truth-finder, or else having heard it from here.
"'One question, one synopsis, one explanation' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with one thing, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly becoming liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having fully realised the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. In which one thing? 'All beings are sustained by nutriment' - In this one thing, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly becoming liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having fully realised the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. 'One question, one synopsis, one explanation' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"'Two questions, two synopses, two explanations' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with two things, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly becoming liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having fully realised the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. On which two? In mentality and materiality - In these two things, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly becoming liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having fully realised the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. 'Two questions, two synopses, two explanations' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"'Three questions, three synopses, three explanations' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with three things, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly becoming liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having fully realised the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. In which three? In the three feelings - In these three things, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly becoming liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having fully realised the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. 'Three questions, three synopses, three explanations' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"Four questions, four synopses, four explanations" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with four phenomena, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. In which four? In the four nutriments - In these four phenomena indeed, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. "Four questions, four synopses, four explanations" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"Five questions, five synopses, five explanations" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with five phenomena, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. In which five? In the five aggregates of clinging - In these five phenomena indeed, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. "Five questions, five synopses, five explanations" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"Six questions, six synopses, six explanations" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with six phenomena, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. In which six? In the six internal sense bases - In these six phenomena indeed, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. "Six questions, six synopses, six explanations" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"Seven questions, seven synopses, seven explanations" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with seven phenomena, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. In which seven? In the seven stations of consciousness - In these seven phenomena indeed, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. "Seven questions, seven synopses, seven explanations" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"Eight questions, eight synopses, eight explanations" - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with eight phenomena, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the true meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. In which eight? In the eight worldly adversities - In these eight phenomena indeed, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, etc. makes an end of suffering. "Eight questions, eight synopses, eight explanations" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"'Nine questions, nine synopses, nine explanations' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with nine phenomena, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. Which nine? The nine abodes of beings - in these nine phenomena indeed, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. 'Nine questions, nine synopses, nine explanations' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"'Ten questions, ten synopses, ten explanations' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted with ten phenomena, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. Which ten? The ten unwholesome courses of action - in these ten phenomena indeed, monks, a monk rightly becoming disenchanted, rightly becoming dispassionate, rightly being liberated, rightly seeing the limit, having thoroughly understood the right meaning, makes an end of suffering in this very life. 'Ten questions, ten synopses, ten explanations' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that." The seventh.