9.
The Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja Discourse
519.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in Ghosita's park.
Now at that time final liberating knowledge had been declared by the Venerable Piṇḍolabhāradvāja -
"I understand: ‘Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being."
Then several monks 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 -
"Venerable sir, final liberating knowledge has been declared by the Venerable Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'I understand: ‘Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being.' What reason indeed, venerable sir, did the Venerable Piṇḍolabhāradvāja see that he declared final liberating knowledge - 'I understand: ‘Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being'?"
"Because of having developed and cultivated three faculties, monks, final liberating knowledge was declared by the monk Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'I understand: ‘Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being.' Which three? The mindfulness faculty, the concentration faculty, the wisdom faculty - because of having developed and cultivated these three faculties, monks, final liberating knowledge was declared by the monk Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'I understand: ‘Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being.' And what is the goal of these three faculties, monks? Elimination is their goal. Elimination of what? Of birth, ageing and death. Seeing 'the elimination of birth, ageing and death', monks, final liberating knowledge was declared by the monk Piṇḍolabhāradvāja - 'I understand: ‘Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being.'" The ninth.