4.
The Second Discourse on Hāliddikāni
4.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Venerable Mahākaccāna was dwelling among the Avantis at Kuraraghara, on a precipitous mountain.
Then the householder Hāliddikāni approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna, etc.
Seated to one side, the householder Hāliddikāni said this to the Venerable Mahākaccāna -
"This was said, venerable sir, by the Blessed One in ‘Sakka's Questions’:
'Those ascetics and brahmins who are liberated through the complete elimination of craving are those who have reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate consummation, and are foremost of gods and humans.'"
How, venerable sir, should the meaning of what was spoken in brief by the Blessed One be understood in detail?"
"Regarding the material element, householder, whatever desire, whatever lust, whatever delight, whatever craving, whatever involvements and clingings, mental standpoints, adherences and underlying tendencies - through their elimination, through dispassion, through cessation, through giving up, through relinquishment, the mind is said to be well liberated.
"Regarding the element of feeling, householder... regarding the element of perception, householder... regarding the element of activities, householder... regarding the consciousness element, householder, whatever desire, whatever lust, whatever delight, whatever craving, whatever involvements and clingings, mental standpoints, adherences and underlying tendencies - through their elimination, through dispassion, through cessation, through giving up, through relinquishment, the mind is said to be well liberated.
"Thus, householder, as for what was said by the Blessed One in ‘Sakka's Questions’: 'Those ascetics and brahmins who are liberated through the complete elimination of craving are those who have reached the ultimate goal, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate consummation, and are foremost of gods and humans’ —
this, householder, is how the meaning of that brief statement by the Blessed One should be understood in detail." The fourth.