2.
The Second Discourse on Mahānāma
1018.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Nigrodha Monastery.
Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, Mahānāma the Sakyan said this to the Blessed One -
"This Kapilavatthu, venerable sir, is successful and prosperous, belonging to the public, crowded with people, with congested cul-de-sacs.
I, venerable sir, having attended upon the Blessed One or upon monks who are inspiring to the mind, when entering Kapilavatthu in the evening;
I encounter even a stray elephant, venerable sir;
I encounter even a stray horse, venerable sir;
I encounter even a stray chariot, venerable sir;
I encounter even a stray cart, venerable sir;
I encounter even a stray person, venerable sir.
At that time, venerable sir, my mindfulness concerning the Blessed One becomes confused, my mindfulness concerning the Teaching becomes confused, my mindfulness concerning the Community becomes confused.
It occurs to me, venerable sir, thus -
'If I were to die at this time, what would be my destination, what would be my future life?'"
"Do not fear, Mahānāma, do not fear, Mahānāma! Your death will not be evil, your making of time will not be evil. Mahānāma, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna. With which four? Here, Mahānāma, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration.
"Just as, Mahānāma, a tree slanting towards the east, sloping towards the east, inclining towards the east, if it were cut at the root, in which direction would it fall?" "In whichever direction, venerable sir, it slants, in whichever direction it slopes, in whichever direction it inclines." "So too, Mahānāma, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna." The second.