With VakkaliVakkalisutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

Now at that time Venerable Vakkali was staying in a potter’s shed, and he was sick, suffering, gravely ill.Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā vakkali kumbhakāranivesane viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Then he addressed his carers,Atha kho āyasmā vakkali upaṭṭhāke āmantesi: “Please, reverends, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him:“etha tumhe, āvuso, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamatha; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha: ‘Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno, so bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti. And then say:Evañca vadetha: ‘Sir, please go to the mendicant Vakkali out of sympathy.’”‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” those monks replied. They did as he asked.“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: The Buddha consented with silence.Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

Then the Buddha robed up and, taking his bowl and robes, went to Venerable Vakkali.Atha kho bhagavā nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yenāyasmā vakkali tenupasaṅkami. Venerable Vakkali saw the Buddha coming off in the distance and stirred in his cot.Addasā kho āyasmā vakkali bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna mañcake samadhosi.

But the Buddha said to him,Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavoca: “It’s all right, Vakkali, don’t get up.“alaṁ, vakkali, mā tvaṁ mañcake samadhosi. There are some seats spread out, I will sit there.”Santimāni āsanāni paññattāni; tatthāhaṁ nisīdissāmī”ti.

He sat down on the seat spread out and said to Vakkali,Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavoca: “I hope you’re keeping well, Vakkali; I hope you’re all right. I hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.”“kacci te, vakkali, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ, kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti, no abhikkamanti; paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no abhikkamo”ti?

“Sir, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.”“Na me, bhante, khamanīyaṁ, na yāpanīyaṁ; bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti, no paṭikkamanti; abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no paṭikkamo”ti.

“I hope you don’t have any remorse or regret?”“Kacci te, vakkali, na kiñci kukkuccaṁ, na koci vippaṭisāro”ti?

“Indeed, sir, I have no little remorse and regret.”“Taggha me, bhante, anappakaṁ kukkuccaṁ, anappako vippaṭisāro”ti.

“I hope you have no reason to blame yourself when it comes to ethical conduct?”“Kacci pana taṁ, vakkali, attā sīlato na upavadatī”ti?

“No sir, I have no reason to blame myself when it comes to ethical conduct.”“Na kho maṁ, bhante, attā sīlato upavadatī”ti.

“In that case, Vakkali, why do you have remorse and regret?”“No ce kira taṁ, vakkali, attā sīlato upavadati; atha kiñca te kukkuccaṁ ko ca vippaṭisāro”ti?

“For a long time I’ve wanted to go and see the Buddha, but I was physically too weak.”“Cirapaṭikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitukāmo, natthi ca me kāyasmiṁ tāvatikā balamattā, yāvatāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkameyyan”ti.

“Enough, Vakkali! Why would you want to see this rotting body?“Alaṁ, vakkali, kiṁ te iminā pūtikāyena diṭṭhena? One who sees the teaching sees me.Yo kho, vakkali, dhammaṁ passati so maṁ passati; One who sees me sees the teaching.yo maṁ passati so dhammaṁ passati. Seeing the teaching, you see me.Dhammañhi, vakkali, passanto maṁ passati; Seeing me, you see the teaching.maṁ passanto dhammaṁ passati.

What do you think, Vakkali?Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vakkali, Is form permanent or impermanent?”rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Impermanent, sir.”“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

“Suffering, sir.”“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

“No, sir.”“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Is feeling …“Vedanā … perception …saññā … choices …saṅkhārā … consciousness permanent or impermanent?”viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Impermanent, sir.” …“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“So you should truly see …“Tasmātiha …pe… Seeing this …evaṁ passaṁ …pe… They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.

And then, after giving Venerable Vakkali this advice, the Buddha rose from his seat and went to the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ iminā ovādena ovaditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena gijjhakūṭo pabbato tena pakkāmi.

Then Venerable Vakkali addressed his carers,Atha kho āyasmā vakkali acirapakkantassa bhagavato upaṭṭhāke āmantesi: “Come on, reverends, lift my cot and take me to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.“etha maṁ, āvuso, mañcakaṁ āropetvā yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamatha. For how on earth could one such as I imagine dying in an inhabited area!”Kathañhi nāma mādiso antaraghare kālaṁ kattabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti?

“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants, and did as he asked.“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ mañcakaṁ āropetvā yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. Meanwhile, the Buddha spent the rest of that night and day on Vulture’s Peak Mountain.Atha kho bhagavā tañca rattiṁ tañca divāvasesaṁ gijjhakūṭe pabbate vihāsi.

Then, late at night, two glorious deities, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.Atha kho dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe… ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

One deity said to him,Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is intent on liberation!”“vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetī”ti.

And another deity said to him,Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “He’ll definitely be well freed!”“so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatī”ti.

This is what those deities said.Idamavocuṁ tā devatāyo. Then they bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right side, before vanishing right there.Idaṁ vatvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsu.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Come, mendicants, go to the mendicant Vakkali and tell him:“etha tumhe, bhikkhave, yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatha; upasaṅkamitvā vakkaliṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadetha:

‘Vakkali, hear the word of the Buddha and two deities.‘Suṇāvuso tvaṁ, vakkali, bhagavato vacanaṁ dvinnañca devatānaṁ.

Late last night, two glorious deities, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.Imaṁ, āvuso, rattiṁ dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

One deity said to him,Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, āvuso, ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca— “Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is intent on liberation!”vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetīti.

The other deity said to him,Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca— “He’ll definitely be well freed!”so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatīti.

And the Buddha said,Bhagavā ca taṁ, āvuso vakkali, evamāha— “Do not fear, Vakkali,mā bhāyi, vakkali; do not fear!mā bhāyi, vakkali. Your death will not be a bad one; your passing will not be a bad one.”’”Apāpakaṁ te maraṇaṁ bhavissati, apāpikā kālakiriyā’”ti.

“Yes, sir,” those monks replied. They went to Vakkali and said to him:“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā vakkali tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Vakkali, hear the word of the Buddha and two deities.”“suṇāvuso vakkali, bhagavato vacanaṁ dvinnañca devatānan”ti.

Then Vakkali addressed his carers,Atha kho āyasmā vakkali upaṭṭhāke āmantesi: “Please, reverends, help me off my cot.“etha maṁ, āvuso, mañcakā oropetha. For how on earth could one such as I presume to listen to the Buddha’s instructions sitting on a high seat?”Kathañhi nāma mādiso ucce āsane nisīditvā tassa bhagavato sāsanaṁ sotabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants, and helped him off his cot.“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ mañcakā oropesuṁ. They repeated what the Buddha had said.“Imaṁ, āvuso, rattiṁ dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā …pe… ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Vakkali said, “Well then, reverends, in my name bow with your head to the Buddha’s feet. Say to him:“Tena hāvuso, mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha: ‘Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is sick, suffering, gravely ill.‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. He bows with his head to your feet.’So bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti. And then say:Evañca vadetha: ‘Form is impermanent.‘rūpaṁ aniccaṁ. I have no doubt of that.Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. I’m certain that what is impermanent is suffering.Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. And I’m certain that I have no desire or greed or fondness for what is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.

Feeling is impermanent …Vedanā aniccā.

Perception is impermanent …Saññā …

Choices are impermanent …saṅkhārā aniccā.

Consciousness is impermanent.Viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ. I have no doubt of that.Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi. I’m certain that what is impermanent is suffering.Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi. And I’m certain that I have no desire or greed or fondness for what is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.’”Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmī’”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” those monks replied, and left.“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā pakkamiṁsu. And then, not long after those mendicants had left, Venerable Vakkali committed suicide.Atha kho āyasmā vakkali acirapakkantesu tesu bhikkhūsu satthaṁ āharesi.

Then those mendicants went up to the Buddha and told him Vakkali’s message.Atha kho te bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Come, mendicants, let’s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili,“āyāma, bhikkhave, yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamissāma; where Vakkali, the gentleman, committed suicide.”yattha vakkalinā kulaputtena satthamāharitan”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkami. The Buddha saw Vakkali off in the distance on his cot, lying with aggregates cast off.Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ dūratova mañcake vivattakkhandhaṁ semānaṁ.

Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.Tena kho pana samayena dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ disaṁ, gacchati adho disaṁ, gacchati anudisaṁ.

The Buddha said to the mendicants,Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”“passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ …pe… gacchati anudisan”ti.

“Yes, sir.”“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Vakkali’s consciousness, wondering:“Eso kho, bhikkhave, māro pāpimā vakkalissa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ samanvesati: ‘Where is Vakkali’s consciousness established?’‘kattha vakkalissa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitan’ti? But since his consciousness is not established, Vakkali is quenched.”Appatiṭṭhitena ca, bhikkhave, viññāṇena vakkali kulaputto parinibbuto”ti.