- Linked Discourses 35.134Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.134
- 14. At Devadaha14. Devadahavagga
At DevadahaDevadahasutta
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near the Sakyan town named Devadaha.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati devadahaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
“When it comes to the six fields of contact, mendicants, I don’t say that all mendicants have work to do with diligence, nor do I say that none of them have work to do with diligence.“nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbesaṁyeva bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi, na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sabbesaṁyeva bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu nāppamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi.
I say that, when it comes to the six fields of contact, mendicants don’t have work to do with diligence if they are perfected, with defilements ended, having completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and become rightly freed through enlightenment.Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū arahanto khīṇāsavā vusitavanto katakaraṇīyā ohitabhārā anuppattasadatthā parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojanā sammadaññāvimuttā, tesāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu nāppamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu?
They’ve done their work with diligence, and are incapable of negligence.Kataṁ tesaṁ appamādena, abhabbā te pamajjituṁ.
I say that, when it comes to the six fields of contact, mendicants do have work to do with diligence if they are trainees, who haven’t achieved their heart’s desire, but live aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.Ye ca kho te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sekkhā appattamānasā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ patthayamānā viharanti, tesāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu?
There are sights known by the eye that are pleasant and also those that are unpleasant.Santi, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā manoramāpi, amanoramāpi. Though experiencing them again and again they don’t occupy the mind.Tyāssa phussa phussa cittaṁ na pariyādāya tiṭṭhanti. Their energy is roused up and unflagging, their mindfulness is established and lucid, their body is tranquil and undisturbed, and their mind is immersed and unified in samādhi.Cetaso apariyādānā āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ. Seeing this fruit of diligence, I say that those mendicants have work to do with diligence when it comes to the six fields of contact. …Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appamādaphalaṁ sampassamāno tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmi …pe…
There are ideas known by the mind that are pleasant and also those that are unpleasant.santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā manoramāpi amanoramāpi. Though experiencing them again and again they don’t occupy the mind.Tyāssa phussa phussa cittaṁ na pariyādāya tiṭṭhanti. Their energy is roused up and unflagging, their mindfulness is established and lucid, their body is tranquil and undisturbed, and their mind is immersed and unified in samādhi.Cetaso apariyādānā āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ. Seeing this fruit of diligence, I say that those mendicants have work to do with diligence when it comes to the six fields of contact.”Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appamādaphalaṁ sampassamāno tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ chasu phassāyatanesu appamādena karaṇīyanti vadāmī”ti.