A Lay FollowerUpāsakasutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Now at that time a certain lay follower from Icchānaṅgalaka arrived at Sāvatthī on some business.Tena kho pana samayena aññataro icchānaṅgalako upāsako sāvatthiṁ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Having concluded his business in Sāvatthī he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.Atha kho so upāsako sāvatthiyaṁ taṁ karaṇīyaṁ tīretvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. The Buddha said this to him:Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ upāsakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “It’s been a long time, lay follower, since you took the opportunity to come here.”“cirassaṁ kho tvaṁ, upāsaka, imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāyā”ti.

“For a long time I’ve wanted to come and see the Buddha, but I wasn’t able, being prevented by my many duties and responsibilities.”“Cirapaṭikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitukāmo, api cāhaṁ kehici kehici kiccakaraṇīyehi byāvaṭo. Evāhaṁ nāsakkhiṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“One who has nothing is happy indeed,“Sukhaṁ vata tassa na hoti kiñci, a learned person who has appraised the teaching.Saṅkhātadhammassa bahussutassa; See how troubled are those with attachments,Sakiñcanaṁ passa vihaññamānaṁ, a person bound tight to people.”Jano janasmiṁ paṭibandharūpo”ti.