10: The Book of the Tens
28. Great Questions (2)
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kajaṅgalā in the Bamboo Grove. Then a number of lay followers from Kajaṅgalā approached the bhikkhunī from Kajaṅgalā, [n.2012] Kajaṅgalikā bhikkhunī. It is hard to determine whether this is a proper name or a designation by way of her place of origin. If, however, it were a proper name the text would probably have read Kajaṅgalikā nāma bhikkhunī. paid homage to her, sat down to one side, and said to her:
2"Noble lady, this was said by the Blessed One in ‘The Great Questions’: ‘A question about one, a concise statement about one, an explanation of one. A question about two, a concise statement about two, an explanation of two. A question about three, a concise statement about three, an explanation of three. A question about four, a concise statement about four, an explanation of four. A question about five, a concise statement about five, an explanation of five. A question about six, a concise statement about six, an explanation of six. A question about seven, a concise statement about seven, an explanation of seven. A question about eight, a concise statement about eight, an explanation of eight. A question about nine, a concise statement about nine, an explanation of nine. A question about ten, a concise statement about ten, an explanation of ten.’ How, noble lady, is the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One spoke in brief to be seen in detail?"
3"Friends, I have not heard and learned this in the presence of the Blessed One, nor have I heard and learned this in the presence of esteemed bhikkhus. However, listen and attend closely as I explain what it seems to mean to me."
"Yes, noble lady," those lay followers of Kajaṅgalā replied. The bhikkhunī of Kajaṅgalā said this:
4(1) "When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about one, a concise statement about one, an explanation of one,’ with reference to what was this said? When a bhikkhu is completely disenchanted with one thing, completely dispassionate toward it, completely liberated from it, completely sees its delimitations, and completely breaks through its meaning, in this very life he makes an end of suffering. What one thing? All beings exist through nutriment. When a bhikkhu is completely disenchanted with this one thing, completely dispassionate toward it, completely liberated from it, completely sees its delimitations, and completely breaks through its meaning, in this very life he makes an end of suffering.
"When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about one, a concise statement about one, an explanation of one,’ it is with reference to this that this was said.
5(2) "When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about two, a concise statement about two, an explanation of two,’ with reference to what was this said? When a bhikkhu is completely disenchanted with two things, completely dispassionate toward them, completely liberated from them, completely sees their delimitations, and completely breaks through their meaning, in this very life he makes an end of suffering. What two things? Name and form ….
(3) … "What three things? The three kinds of feelings. When a bhikkhu is completely disenchanted with these three things … in this very life he makes an end of suffering.
"When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about three, a concise statement about three, an explanation of three,’ it is with reference to this that this was said.
6(4) "When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about four, a concise statement about four, an explanation of four,’ with reference to what was this said? When a bhikkhu has a mind completely well developed in four things, completely sees their delimitations, and completely breaks through their meaning, in this very life he makes an end of suffering. [n.2013] When she speaks about the four establishments of mindfulness—and below about the five faculties, the six elements of escape, the noble eightfold path, and the ten wholesome deeds—the formulation changes. Instead of saying, "is completely disenchanted with … completely dispassionate toward them, completely liberated from them" (sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno), she says: "has a mind completely well developed in" (sammā subhāvitacitto). What four things? The four establishments of mindfulness. When a bhikkhu has a mind completely well developed in these four things … in this very life he makes an end of suffering.
"When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about four, a concise statement about four, an explanation of four,’ it is with reference to this that this was said.
7(5) –(8) "When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about five, a concise statement about five, an explanation of five,’ with reference to what was this said? When a bhikkhu has a mind completely well developed in five things, completely sees their delimitations, and completely breaks through their meaning, in this very life he makes an end of suffering. What five things? The five faculties. [n.2014] The Pāli editions abridge the text thus. … What six things? The six elements of escape. [n.2015] See AN6.13. … What seven things? The seven factors of enlightenment …. What eight things? The noble eightfold path. When a bhikkhu has a mind completely well developed in these eight things … in this very life he makes an end of suffering.
"When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about eight, a concise statement about eight, an explanation of eight,’ it is with reference to this that this was said.
8(9) "When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about nine, a concise statement about nine, an explanation of nine,’ with reference to what was this said? When a bhikkhu is completely disenchanted with nine things, completely dispassionate toward them, completely liberated from them, completely sees their delimitations, and completely breaks through their meaning, in this very life he makes an end of suffering. What nine things? The nine abodes of beings. When a bhikkhu is completely disenchanted with these nine things … in this very life he makes an end of suffering.
"When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about nine, a concise statement about nine, an explanation of nine,’ it is with reference to this that this was said.
9(10) "When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about ten, a concise statement about ten, an explanation of ten,’ with reference to what was this said? When a bhikkhu has a mind completely well developed in ten things, completely sees their delimitations, and completely breaks through their meaning, in this very life he makes an end of suffering. What ten things? The ten wholesome courses of kamma. When a bhikkhu has a mind completely well developed in these ten things … in this very life he makes an end of suffering.
"When it was said by the Blessed One: ‘A question about ten, a concise statement about ten, an explanation of ten,’ it is with reference to this that this was said.
10"Thus, friends, when it was said by the Blessed One in ‘The Great Questions’: ‘A question about one, a concise statement about one, an explanation of one …. A question about ten, a concise statement about ten, an explanation of ten,’ it is in such a way that I understand in detail the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One spoke in brief. But if you wish, approach the Blessed One and ask him about this matter. As the Blessed One answers you, so should you retain it in mind."
Saying, "Yes, noble lady," those lay followers of Kajaṅgalā delighted and rejoiced in the statement of the bhikkhunī of Kajaṅgalā. Then they rose from their seats, paid homage to her, circumambulated her keeping the right side toward her, and approached the Blessed One. They paid homage to the Blessed One, sat down to one side, and reported to the Blessed One their entire discussion with the bhikkhunī of Kajaṅgalā. The Blessed One said:
11"Good, good, householders! The bhikkhunī of Kajaṅgalā is wise, of great wisdom. If you had approached me and asked me about this matter, I would have answered exactly as the bhikkhunī of Kajaṅgalā has answered. That is its meaning, and it is in this way that you should retain it in mind."
1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kajaṅgalāyaṁ viharati veḷuvane. Atha kho sambahulā kajaṅgalakā upāsakā yena kajaṅgalikā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā kajaṅgalikaṁ bhikkhuniṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho kajaṅgalakā upāsakā kajaṅgalikaṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavocuṁ:
2"Vuttamidaṁ, ayye, bhagavatā mahāpañhesu: ‘eko pañho eko uddeso ekaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ, dve pañhā dve uddesā dve veyyākaraṇāni, tayo pañhā tayo uddesā tīṇi veyyākaraṇāni, cattāro pañhā cattāro uddesā cattāri veyyākaraṇāni, pañca pañhā pañcuddesā pañca veyyākaraṇāni, cha pañhā cha uddesā cha veyyākaraṇāni, satta pañhā sattuddesā satta veyyākaraṇāni, aṭṭha pañhā aṭṭhuddesā aṭṭha veyyākaraṇāni, nava pañhā navuddesā nava veyyākaraṇāni, dasa pañhā dasuddesā dasa veyyākaraṇānī’ti. Imassa nu kho, ayye, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa kathaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo"ti?
3"Na kho panetaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ, napi manobhāvanīyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ; api ca yathā mettha khāyati taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī"ti.
"Evaṁ, ayye"ti, kho kajaṅgalakā upāsakā kajaṅgalikāya bhikkhuniyā paccassosuṁ. Kajaṅgalikā bhikkhunī etadavoca:
4"‘Eko pañho eko uddeso ekaṁ veyyākaraṇan’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Ekadhamme, āvuso, bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti. Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme? Sabbe sattā āhāraṭṭhitikā – imasmiṁ kho, āvuso, ekadhamme bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.
‘Eko pañho eko uddeso ekaṁ veyyākaraṇan’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
5‘Dve pañhā dve uddesā dve veyyākaraṇānī’ti iti, kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Dvīsu, āvuso, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti. Katamesu dvīsu? Nāme ca rūpe ca … pe …
… katamesu tīsu? Tīsu vedanāsu – imesu kho, āvuso, tīsu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.
‘Tayo pañhā tayo uddesā tīṇi veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
6‘Cattāro pañhā cattāro uddesā cattāri veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Catūsu, āvuso, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā subhāvitacitto sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti. Katamesu catūsu? Catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu – imesu kho, āvuso, catūsu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā subhāvitacitto sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.
‘Cattāro pañhā cattāro uddesā cattāri veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
7‘Pañca pañhā pañcuddesā pañca veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Pañcasu, āvuso, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā subhāvitacitto sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti. Katamesu pañcasu? Pañcasu indriyesu … pe … katamesu chasu? Chasu nissaraṇīyāsu dhātūsu … pe … katamesu sattasu? Sattasu bojjhaṅgesu … pe … katamesu aṭṭhasu? Aṭṭhasu ariyaaṭṭhaṅgikamaggesu – imesu kho, āvuso, aṭṭhasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā subhāvitacitto sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.
‘Aṭṭha pañhā aṭṭhuddesā aṭṭha veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
8‘Nava pañhā navuddesā nava veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Navasu, āvuso, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti. Katamesu navasu? Navasu sattāvāsesu – imesu kho, āvuso, navasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.
‘Nava pañhā navuddesā nava veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
9‘Dasa pañhā dasuddesā dasa veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Dasasu, āvuso, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā subhāvitacitto sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti. Katamesu dasasu? Dasasu kusalesu kammapathesu – imesu kho, āvuso, dasasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā subhāvitacitto sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.
‘Dasa pañhā dasuddesā dasa veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
10Iti kho, āvuso, yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitāsu mahāpañhāsu: ‘eko pañho eko uddeso ekaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ … pe … dasa pañhā dasuddesā dasa veyyākaraṇānī’ti, imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe, āvuso, bhagavantaññeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā"ti.
"Evaṁ, ayye"ti kho kajaṅgalakā upāsakā kajaṅgalikāya kho bhikkhuniyā bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā kajaṅgalikaṁ bhikkhuniṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho kajaṅgalakā upāsakā yāvatako ahosi kajaṅgalikāya bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo, taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesuṁ.
11"Sādhu sādhu, gahapatayo. Paṇḍitā, gahapatayo, kajaṅgalikā bhikkhunī. Mahāpaññā, gahapatayo, kajaṅgalikā bhikkhunī. Mañcepi tumhe, gahapatayo, upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi cetaṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ kajaṅgalikāya bhikkhuniyā byākataṁ. Eso ceva tassa attho. Evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā"ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.