7: The Book of the Sevens
56. Tissa
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. Then, when the night had advanced, two deities of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Vulture Peak, approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and stood to one side. One deity then said to the Blessed One: "Bhante, these bhikkhunīs are liberated."
The other said: "Bhante, these bhikkhunīs are well liberated without residue remaining." [n.1540] Anupādisesā suvimuttā. Mp says that this refers to the five hundred bhikkhunīs of Mahāpajāpatī's retinue, who have been liberated without leaving any residue of clinging (upādānasesaṁ aṭṭhapetvā). The discussion to follow in the sutta makes it clear that anupādisesa here means that they have eliminated all defilements without residue, not that they have attained the nibbāna element without residue (anupādisesanibbānadhātu).
This is what those deities said. The Teacher agreed. Then, thinking: "The Teacher has agreed," they paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping the right side toward him, and disappeared right there.
2Then, when the night had passed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Last night, bhikkhus, when the night had advanced, two deities of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Vulture Peak, approached me, paid homage to me, and stood to one side. One deity then said to me: ‘Bhante, these bhikkhunīs are liberated.’ And the other said: ‘Bhante, these bhikkhunīs are well liberated without residue remaining.’ This is what those deities said, after which they paid homage to me, circumambulated me keeping the right side toward me, and disappeared right there."
3Now on that occasion the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was sitting not far from the Blessed One. Then it occurred to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Which devas know one who has a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one who has no residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining’?"
Now at that time a bhikkhu named Tissa had recently died and been reborn in a certain brahmā world. There too they knew him as "the brahmā Tissa, powerful and mighty."
4Then, just as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna disappeared from Mount Vulture Peak and reappeared in that brahmā world. Having seen the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna coming in the distance, the brahmā Tissa said to him:
"Come, respected Moggallāna! Welcome, respected Moggallāna! It has been long since you took the opportunity to come here. Sit down, respected Moggallāna. This seat has been prepared." The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna sat down on the prepared seat. The brahmā Tissa then paid homage to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and sat down to one side. The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna then said to him:
"Which devas, Tissa, know one who has a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one who has no residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining’?"
"The devas of Brahmā's company have such knowledge, respected Moggallāna."
5"Do all the devas of Brahmā's company have such knowledge, Tissa?"
"Not all, respected Moggallāna. Those devas of Brahmā's company who are content with a brahmā's life span, a brahmā's beauty, a brahmā's happiness, a brahmā's glory, a brahmā's authority, and who do not understand as it really is an escape higher than this, do not have such knowledge.
6"But those devas of Brahmā's company who are not content with a brahmā's life span, a brahmā's beauty, a brahmā's happiness, a brahmā's glory, a brahmā's authority, and who understand as it really is an escape higher than this, know one who has a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one who has no residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining.’ [n.1541] Of the seven types mentioned in §§1–7, the first two, being arahants, have no residue of defilements; the other five, being trainees, have a residue of defilements.
7(1) "Here, respected Moggallāna, when a bhikkhu is liberated in both respects, those devas know him thus: ‘This venerable one is liberated in both respects. As long as his body stands devas and humans will see him, but with the breakup of the body, devas and humans will see him no more.’ It is in this way that those devas know one who has a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one who has no residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining.’
8(2) "Then, when a bhikkhu is liberated by wisdom, those devas know him thus: ‘This venerable one is liberated by wisdom. As long as his body stands devas and humans will see him, but with the breakup of the body devas and humans will see him no more.’ It is in this way, too, that those devas know one who has a residue remaining ….
9(3) "Then, when a bhikkhu is a body witness, those devas know him thus: ‘This venerable one is a body witness. If this venerable one resorts to congenial lodgings, relies on good friends, and harmonizes the spiritual faculties, perhaps he will realize for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the spiritual life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it, dwell in it.’ It is in this way, too, that those devas know one who has a residue remaining ….
10(4) "Then, when a bhikkhu is one attained to view … (5) one liberated by faith … (6) a Dhamma follower, those devas know him thus: ‘This venerable one is a Dhamma follower. If this venerable one resorts to congenial lodgings, relies on good friends, and harmonizes the spiritual faculties, perhaps he will realize for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the spiritual life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it, dwell in it.’ It is in this way, too, that those devas know one who has a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one who has no residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining.’
11Then, having delighted and rejoiced in the words of the brahmā Tissa, just as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna disappeared from the brahmā world and reappeared on Vulture Peak. He approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and reported to the Blessed One his entire conversation with the brahmā Tissa.
12The Blessed One said: "But, Moggallāna, didn’t the brahmā Tissa teach you about the seventh person, the one who dwells in the markless?" [n.1542] In the normal sevenfold classification of noble persons, the seventh person is the faith follower (saddhānusārī). Here, however, the seventh place is taken by the animittavihārī, "one who dwells in the markless." Mp says that the Buddha is actually describing the faith follower as one who practices strong insight (balavavipassakavasena). It explains that "all marks" are all marks of permanence and so forth, and the markless mental concentration (animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ) as the concentration of strong insight (balavavipassanāsamādhiṁ). Possibly Mp is attempting to rationalize a textual discrepancy, which might be indicative of a different understanding of the seventh noble person.
"It is the time for this, Blessed One! It is the time for this, Fortunate One! The Blessed One should teach about the seventh person, the one who dwells in the markless. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will retain it in mind."
"Then listen, Moggallāna, and attend closely. I will speak."
"Yes, Bhante," the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna replied. The Blessed One said this:
13(7) "Here, Moggallāna, through non-attention to all marks, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the markless mental concentration. Those devas know him thus: ‘Through non-attention to all marks, this venerable one enters and dwells in the markless mental concentration. If this venerable one resorts to congenial lodgings, relies on good friends, and harmonizes the spiritual faculties, perhaps he will realize for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the spiritual life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it, dwell in it.’ It is in this way, too, that those devas know one who has a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one who has no residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining.’"
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate. Atha kho dve devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "etā, bhante, bhikkhuniyo vimuttā"ti.
Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "etā, bhante, bhikkhuniyo anupādisesā suvimuttā"ti. Idamavocuṁ tā devatā. Samanuñño satthā ahosi.
Atha kho tā devatā "samanuñño satthā"ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsu.
2Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi: "imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ dve devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, ekā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘etā, bhante, bhikkhuniyo vimuttā’ti. Aparā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘etā, bhante, bhikkhuniyo anupādisesā suvimuttā’ti. Idamavocuṁ, bhikkhave, tā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsū"ti.
3Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavato avidūre nisinno hoti. Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi: "katamesānaṁ kho devānaṁ evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’"ti?
Tena kho pana samayena tisso nāma bhikkhu adhunākālaṅkato aññataraṁ brahmalokaṁ upapanno hoti. Tatrāpi naṁ evaṁ jānanti: "tisso brahmā mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo"ti.
4Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno – seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ – gijjhakūṭe pabbate antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi. Addasā kho tisso brahmā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca:
"ehi kho, mārisa moggallāna; svāgataṁ, mārisa moggallāna. Cirassaṁ kho, mārisa moggallāna, imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi, yadidaṁ idhāgamanāya. Nisīda, mārisa moggallāna, idamāsanaṁ paññattan"ti. Nisīdi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno paññatte āsane. Tissopi kho brahmā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho tissaṁ brahmānaṁ āyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca: "katamesānaṁ kho, tissa, devānaṁ evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’"ti?
"Brahmakāyikānaṁ kho, mārisa moggallāna, devānaṁ evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’"ti.
5"Sabbesaññeva kho, tissa, brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’"ti?
"Na kho, mārisa moggallāna, sabbesaṁ brahmakāyikānaṁ devānaṁ evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’ti.
6Ye kho te, mārisa moggallāna, brahmakāyikā devā brahmena āyunā santuṭṭhā brahmena vaṇṇena brahmena sukhena brahmena yasena brahmena ādhipateyyena santuṭṭhā, te uttari nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti. Tesaṁ na evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’ti. Ye ca kho te, mārisa moggallāna, brahmakāyikā devā brahmena āyunā asantuṭṭhā, brahmena vaṇṇena brahmena sukhena brahmena yasena brahmena ādhipateyyena asantuṭṭhā, te ca uttari nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti. Tesaṁ evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’ti.
7Idha, mārisa moggallāna, bhikkhu ubhatobhāgavimutto hoti. Tamenaṁ te devā evaṁ jānanti: ‘Ayaṁ kho āyasmā ubhatobhāgavimutto. Yāvassa kāyo ṭhassati tāva naṁ dakkhanti devamanussā. Kāyassa bhedā na naṁ dakkhanti devamanussā’ti. Evampi kho, mārisa moggallāna, tesaṁ devānaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’ti.
8Idha pana, mārisa moggallāna, bhikkhu paññāvimutto hoti. Tamenaṁ te devā evaṁ jānanti: ‘Ayaṁ kho āyasmā paññāvimutto. Yāvassa kāyo ṭhassati tāva naṁ dakkhanti devamanussā. Kāyassa bhedā na naṁ dakkhanti devamanussā’ti. Evampi kho, mārisa moggallāna, tesaṁ devānaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’ti.
9Idha pana, mārisa moggallāna, bhikkhu kāyasakkhī hoti. Tamenaṁ devā evaṁ jānanti: ‘Ayaṁ kho āyasmā kāyasakkhī. Appeva nāma ayamāyasmā anulomikāni senāsanāni paṭisevamāno kalyāṇamitte bhajamāno indriyāni samannānayamāno – yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ – brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti. Evampi kho, mārisa moggallāna, tesaṁ devānaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’ti.
10Idha pana, mārisa moggallāna, bhikkhu diṭṭhippatto hoti … pe … saddhāvimutto hoti … pe … dhammānusārī hoti. Tamenaṁ te devā evaṁ jānanti: ‘Ayaṁ kho āyasmā dhammānusārī. Appeva nāma ayamāyasmā anulomikāni senāsanāni paṭisevamāno kalyāṇamitte bhajamāno indriyāni samannānayamāno – yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ – brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti. Evampi kho, mārisa moggallāna, tesaṁ devānaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’"ti.
11Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno tissassa brahmuno bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā – seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ – brahmaloke antarahito gijjhakūṭe pabbate pāturahosi. Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno yāvatako ahosi tissena brahmunā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.
12"Na hi pana te, moggallāna, tisso brahmā sattamaṁ animittavihāriṁ puggalaṁ deseti".
"Etassa, bhagavā, kālo, etassa, sugata, kālo. Yaṁ bhagavā sattamaṁ animittavihāriṁ puggalaṁ deseyya. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī"ti.
"Tena hi, moggallāna, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī"ti.
"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:
13"Idha, moggallāna, bhikkhu sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja viharati. Tamenaṁ te devā evaṁ jānanti: ‘Ayaṁ kho āyasmā sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja viharati. Appeva nāma ayamāyasmā anulomikāni senāsanāni paṭisevamāno kalyāṇamitte bhajamāno indriyāni samannānayamāno – yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ – brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti. Evaṁ kho, moggallāna, tesaṁ devānaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘saupādisese vā saupādisesoti, anupādisese vā anupādiseso’"ti.
Tatiyaṁ.