41.1 （一 ）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at the Śākya Kapilavastu in the Nyagrodha Garden.

At that time, Mahānāman Śākya went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. Then Mahānāman Śākya addressed the World-Honored One, saying, "I personally received this teaching from the Tathāgata: 'Any good sons or good daughters who sever the three fetters and attain the stage of stream-entry are called irreversible, and will surely attain the fruit of the path. They will not seek other teachings from non-Buddhist teachers, nor will they examine the teachings of others.' If that is so, it is not so. If I see a wild bull, horse, or camel, I am immediately frightened and my hair stands on end. I also think, 'If I were to die today out of this fear, where would I be reborn?'"

The World-Honored One told Mahānāman, "Do not give rise to fear. If you were to die now, you would not fall into the three evil destinies. There are three reasons for this. What are the three? If one is attached to sexual desire and gives rise to disturbance, and also gives rise to a mind of harm towards others, then if one is free from such desire, one will not give rise to a mind of killing and harming. In this present life, one will not give rise to suffering and distress. All the evil and unwholesome dharmas that one wishes to harm oneself - if one is free from them, one will be free from disturbance and will not have sorrow. This is called, Mahānāman, the three meanings. All evil and unwholesome dharmas will then fall below, while all wholesome dharmas will be above. It is like a butter pot breaking in water. At that time, the shards will sink below, while the butter will float above. It is the same here. All evil and unwholesome dharmas will be below, while all wholesome dharmas will float above. Mahānāman! You should know that in the past, before I attained Buddhahood, I practiced diligently for six years in Uruvilvā, not eating delicious food. My body became emaciated, like a hundred-year-old person, all due to not eating. When I wanted to get up, I would fall to the ground. At that time, I also thought, 'If I were to die here, where would I be reborn?' At that time, I also thought, 'If I were to die now, I would definitely not be reborn in the evil destinies.' However, the meaning is that one cannot go from pleasure to pleasure, but must go from suffering to pleasure.

At that time, I also wandered in the cave of the sages. At that time, there were many Nirgrantha sons studying the path there. At that time, the Nirgrantha sons raised their fingers to the sun, exposed their bodies to study the path, or squatted to study the path. At that time, I went to where they were and said to the Nirgrantha sons, 'Why do you leave your seats, raise your hands, and stand on tiptoe?' Those Nirgrantha sons said, 'Gautama should know, our former teachers committed unwholesome actions. Now we suffer because we want to eliminate those sins. Now, although we expose our bodies, we have a sense of shame and disgrace, and we also have a way to eliminate this matter. Gautama should know, when the practice is exhausted, suffering is also exhausted. When suffering is exhausted, the practice is also exhausted. When the practice of suffering is exhausted, one attains nirvana.'

At that time, I also said to the Nirgrantha sons, 'This is not so. It is not by exhausting the practice that suffering is also exhausted, nor is it by exhausting suffering that the practice is also exhausted, that one attains nirvana. But now, it is so that by exhausting the practice of suffering one attains nirvana. But it is not possible to go from pleasure to pleasure.' The Nirgrantha sons said, 'King Bimbisāra goes from pleasure to pleasure. What suffering is there?' At that time, I also said to the Nirgrantha sons, 'How does King Bimbisāra's pleasure compare to my pleasure?' The Nirgrantha sons replied to me, 'King Bimbisāra's pleasure is superior to your pleasure.' At that time, I also said to the Nirgrantha sons, 'Can King Bimbisāra make me sit cross-legged for seven days and seven nights without moving my body? Even if it is six, five, four, three, two, or even one day, can I sit cross-legged?' The Nirgrantha sons replied, 'No, Gautama!' The World-Honored One said, 'I am able to endure sitting cross-legged without moving my body. Now, Nirgrantha sons! Who is at ease? King Bimbisāra or me?' The Nirgrantha sons said, 'The śramaṇa Gautama is at ease.'

"So it is, Mahanama! One should use this method to know that it is not possible to go from pleasure to pleasure, but one must go from suffering to pleasure. It is like, Mahanama! There is a large pond to the left and right of a large village, one yojana long and wide, filled with water. If someone comes to take a drop of that water, what do you think, Mahanama? Which is more, the drop of water or the pond water?"

Mahanama said, "The pond water is more, not the drop of water."

The World Honored One said, "It is like this. The noble disciples have completely exhausted all suffering, and there is no more remaining existence, like a drop of water. The lowest path among my disciples does not exceed seven deaths and seven births to reach the end of suffering. If one is vigorous and diligent, one will become a family-to-family practitioner and attain the path."

At that time, the World Honored One extensively taught the subtle Dharma to Mahanama. Having heard the Dharma, he immediately rose from his seat and departed.

At that time, Mahanama heard what the Buddha said and joyfully accepted it.