34. By Bakkula （三四）薄拘罗经

I have heard thus:

At one time, not long after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, the Venerable Bakkula was wandering in Rājagṛha, staying in the Bamboo Grove at Kalandakanivāpa.

At that time, there was a non-Buddhist who was a close friend of the Venerable Bakkula before he renounced the householder's life. In the middle of the day, he went to where the Venerable Bakkula was, exchanged greetings, and sat to one side. The non-Buddhist said, "Virtuous Bakkula! I wish to ask something. Do you allow it?"

The Venerable Bakkula replied, "Non-Buddhist! Ask as you wish. I will think about it when I hear it."

The non-Buddhist asked, "Virtuous Bakkula! How long have you been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya?"

The Venerable Bakkula replied, "Non-Buddhist! It has been eighty years since I began practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya."

The non-Buddhist asked again, "Virtuous Bakkula! You have been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya for eighty years. Do you remember ever engaging in sexual activity?"

The Venerable Bakkula said to the non-Buddhist, "Do not ask that. Ask something else. 'Virtuous Bakkula! You have been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya for eighty years. Do you remember ever having lustful thoughts?' Non-Buddhist! You should ask that."

Then the non-Buddhist said, "I now ask the virtuous Bakkula! You have been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya for eighty years. Do you remember ever having lustful thoughts?"

Then the Venerable Bakkula, because of the non-Buddhist's question, said to the monks, "Virtuous ones! I have been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya for eighty years. If I were to be conceited about this, I would not have such thoughts. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya for eighty years, and I have never had lustful thoughts. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been wearing rag robes for eighty years. If I were to be conceited about this, there would be no such signs. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been wearing rag robes for eighty years. I have never remembered accepting a householder's robe, never cutting and making a robe, never asking another monk to make a robe, never using a needle to sew a robe, never carrying a needle to sew a pouch, not even a single thread. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been begging for alms for eighty years. If I were to be conceited about this, there would be no such signs. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been begging for alms for eighty years. I have never remembered accepting an invitation from a householder, never skipped begging for alms, never begged for alms from a wealthy family in the hope of obtaining pure, excellent, abundant food and drink, never looked at a woman's face, never remembered entering a nunnery, never remembered exchanging greetings with a nun, not even on the road. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya for eighty years. I have never remembered keeping a novice monk, never remembered teaching the Dharma to a layperson, not even teaching them a four-line verse. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been practicing the path in this true Dharma and Vinaya for eighty years. I have never been sick, not even for the time it takes to snap one's fingers. I have never remembered taking medicine, not even a single piece of emblic myrobalan. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I have been sitting cross-legged for eighty years without leaning on a wall or a tree. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I attained the three knowledges in three days and nights. If the Venerable Bakkula says this, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

Furthermore, the Venerable Bakkula said, "Virtuous ones! I will attain parinirvāṇa while sitting cross-legged. The Venerable Bakkula will then attain parinirvāṇa while sitting cross-legged. If the Venerable Bakkula attains parinirvāṇa while sitting cross-legged, it is called the unprecedented quality of the Venerable Bakkula."

The Venerable Bakkula spoke thus. At that time, the non-Buddhist practitioners and the bhikṣus, having heard what was said, joyfully received and practiced it.