SA 1212（一二一二） 自恣

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha during the summer retreat, together with a great assembly of five hundred bhikṣus, all of whom were arhats, their taints exhausted, their work done, their heavy burden laid down, their own goal attained, their fetters of existence completely severed, their minds well liberated by right knowledge, except for one bhikṣu, namely Venerable Ānanda, whom the World-Honored One had predicted would attain the state of non-knowledge in this very life.

At that time, the World-Honored One, on the fifteenth day of the month, at the time of the meal, in front of the great assembly, spread out his seat and sat down. Having sat down, he addressed the bhikṣus, saying: "I am a brāhman, attaining parinirvāṇa, holding the last body, as a great physician, pulling out the sword-like thorns. I am a brāhman, attaining parinirvāṇa, holding this last body, as the unsurpassed physician, able to pull out the sword-like thorns. You are my sons, born from my mouth, born from the Dharma, inheriting the remaining wealth of the Dharma. You should bear me in mind, so that there are no faults to be reproached in my body, speech, or mind."

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra, in the assembly, rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, made obeisance to the Buddha, joined his palms, and said to the Buddha: "The World-Honored One just said: 'I am a brāhman, attaining parinirvāṇa, holding the last body, as the unsurpassed great physician, able to pull out the sword-like thorns. You are my sons, born from my mouth, born from the Dharma, inheriting the remaining wealth of the Dharma. Bhikṣus! You should bear me in mind, so that there are no faults to be reproached in my body, speech, or mind.' We do not see any faults to be reproached in the World-Honored One's body, speech, or mind. Why is that? The World-Honored One can subdue those who are not subdued, pacify those who are not pacified, bring relief to those who are not relieved, and attain parinirvāṇa for those who have not attained parinirvāṇa. The Tathāgata knows the path, speaks of the path, and points to the path. Then the śrāvakas accomplish the path, follow the path, and uphold the teachings of the teacher. According to the teachings, they correctly aspire towards the true and good Dharma.

I do not see any faults to be reproached in the World-Honored One's body, speech, or mind. I now beg the World-Honored One to bear in mind any faults to be reproached in my body, speech, or mind that may be seen, heard, or suspected.

The Buddha told Śāriputra: "I do not see any faults to be reproached in your body, speech, or mind that may be seen, heard, or suspected. Why is that? You, Śāriputra, uphold the precepts, have much learning, have few desires, are content, practice seclusion, diligently apply skillful means, have right mindfulness and right concentration, have swift wisdom, sharp wisdom, wisdom of liberation, wisdom of disenchantment, great wisdom, vast wisdom, deep wisdom, incomparable wisdom, and have accomplished the treasure of wisdom. You instruct, illuminate, and delight others, and always praise instructing, illuminating, and delighting. You teach the Dharma for the sake of the assembly, never tiring.

It is like the eldest son of a wheel-turning sage king who is to be crowned but has not yet been crowned. He already abides in the coronation rites and practices, and whatever the father turns, he also turns. You are now like this. You are my eldest son, neighboring the coronation but not yet crowned. Abiding in the rites and practices, whatever Dharma wheel I should turn, you also turn, attaining the state of no more arising, exhausting all taints, and having well-liberated mind. Thus, Śāriputra! I do not see, hear, or suspect any faults to be reproached in your body, speech, or mind.

Śāriputra said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! If I have no faults to be reproached in my body, speech, or mind that may be seen, heard, or suspected, do these five hundred bhikṣus have no faults to be reproached in their body, speech, or mind that may be seen, heard, or suspected?"

The Buddha told Śāriputra: "I also do not see any faults to be reproached in the body, speech, or mind of these five hundred bhikṣus that may be seen, heard, or suspected. Why is that? These five hundred bhikṣus are all arhats, their taints have already ceased, their work is done, they have already cast off the heavy burden, cut off the fetters of existence, have right knowledge and well-liberated mind, except for one bhikṣu, namely Venerable Ānanda, whom I have predicted will attain the state of no more learning in this present life. Therefore, I do not see any faults in the body, speech, or mind of these five hundred bhikṣus that may be seen, heard, or suspected and are to be reproached.

Śāriputra said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! Since these five hundred bhikṣus have no faults to be reproached in their body, speech, or mind that may be seen, heard, or suspected, how many of these bhikṣus have attained the three knowledges? How many are liberated in both ways? How many are liberated by wisdom?"

The Buddha told Śāriputra: "Among these five hundred bhikṣus, ninety have attained the three knowledges, ninety are liberated in both ways, and the rest are liberated by wisdom. Śāriputra! These bhikṣus are free from all agitation, without skin or flesh, truly firm and solid."

At that time, Venerable Vāgīśa was in the assembly. He thought: "I will now praise and recite the verses in front of the World-Honored One and the great assembly." Having thought this, he immediately rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, bowed to the Buddha, placed his right knee on the ground, joined his palms, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I wish to speak. Well-Gone One! I wish to speak."

The Buddha told Vāgīśa: "Speak as you wish!"

At that time, Vāgīśa spoke a verse, saying:

On the fifteenth day of purity, the five hundred people in
the assembly, having severed all bonds, are great sages with the
end of existence. Practicing purity, widely liberated, no longer accepting any
existence, birth and death forever cut off. What was to be
done is done, all taints exhausted, the five hindrances like clouds
removed, the root of craving pulled out. The lion is fearless
free from all remaining existence, destroying all remaining bonds, transcending the
realm of remaining existence. All the enemies of taints are all
hidden, like a wheel-turning king, embracing all dependents. With a compassionate
mind, widely spreading the teachings, the whole country obeys and uses
them. Able to subdue the enemies of Māra, he is the
unsurpassed guide. With a respectful mind, serving the three knowledges, old
age and death extinguished, he is the true son of the
Dharma, without the affliction of being blown about. Pulling out the
thorns of afflictions, I pay homage to the offspring of the Sun-like family.

After the Buddha had spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus who heard what the Buddha had said rejoiced and upheld it.