SA 200（二〇〇） 罗睺罗

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, Venerable Rāhula went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha’s feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha, “Excellent, World-Honored One! Please teach the Dharma for me. Having heard the Dharma, I will dwell in solitude, diligently contemplating and not being negligent. Having dwelt in solitude, diligently contemplating and not being negligent, I will think thus: ‘The reason why a noble son shaves his head and beard, with right faith leaves home, goes forth, and practices the holy life, is to see the Dharma, to know and realize for himself: “My birth is ended, the holy life has been established, what was to be done has been done, there will be no more of this state of existence.”’”

At that time, the World-Honored One observed Rāhula's mind. The wisdom of liberation was not yet ripe, and he was not yet able to receive the supreme Dharma. He asked Rāhula, "Have you taught others the five aggregates of grasping?"

Rāhula said to the Buddha, "Not yet, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Rāhula, "You should teach others the five aggregates of grasping."

At that time, Rāhula received the Buddha's instruction and at another time taught others the five aggregates of grasping. Having taught, he returned to where the Buddha was, bowed at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I have already taught others the five aggregates of grasping. I only wish that the World-Honored One would teach me the Dharma. Having heard the Dharma, I will dwell alone in a quiet place, diligently contemplating and not being negligent, until I know for myself that I will not be reborn again."

At that time, the World-Honored One again observed Rāhula's mind. The wisdom of liberation was not yet ripe, and he was not yet able to receive the supreme Dharma. He asked Rāhula, "Have you taught others the six sense bases?"

Rāhula said to the Buddha, "Not yet, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Rāhula, "You should teach others the six sense bases."

At that time, Rāhula, at another time, taught others the six sense bases. After teaching the six sense bases, he came to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I have already taught others the six sense bases. I only wish that the World-Honored One would teach me the Dharma. After hearing the Dharma, I will dwell alone in a quiet place, diligently contemplating and not being negligent, until I know for myself that I will not be reborn again."

At that time, the World-Honored One observed Rāhula's mind. The wisdom of liberation was not yet ripe, and he was not yet able to receive the supreme Dharma. He asked Rāhula, "Have you already taught others the nidāna Dharma?"

Rāhula said to the Buddha, "No, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha told Rāhula, "You should teach others the nidāna Dharma."

At that time, Rāhula, having taught the nidāna Dharma to others on another occasion, came to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Please teach me the Dharma. Having heard the Dharma, I will dwell in solitude, diligently contemplating and not being negligent, until I know for myself that I will not be reborn again."

At that time, the World-Honored One again observed Rāhula's mind, knowing that the wisdom of liberation was not yet ripe... He then told Rāhula, "You should contemplate the meaning of the above teachings alone in a quiet place."

At that time, Rāhula received the Buddha's instructions and contemplated and weighed the teachings he had heard, observing their meaning. He thought, "All these teachings lead to nirvāṇa, flow into nirvāṇa, and abide in nirvāṇa in the end." At that time, Rāhula went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I have already contemplated and weighed the teachings I have heard alone in a quiet place, observing their meaning. I know that all these teachings lead to nirvāṇa, flow into nirvāṇa, and abide in nirvāṇa in the end."

At that time, the World-Honored One observed Rāhula's mind, knowing that the wisdom of liberation was ripe and he was fit to receive the supreme teachings. He told Rāhula, "Rāhula! All is impermanent. What are the impermanent phenomena? They are the impermanence of the eye, form, eye consciousness, eye contact..." and so on, as extensively explained above.

At that time, Rāhula, having heard the Buddha's teachings, joyfully followed and practiced them. He bowed to the Buddha and left.

At that time, Rāhula, having received the Buddha's teachings, stayed in a solitary place, diligently contemplating and practicing diligently. He thought, "The reason why a noble son shaves his beard and hair, puts on the monastic robe, with right faith leaves home to practice the path, and purely cultivates the brahma-conduct, is to see the Dharma and personally know and realize: 'My birth is ended, the brahma-conduct is established, what was to be done is done, I know for myself that I will not be subject to future existence.'" He attained arahantship and his mind was well liberated.

After the Buddha had spoken this sūtra, Rāhula, having heard the Buddha's teachings, joyfully practiced them.