SA 302（三〇二） 阿支罗

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Vulture Peak in Rājagṛha.

At that time, the World-Honored One, in the morning, put on his robe, took his alms bowl, left Vulture Peak, and entered Rājagṛha to beg for alms.

At that time, Ārāḍa Kālāma was leaving Rājagṛha for some minor matter and heading towards Vulture Peak. He saw the World-Honored One from afar. Having seen him, he went to where the Buddha was and said to the Buddha, "Gautama! I wish to ask something. Is there time to answer me?"

The Buddha told Kālāma, "Now is not the time for discussion. I am now entering the city to beg for alms. When I return, that will be the time. I will explain it to you."

The second time, he said the same thing. The third time, he asked again, "Gautama! Why do you obstruct me? Gautama! How is there any difference? I now wish to ask something. Please explain it to me."

The Buddha told Ājñātakauṇḍinya, "Ask as you wish."

Ājñātakauṇḍinya asked the Buddha, "What do you think, Gautama? Is suffering self-created?"

The Buddha told Kauṇḍinya, "If suffering is self-created, that is indeterminate."

Kauṇḍinya further asked, "What do you think, Gautama? Is suffering created by others?"

The Buddha told Kauṇḍinya, "If suffering is created by others, that is also indeterminate."

Kauṇḍinya further asked, "What do you think, Gautama? Is suffering created by oneself and others?"

The Buddha told Kauṇḍinya, "If suffering is created by oneself and others, that is also indeterminate."

Kauṇḍinya further asked, "What do you think, Gautama? Is suffering not created by oneself or others, but without a cause?"

The Buddha told Kauṇḍinya, "If suffering is not created by oneself or others, that is also indeterminate."

Kauṇḍinya further asked, "What is meant by 'without a cause or creator'? Gautama, is suffering created by oneself?" He replied, "Indeterminate." "Is it created by others, by oneself and others, or without a cause or creator?" He replied, "Indeterminate." "Is there no suffering now?"

The Buddha told Kauṇḍinya, "There is no absence of suffering, but there is suffering."

Kauṇḍinya said to the Buddha, "Excellent! Gautama! You speak of the existence of suffering. Please teach me the Dharma so that I may know and see suffering."

The Buddha told Kauṇḍinya, "If one experiences suffering oneself, I would say that suffering is self-created. If another experiences suffering, it is created by another. If one experiences suffering oneself and another experiences suffering, then it is both self-created and created by another. I do not say this. If suffering arises without cause, depending neither on oneself nor another, I also do not say this. Apart from these extremes, I teach the middle way. The Buddha teaches the Dharma thus: 'Because this exists, that exists. Because this arises, that arises.' That is, conditioned by ignorance, there are karmic formations, and so on, up to the great mass of suffering. When ignorance ceases, karmic formations cease, and so on, up to the cessation of the great mass of suffering."

After the Buddha taught this sūtra, Ājñātakauṇḍinya was free from defilements and attained the purity of the Dharma eye.

At that time, Ājñātakauṇḍinya saw the Dharma, attained the Dharma, knew the Dharma, entered the Dharma, transcended all doubts, did not rely on others to know, and was not liberated by others. He attained fearlessness in the true Dharma and Vinaya. He joined his palms and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I am now liberated. From this day forth, I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṃgha. I will be an upāsaka for the rest of my life. Please bear witness to me."

Ājñātakauṇḍinya, having heard the Buddha's teaching, rejoiced and paid homage before departing.

Not long after Ājñātakauṇḍinya took leave of the World-Honored One, he was gored to death by a cow protecting her calf. At the time of his death, his faculties were clear and his complexion was radiant.

At that time, the World-Honored One entered the city to beg for alms. At that time, many bhikṣus also entered the city of Rājagṛha to beg for alms. They heard it said: "Ājñātakauṇḍinya heard the Dharma from the World-Honored One, and not long after taking leave, he was gored to death by a cow. At the time of his death, his faculties were clear and his complexion was radiant." The bhikṣus, having finished begging for alms, returned, put away their robes and bowls, washed their feet, went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed their heads at his feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! This morning, many bhikṣus entered the city to beg for alms. We heard that Ājñātakauṇḍinya heard the Dharma and Vinaya from the World-Honored One, and not long after taking leave, he was gored to death by a cow protecting her calf. At the time of his death, his faculties were clear and his complexion was radiant. World-Honored One! Where was he reborn? Where did he take birth? What did he attain?"

The Buddha told the bhikṣus: "He has already seen the Dharma, known the Dharma, followed the Dharma, and not grasped at the Dharma. He has already attained parinirvāṇa. You should go and make offerings to his body."

At that time, the World-Honored One gave the first prediction to Ājñātakauṇḍinya.