SA 345（三四五） 集生

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha.

At that time the World-Honored One said to Venerable Śāriputra: "As I have said, what was asked by Parāyana Ayya:

If one attains the various dharmas, and further studies various
things, with complete deportment and conduct, please explain it to me.

"Śāriputra! What is learning? What is the number of dharmas?"

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra remained silent and did not answer, and the second and third times were also silent.

The Buddha said, "It is true, Śāriputra!"

Śāriputra said to the Buddha, "It is true, World-Honored One! World-Honored One! For a bhikṣu, the true is to be disgusted, to be detached, to be extinguished, and to be inclined towards. The arising of food is the cause of birth. For that bhikṣu, because of food, he becomes disgusted, detached, extinguished, and inclined towards. The cessation of that food is the true cessation. Having realized this, that bhikṣu becomes disgusted, detached, extinguished, and inclined towards. This is called learning."

"Furthermore, Śāriputra, the true is..."

Śāriputra said to the Buddha, "It is true, World-Honored One! World-Honored One! For a bhikṣu, the true is to be disgusted, to be detached, to be extinguished, to not give rise to the taints, and to have the mind well liberated. That arises from the accumulation of food. If the true is the cessation and extinction, having realized this, the bhikṣu becomes disgusted, detached, extinguished, does not give rise to the taints, and has the mind well liberated. This is the true Dharma."

The Buddha told Śāriputra, "It is so, it is so, as you have said. For a bhikṣu, the true is to be disgusted, to be detached, to be extinguished. This is called the true Dharma." Having said this, the World-Honored One then rose and entered the room to sit in meditation.

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra knew that the World-Honored One had left not long ago. He then said to the bhikṣus, "Venerable ones! I was unable to explain the World-Honored One's initial question, so I remained silent in thought. The World-Honored One then asked me again, and I immediately understood the meaning. Even if the World-Honored One were to ask this meaning with different phrases and different flavors for a day and night, up to seven nights, I would also be able to explain it with different phrases and different flavors for up to seven nights.

At that time, another bhikṣu went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and stood to one side. He said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Venerable Śāriputra made a wonderful and unprecedented statement in the great assembly, saying: 'I was unable to explain the World-Honored One's initial question, and remained silent without answering even after the third question. The World-Honored One then asked me again, and I immediately understood. Even if the World-Honored One were to ask this meaning with different phrases and different flavors for a day and night, up to seven nights, I would also be able to explain it with different phrases and different flavors for up to seven nights.

The Buddha told the bhikṣu, "Śāriputra bhikṣu is indeed able to answer my questions for a day and night, up to seven nights, with different phrases and different flavors, and explain them with different phrases and different flavors for up to seven nights. Why is that? Because Śāriputra bhikṣu has well entered the Dharma realm.

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