SA 547（五四七） 执杖

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was staying at Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma in Śrāvastī. Venerable Mahākātyāyana was at the pond of the Brahmins in Uṇṇāḍa, gathered with many bhikṣus in the dining hall, discussing matters concerning robes.

At that time, there was an old and aged Brāhman with a staff who went to the dining hall, leaned on a pillar on one side, and stood there. After a while, he said to the bhikṣus in silence: "Elder ones! Why do you not speak, greet, or respectfully invite to sit an elder like me?"

At that time, Venerable Mahākātyāyana was also sitting in the assembly. Venerable Mahākātyāyana said to the Brāhman: "In our Dharma, when elders come, we all speak, greet, pay respect, and invite them to sit down."

The Brāhman said: "I see no one in this assembly older than me who is not respected, paid homage to, or invited to sit down. How can you say: 'In our Dharma, when elders come, we all speak, greet, pay respect, and invite them to sit down'?"

Mahākātyāyana said: "Brāhman! If there are those who are eighty or ninety years old, with white hair and falling teeth, but have the qualities of youth, they are not elders. Although there are those who are twenty-five years old, with fair skin, black hair, and in the prime of youth, if they have the qualities of elders, they are counted as elders."

The Brāhman asked: "What is meant by being eighty or ninety years old, with white hair and falling teeth, but still having the qualities of youth? And what is meant by being twenty-five years old, with fair skin, black hair, and in the prime of youth, being counted as an elder?"

Venerable Mahākātyāyana said to the Brāhman: "There are five kinds of sensual pleasures, namely, the eye cognizing forms with desire, joy, and recollection; the ear cognizing sounds, the nose cognizing smells, the tongue cognizing tastes, and the body cognizing tactile objects with desire, joy, and recollection. If one is not free from desire, not free from passion, not free from love, not free from recollection, and not free from defilement towards these five kinds of sensual pleasures, Brāhman! If this is the case, then even if one is eighty or ninety years old, with white hair and falling teeth, one is said to have the qualities of youth. Even if one is twenty-five years old, with fair skin, black hair, and in the prime of youth, if one is free from desire, free from passion, free from love, free from recollection, and free from defilement towards the five kinds of sensual pleasures, then even if one is twenty-five years old, with fair skin, black hair, and in the prime of youth, having the qualities of an elder, one is counted as an elder."

At that time, the Brāhman said to Venerable Mahākātyāyana: "According to what the Venerable has said, I reflect on myself. Although old, I am young. Although you are young, you have the qualities of an elder. There are many things in the world. Please return."

Venerable Mahākātyāyana said: "Brāhman! You know the time yourself."

At that time, the Brāhman, having heard what was said by Venerable Mahākātyāyana, rejoiced and returned to his own place.