Theranāmakasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 21.10

Linked Discourses 21.10

1. Bhikkhuvagga

1. Monks

Theranāmakasutta

Senior In Name Only

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ceva hoti ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī.

Now at that time there was a certain mendicant who was Senior in name only. He lived alone and praised living alone.

So eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisati eko paṭikkamati eko raho nisīdati eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāti.

He entered the village for alms alone, returned alone, sat in private alone, and focussed on walking mindfully alone.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“idha, bhante, aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

“Sir, there’s a certain mendicant who is Senior in name only. He lives alone and praises living alone.”

Atha kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:

So the Buddha addressed one of the monks,

“ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena theraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantehi:

“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Senior that

‘satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī’”ti.

the Teacher summons him.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā thero tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca:

“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Venerable Senior and said to him,

“satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī”ti.

“Reverend Senior, the Teacher summons you.”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā thero tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ theraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Yes, reverend,” that monk replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

“Is it really true, Senior, that you live alone and praise living alone?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

“But in what way do you live alone and praise living alone?”

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisāmi eko paṭikkamāmi eko raho nisīdāmi eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāmi.

“Well, sir, I enter the village for alms alone, return alone, sit in private alone, and focus on walking mindfully alone.

Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

That’s how I live alone and praise living alone.”

“Attheso, thera, ekavihāro neso natthīti vadāmi.

“That is a kind of living alone, I don’t deny it.

Api ca, thera, yathā ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti

But as to how living alone is fulfilled in detail,

taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho …pe….

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

“Kathañca, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti.

“And how, Senior, is living alone fulfilled in detail?

Idha, thera, yaṁ atītaṁ taṁ pahīnaṁ, yaṁ anāgataṁ taṁ paṭinissaṭṭhaṁ, paccuppannesu ca attabhāvapaṭilābhesu chandarāgo suppaṭivinīto.

It’s when what’s in the past is given up, what’s in the future is relinquished, and desire and greed for present incarnations is eliminated.

Evaṁ kho, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hotī”ti.

That’s how living alone is fulfilled in detail.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Sabbābhibhuṁ sabbaviduṁ sumedhaṁ,

“The vanquisher of all, knower of all, so very intelligent,

Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalittaṁ;

is unsullied in the midst of all things.

Sabbañjahaṁ taṇhākkhaye vimuttaṁ,

He’s given up all, freed in the ending of craving:

Tamahaṁ naraṁ ekavihārīti brūmī”ti.

I declare that man to be one who lives alone.”

Dasamaṁ.