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Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
Subha Sutta (Digna Nikaya)
The Setting Edit
I.
1. Thus have I heard. The venerable ânanda was once staying at Sàvatthi
in the Jeta Wood, in Anàthapiõóika’s pleasaunce, shortly after the
Exalted One had died away. Now at that time the young Brahman Subha, the
son of the man of Tudi, was dwelling at Sàvatthi on some business or
other.
2. Now Subha, the young Brahman, addressed a certain young man, and said:
`Come
now, young man. Go to the Samaõa ânanda, and ask in my name as to
whether his sickness and indisposition has abated, as to his health and
vigour and condition of ease; and say: ßTwere well if the venerable
ânanda would be so kind as to pay a visit to Subha, the young Brahman,
the son of the man of Tudi.û
3.
`Very well, Sir,’ said that young man in reply. And he went to the
place where the venerable ânanda was staying, and exchanged with him the
greetings and compliments of politeness and courtesy, and took his seat
apart. And, so seated, he delivered to the venerable ânanda the message
with which he had been charged.
4. On hearing that message, the venerable ânanda said to him:
`It
is not just now, young man, convenient, for I have just taken medicine.
But perhaps I may be able to go on the morrow, if so be that conditions
and opportunity seem fit.’
Then that young man arose from his seat, and went to Subha, and told him all, and added:
`So,
Sir, the matter has been so far accomplished that perhaps the venerable
ânanda may be able to come on the morrow, if so be that conditions and
opportunity seem fit.’
5.
And the venerable ânanda, when the night had passed away, dressed
himself early in the morning, and went, in his robes and carrying his
bowl, with a Bhikkhu from the Cetiya country as his attendant, to
Subha’s house, and took his seat on the mat spread out for him. And
Subha, the young Brahman, the son of the man of Tudi, came there where
he sat, and exchanged with the venerable ânanda the greetings and
compliments of politeness and courtesy, and took his seat on one side.
And, so seated, he said to the venerable ânanda:
`You,
Sir, have waited long on the venerable Gotama, constantly near him,
continually in his company. You, Sir, will know what were the things the
venerable Gotama was wont to praise; to which he used to incite the
folk, in which he established them, and made them firm. What were they,
ânanda?’
6.
`Three are the bodies of doctrine, O Brahman, which the Exalted One was
wont to praise; to which he used to incite the folk, in which he
established them, and made them firm. And what are the three? The so
noble body of doctrine regarding right conduct, the so noble body of
doctrine regarding self-concentration, the so noble body of doctrine
regarding intelligence.’
`And
what, ânanda, is this so noble body of doctrine regarding right conduct
(Sãla) in praise of which the venerable Gotama was wont to speak; to
which he used to incite the folk, in which he established them, and made
them firm?’
30. `And there is yet something further, according to this system, still to be done.’
`Wonderful
is this, ânanda, and mysteriousÞboth that this so noble group of
conduct is well-rounded, not incomplete ; and that I perceive no other,
like unto it, among the other Samaõas and Bràhmaõas outside of this
communion. And were they also to perceive such in themselves, then would
they be satisfied with thus much, and would say: ßSo far is enough. We
have done thus much. The aim of our Samaõaship has been reached.û But
you, ânanda, on the other hand, say: ßThere is yet something further,
according to your system, still to be done.û
Here ends the First Portion for Recitation in the Subha Sutta. Edit
II.
1. `And what, ânanda, is this so noble body of doctrine regarding
self-concentration (samàdhi) in praise of which the venerable Gotama was
wont to speak; to which he used to incite the folk, in which he
established them, and made them firm?’
20.
`And what, ânanda, is this so noble body of doctrine regarding
intellect (pa¤¤à) in praise of which the venerable Gotama was wont to
speak; to which he used to incite the folk, in which he established
them, and made them firm?’
27.
`This, young Brahman, is that so noble body of doctrine regarding
intellect, of which that Exalted One was wont to speak in praise;, to
which he used to incite the folk, in which he established them, and made
them firm.’
`Wonderful
is this, ânanda, and mysteriousÞboth that this so noble group of
doctrine regarding intellect is well-rounded, not incomplete; and that I
perceive no other, like unto it, among the other Samaõas and Bràhmaõas
outside of this communion.
And
there is not, in this matter, anything further to be accomplished. Most
excellent, ânanda, are the words of thy mouth, most excellent! Just as
if a man were to set up that which has been thrown down, or were to
reveal that, which has been hidden away, or were to point out the right
road to him who has gone astray, or were to bring a light into the
darkness so that those who have eyes could see external formsÞjust even
so has the truth been made known to me, in many a figure, by the
venerable ânanda. And I, even I, betake myself to that venerable Gotama
as my guide, to the truth, and to the Order. May the venerable ânanda
receive me as an adherent, as one who, from this day forth, as long as
life endures, has taken them as his guide.’
X. SUBHA SUTTA.
[CONDUCT, CONCENTRATION, AND INTELLECT]
[204].
I. 1. Thus have I heard. The venerable Ānanda was once staying at
Sāvatthi in the Jeta Wood, in Anāthapiṇḍika’s pleasaunce, shortly after
the Exalted One had died away [1]. Now at that time the young Brahman
Subha, the son of the man of Tudi [2], was dwelling at Sāvatthi on some
business or other.
2. Now Subha, the young Brahman, addressed a certain young man, and said:
‘Come
now, young man. Go to the Samaṇa Ānanda, and ask in my name as to
whether his sickness and indisposition has abated, as to his health and
vigour and condition of ease; and say: “Twere well if the venerable
Ānanda would be so kind as to pay a visit to Subha, the young Brahman,
the son of the man of Tudi.”
3.
‘Very well, Sir,’ said that young man in reply. And he went to the
place where the venerable Ānanda was staying, and exchanged with him the
greetings and compliments of politeness and courtesy, and took his seat
apart. And, so seated, he delivered to the venerable Ānanda the message
with which he had been charged.
[205] 4. On hearing that message, the venerable Ānanda said to him:
‘It
is not just now, young man, convenient, for I have just taken medicine.
But perhaps I may be able to go on the morrow, if so be that conditions
and opportunity seem fit.’
[\q 268/] Then that young man arose from his seat, and went to Subha, and told him all, and added:
‘So,
Sir, the matter has been so far accomplished that perhaps the venerable
Ānanda may be able to come on the morrow, if so be that conditions and
opportunity seem fit.’
5.
And the venerable Ānanda, when the night had passed away, dressed
himself early in the morning, and went, in his robes and carrying his
bowl, with a Bhikkhu from the Cetiya country as his attendant, to
Subha’s house, and took his seat on the mat spread out for him. And
Subha, the young Brahman, the son of the man of Tudi, came there where
he sat, and exchanged with the venerable Ānanda the greetings and
compliments of politeness and courtesy, and took his seat on one side.
And, so seated, he said to the venerable Ānanda:
[206]
‘You, Sir, have waited long on the venerable Gotama, constantly near
him, continually in his company. You, Sir, will know what were the
things the venerable Gotama was wont to praise; to which he used to
incite the folk, in which he established them, and made them firm. What
were they, Ānanda?’
6.
‘Three are the bodies of doctrine, O Brahman, which the Exalted One was
wont to praise; to which he used to incite the folk, in which he
established them, and made them firm. And what are the three? The so
noble body of doctrine regarding right conduct, the so noble body of
doctrine regarding self-concentration, the so noble body of doctrine
regarding intelligence [3].’
‘And
what, Ānanda, is this so noble body of doctrine regarding right conduct
(Sīla) in praise of which the venerable Gotama was wont to speak; to
which he used to incite the folk, in which he established them, and made
them firm?’
7. [The reply Sections 7-29 is Sections 40-63 of the Sāmañña-phala Sutta, including:
[\q 269/] 1. The appearance of a Buddha, and his preaching.
2. The awakening of a hearer, and his entry into the Order.
3. His self-training in act, word, and speech.
4. The minor details of morality he observes.
5. The absence of fear, confidence of heart thence resulting.
And the answer concludes the enumeration with the words: ]
30. ‘And there is yet something further, according to this system, still to be done.’
‘Wonderful
is this, Ānanda, and mysterious—both that this so noble group of
conduct is well-rounded, not incomplete ; and that I perceive no other,
like unto it, among the other Samaṇas and Brāhmaṇas outside of this
communion. [207] And were they also to perceive such in themselves, then
would they be satisfied with thus much, and would say: “So far is
enough. We have done thus much. The aim of our Samaṇaship has been
reached.” But you, Ānanda, on the other hand, say: “There is yet
something further, according to your system, still to be done.”
Here ends the First Portion for Recitation in the Subha Sutta.
II.
1. ‘And what, Ānanda, is this so noble body of doctrine regarding
self-concentration (samādhi) in praise of which the venerable Gotama was
wont to speak; to which he used to incite the folk, in which he
established them, and made them firm?’
[The answer Sections 2-18 is Sections 64-82 of the Sāmañña-phala Sutta, that is to say :
1. The way in which he learns to guard the door of his senses.
2. The constant mindfulness and self-possession that he gains.
[\q 270/] 3. The power of being content with little, with simplicity of life.
4.
The emancipation of heart from the Five Hindrances—covetousness,
ill-temper, sloth of body and mind, excitement and worry, and
perplexity.
5. The resulting joy and peace that pervades his bodily frame, and fills his heart.
6-9. The Four Raptures (jhānas).
And
the answer is followed by the same injunction as to something further
to he done, and the same rejoinder as above in Chapter 1, 30.]
[208]
20. ‘And what, Ānanda, is this so noble body of doctrine regarding
intellect (paññā) in praise of which the venerable Gotama was wont to
speak; to which he used to incite the folk, in which he established
them, and made them firm?’
[The answer Sections 20-26 is Sections 83, 85, and 97 of the Sāmañña-phala Sutta, that is to say:
1.
The ñāṇa-dassana—the insight which sees that the body is impermanent,
and that mind (viññāṇa) is bound up with it, has no existence
independent of it.
2. The power of calling up mental images.
3.
The perception of the Four Truths as to sorrow and the Eightfold Path;
the rooting out of one’s mind of the Intoxicants (the Āsavas); and the
final assurance, consequent thereon, of Emancipation gained.]
[209]
27. ‘This, young Brahman, is that so noble body of doctrine regarding
intellect, of which that Exalted One was wont to speak in praise;, to
which he used to incite the folk, in which he established them, and made
them firm.’
[210]
‘Wonderful is this, Ānanda, and mysterious—both that this so noble
group of doctrine regarding intellect is well-rounded, not incomplete;
and that I perceive no other, like unto it, among the other Samaṇas and
Brāhmaṇas outside of this communion.
[\q
271/] And there is not, in this matter, anything further to be
accomplished. Most excellent, Ānanda, are the words of thy mouth, most
excellent! Just as if a man were to set up that which has been thrown
down, or were to reveal that, which has been hidden away, or were to
point out the right road to him who has gone astray, or were to bring a
light into the darkness so that those who have eyes could see external
forms—just even so has the truth been made known to me, in many a
figure, by the venerable Ānanda. And I, even I, betake myself to that
venerable Gotama as my guide, to the truth, and to the Order. May the
venerable Ānanda receive me as an adherent, as one who, from this day
forth, as long as life endures, has taken them as his guide.’
Here ends the Subha Suttanta.
[1] The full details are given in Sumangala Vilāsinī, p. 7.
[2] A village near Sāvatthi, now in Nepal territory.
[3] On these three skandhas of doctrine, see above, p. 82, and A. I, 125, & c.