145. （一四五）瞿默目揵连经

I have heard thus:

At one time, not long after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, Venerable Ānanda was wandering in Rājagṛha.

At that time, the Magadhan minister Vṛṣa was governing Rājagṛha to prevent the Vrjis. Then the Magadhan minister Vṛṣa sent a farmer named Gautama to the Bamboo Grove Kalandakanivāpa.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda, having passed the night, put on his robes, took his alms bowl, and entered Rājagṛha for alms. Then Venerable Ānanda thought: "Let me put off begging for alms in Rājagṛha. I shall go to the farmer Gautama." Then Venerable Ānanda went to the farmer Gautama.

The brāhman Gautama saw Venerable Ānanda coming from afar, and immediately rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms towards Venerable Ānanda, and said: "Welcome, Ānanda! You have not come here for a long time. Please sit on this seat." Venerable Ānanda then sat on that seat.

The brāhman Gautama exchanged greetings with Venerable Ānanda, then sat to one side and said: "Ānanda! I wish to ask something. May I ask?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Gautama! You may ask. I shall think about it when I hear it."

He then asked: "Ānanda! Is there a monk who is equal to the śramaṇa Gautama?"

When Venerable Ānanda was discussing this matter with the brāhman Gautama Mahānāma, at that time the Magadhan minister Vṛṣa was consoling the farmers and went to where the brāhman Gautama Mahānāma was.

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa saw from afar Venerable Ānanda sitting among the farmers of the brāhman Gautama Mahānāma, and went to where Venerable Ānanda was. They greeted each other and sat down to one side. He asked: "Ānanda! What were you discussing with the brāhman Gautama Mahānāma? What was the reason for your meeting here?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Vṛṣa! The brāhman Gautama Mahānāma asked me: 'Ānanda! Is there any bhikṣu who is equal to the śramaṇa Gautama?'"

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa again asked: "Ānanda! How did you answer him?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Vṛṣa! There is no bhikṣu at all who is equal to the World-Honored One."

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa again asked: "Yes, Ānanda! There is no bhikṣu at all who is equal to the World-Honored One. Is there a bhikṣu whom the Śramaṇa Gautama appointed during his lifetime, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after my parinirvāṇa, that is, the one you now rely on?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Vṛṣa! There is no bhikṣu at all whom the World-Honored One knew and saw, whom the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One appointed during his lifetime, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after my parinirvāṇa, that is, the one you now rely on."

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa again asked: "Ānanda! Yes, there is no bhikṣu at all who is equal to the Śramaṇa Gautama. There is also no bhikṣu whom the Śramaṇa Gautama appointed during his lifetime, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after my parinirvāṇa, that is, the one you now rely on. Is there a bhikṣu who is in harmony with the assembly and is revered by them, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after the World-Honored One's parinirvāṇa, that is, the one you now rely on?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Vṛṣa! There is also no bhikṣu who is in harmony with the assembly and is revered by them, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after the World-Honored One's parinirvāṇa, that is, the one you now rely on."

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa again asked: "Ānanda! Yes, there is no bhikṣu at all who is equal to the Śramaṇa Gautama. There is also no bhikṣu whom the Śramaṇa Gautama appointed during his lifetime, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after my parinirvāṇa, that is, the one you now rely on. There is also no bhikṣu who is in harmony with the assembly and is revered by them, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after the World-Honored One's parinirvāṇa, that is, the one you now rely on. Ānanda! Then, you have no support, but are in harmony, without dispute, at peace, with the same teaching, united like water and milk, and happily wandering, just as when the Śramaṇa Gautama was here?"

Venerable Ānanda said: "Vṛṣa! Do not say that we have no support. Why is that? We have support."

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa said: "Ānanda! How are your previous and later statements not contradictory? Ānanda said before: 'There is no bhikṣu at all who is equal to the World-Honored One. There is also no bhikṣu whom the World-Honored One knew and saw, the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One appointed during his lifetime, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after my parinirvāṇa, that is, the one we now rely on. There is also no bhikṣu who is in harmony with the assembly and is revered by them, who will be the support for the bhikṣus after the World-Honored One's parinirvāṇa, that is, the one we now rely on.' Ānanda! For what reason do you now say that we have support?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Vṛṣa! We do not rely on people, but on the Dharma. Vṛṣa! If we travel relying on villages, on the fifteenth day when we recite the Prātimokṣa, we gather in one place. If there is a bhikṣu who knows the Dharma, we invite that bhikṣu to teach the Dharma for us. If that assembly is pure, we all joyfully accept and practice what that bhikṣu says. If that assembly is impure, we follow the Dharma as it is taught and instruct them accordingly."

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa said: "Ānanda! It is not that you teach this, but the Dharma teaches this. Ānanda! If there is a small or large Dharma that can be upheld for a long time, then Ānanda and others will be in harmony, without dispute, at peace, with a single teaching, united like water and milk, happily wandering about, just as when the Śramaṇa Gautama was here."

The Magadhan minister Vṛṣa further asked: "Ānanda! Is there anyone worthy of respect?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Vṛṣa! There is someone worthy of respect."

Vṛṣa said: "Ānanda! What you said before and now are not consistent. Ānanda said before: 'There is no bhikṣu who is equal to the World-Honored One; there is also no bhikṣu who was established by the World-Honored One during his lifetime as the support for bhikṣus after his parinirvāṇa, who would be the support for us now; there is also no bhikṣu who was unanimously chosen by the assembly as the support for bhikṣus after the World-Honored One's parinirvāṇa, who would be the support for us now.' Ānanda! For what reason do you now say there is someone worthy of respect?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Vṛṣa! The World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, spoke of ten qualities that are worthy of respect. If we see a bhikṣu who possesses these ten qualities, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu. What are the ten? Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu cultivates precepts, guards the precepts, and is well-disciplined in conduct and deportment. Seeing even the slightest fault, he is always fearful and upholds the precepts. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who practices the precepts to the utmost, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu extensively studies and memorizes, guarding and not forgetting, accumulating extensive learning. The teachings he upholds are wonderful in the beginning, wonderful in the middle, and wonderful in the end. They are meaningful, well-spoken, complete, pure, and clearly present the holy life. He extensively studies and memorizes such teachings, reciting and practicing them up to a thousand times, contemplating them with the mind, seeing them clearly and deeply. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who is extremely learned, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu becomes a good friend, a good companion, a good associate. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who is an extremely good friend, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu delights in dwelling in seclusion, accomplishing the two kinds of seclusion, of body and mind. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who greatly delights in dwelling in seclusion, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu delights in sitting in meditation, practicing inner stillness, not apart from contemplation, accomplishing insight, and increasing the practice of emptiness. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who greatly delights in sitting in meditation, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu is content, taking robes to cover the body, and food to fill the stomach. Wherever he goes, he carries his robes and bowl, walking without attachment. Like a bird of prey with its two wings, he soars through the sky. In this way, a bhikṣu is content, taking robes to cover the body, and food to fill the stomach. Wherever he goes, he carries his robes and bowl, walking without attachment. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who is extremely content, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu always practices mindfulness, accomplishing right mindfulness. He always remembers and does not forget what he has practiced and heard for a long time. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who has right mindfulness, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu always practices diligence, abandoning unwholesome dharmas and cultivating wholesome dharmas. He always arouses his own mind, single-mindedly and firmly, for the sake of wholesome roots, not abandoning skillful means. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who is extremely diligent, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu practices wisdom, observing the dharmas of arising and decay. He attains such wisdom, with the bright and penetrating wisdom of the sages, discerning and understanding, to completely end suffering. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who practices wisdom to the utmost, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

Furthermore, Vṛṣa! A bhikṣu has exhausted all taints, attained the state free from taints, with liberation of mind and liberation through wisdom. He knows and realizes for himself, attains accomplishment through his own efforts, and abides in it. His births are exhausted, the holy life has been established, what was to be done has been done, and he will not be subject to further existence. He knows this as it truly is. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who has exhausted all taints, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu.

"Vṛṣa! The World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Unattached, the Perfectly Enlightened One, speaks of these ten qualities that are worthy of respect. Vṛṣa! If we see a bhikṣu who practices these ten qualities, we will all love, respect, honor, make offerings to, revere, and pay homage to that bhikṣu. Then the great assembly let out a loud and great sound, saying: 'The straight path can be practiced, not that it cannot be practiced. If the straight path can be practiced, not that it cannot be practiced, then the Arhat will be loved, respected, honored, and paid homage to in the world. If the venerable ones can practice the straight path and do practice it, then the Arhat will be loved, respected, honored, and paid homage to in the world.'"

Then the Magadhan minister Vṛṣa and his retinue asked: "Ānanda! Where are you going now?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "I am now wandering in this Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa in Rājagṛha."

"Ānanda! The Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa is very delightful, peaceful and pleasant, not noisy during the day, quiet at night, no mosquitoes or flies, no fleas or lice, not cold or hot. Ānanda! Do you enjoy staying in the Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Yes, it is so, Uposatha! Yes, it is so. The Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa is very delightful, peaceful and pleasant, not noisy during the day, quiet at night, no mosquitoes or flies, no fleas or lice, not cold or hot. Uposatha! I enjoy staying in the Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa. Why is that? Because the World-Honored One protects me."

At that time, General Uposatha was in the assembly. General Uposatha said: "Yes, it is so, Uposatha! Yes, it is so. The Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa is very delightful, peaceful and pleasant, not noisy during the day, quiet at night, no mosquitoes or flies, no fleas or lice, not cold or hot. That Venerable One enjoys staying in the Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa. Why is that? Because that Venerable One practices contemplation and delights in contemplation."

Having heard this, General Uposatha said: "General Uposatha! The Śramaṇa Gautama used to wander in the Kalandakanivāpa in the Bamboo Grove. General Uposatha! At that time, I often went to see the Śramaṇa Gautama. Why is that? Because the Śramaṇa Gautama practices contemplation and delights in contemplation, praising all forms of contemplation."

Venerable Ānanda heard this and said: "Uposatha! Do not say that the Śramaṇa Gautama praises all forms of contemplation. Why is that? The World-Honored One sometimes praises contemplation, sometimes does not praise it."

The Magadhan minister Uposatha asked again: "Ānanda! The Śramaṇa Gautama does not praise all forms of contemplation. What kind of contemplation does he not praise?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Uposatha! There is one who is entangled in desire and gives rise to desire, but does not know the true way out. Because of being obstructed by desire, he contemplates, increases contemplation, and contemplates again. Uposatha! This is called the first contemplation that the World-Honored One does not praise. Furthermore, Uposatha! There is one who is entangled in anger and gives rise to anger, but does not know the true way out. Because of being obstructed by anger, he contemplates, increases contemplation, and contemplates again. Uposatha! This is called the second contemplation that the World-Honored One does not praise. Furthermore, Uposatha! There is one who is entangled in sleep and gives rise to sleep, but does not know the true way out. Because of being obstructed by sleep, he contemplates, increases contemplation, and contemplates again. Uposatha! This is called the third contemplation that the World-Honored One does not praise. Furthermore, Uposatha! There is one who is entangled in doubt and gives rise to doubt, but does not know the true way out. Because of being obstructed by doubt, he contemplates, increases contemplation, and contemplates again. Uposatha! This is called the fourth contemplation that the World-Honored One does not praise. Uposatha! The World-Honored One does not praise these four contemplations."

The Magadhan minister Uposatha said: "Ānanda! The Śramaṇa Gautama does not praise these four contemplations. Why is that? Because he is a perfect and complete Buddha."

The Magadhan minister Uposatha asked again: "Ānanda! What contemplations does the Śramaṇa Gautama praise?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Uposatha! A monk, having abandoned desire, abandoned evil and unwholesome qualities, attains and abides in the fourth dhyāna. Uposatha! The World-Honored One praises these four contemplations."

The Magadhan minister Uposatha said: "Ānanda! These four contemplations are praiseworthy and worthy of praise by the Śramaṇa Gautama. Why is that? Because of his perfect awakening. Ānanda! I have many duties. I will now take my leave and return."

Venerable Ānanda said: "You may return as you wish."

Then the Magadhan minister Uposatha, having heard what was said by Venerable Ānanda, received it well and remembered it well. He then rose from his seat, circumambulated Venerable Ānanda three times to the right, and departed.

Then the brāhman Gautama, not long after the Magadhan minister Uposatha had left, said: "Ānanda! You did not answer my questions at all!"

Venerable Ānanda said: "Gautama! I really did not answer."

The brāhman Gautama said: "Ānanda! I have more questions. May I ask them?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Gautama! You may ask. I will think about it when I hear it."

The brāhman Gautama asked: "Ānanda! If the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the liberated one, the one liberated through wisdom, and the Arhat are liberated, what is the difference between these three liberations? What is the superiority?"

Venerable Ānanda replied: "Gautama! If the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the liberated one, the one liberated through wisdom, and the Arhat are liberated, there is no difference between these three liberations, nor is there any superiority."

The brāhman Gautama said: "Ānanda! Please eat here." Venerable Ānanda silently accepted.

The brāhman Gautama, knowing that he had silently accepted, immediately rose from his seat, served the water for washing, and offered various abundant and delicious food and drink, personally serving and pouring until he was fully satisfied. After the meal, he put away the dishes, served the water for washing, took a small seat, and sat separately to listen to the Dharma.

Venerable Ānanda spoke the Dharma for him, inspiring him with longing and bringing about joy. Having used immeasurable skillful means to speak the Dharma for him, inspiring him with longing and bringing about joy, Venerable Ānanda spoke thus. The retinue of the Magadhan minister Varṣākāra and the brāhman Gautama heard what Venerable Ānanda had said, and they rejoiced and practiced it.