Majjhima Nikāya 11

The Middle-Length Suttas Collection 11

Cūḷasīhanādasutta

The Shorter Discourse on the Lion’s Roar

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhus, “Bhikkhus!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Idheva, bhikkhave, samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehīti. Evametaṁ, bhikkhave, sammā sīhanādaṁ nadatha.

“‘Only here is there a true ascetic, here a second ascetic, here a third ascetic, and here a fourth ascetic. Other sects are empty of ascetics.’ This, bhikkhus, is how you should rightly roar your lion’s roar.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ko panāyasmantānaṁ assāso, kiṁ balaṁ, yena tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ vadetha—idheva samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehī’ti? Evaṁvādino, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā: ‘atthi kho no, āvuso, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena cattāro dhammā akkhātā ye mayaṁ attani sampassamānā evaṁ vadema—

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say: ‘But what is the source of the venerables’ self-confidence and forcefulness that they say this?’ You should say to them: ‘There are four things explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. Seeing these things in ourselves we say that:

idheva samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehīti. Katame cattāro? Atthi kho no, āvuso, satthari pasādo, atthi dhamme pasādo, atthi sīlesu paripūrakāritā; sahadhammikā kho pana piyā manāpā—gahaṭṭhā ceva pabbajitā ca. Ime kho no, āvuso, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena cattāro dhammā akkhātā ye mayaṁ attani sampassamānā evaṁ vadema—idheva samaṇo, idha dutiyo samaṇo, idha tatiyo samaṇo, idha catuttho samaṇo; suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehī’ti.

“Only here is there a true ascetic, here a second ascetic, here a third ascetic, and here a fourth ascetic. Other sects are empty of ascetics.” What four? We have confidence in the Teacher, we have confidence in the teaching, and we have fulfilled the precepts. And we have love and affection for those who share our path, both laypeople and renunciates. These are the four things.’

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘amhākampi kho, āvuso, atthi satthari pasādo yo amhākaṁ satthā, amhākampi atthi dhamme pasādo yo amhākaṁ dhammo, mayampi sīlesu paripūrakārino yāni amhākaṁ sīlāni, amhākampi sahadhammikā piyā manāpā—gahaṭṭhā ceva pabbajitā ca. Idha no, āvuso, ko viseso ko adhippayāso¹ kiṁ nānākaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ tumhākañceva amhākañcā’ti?

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say: ‘We too have confidence in the Teacher—our Teacher; we have confidence in the teaching—our teaching; and we have fulfilled the precepts—our precepts. And we have love and affection for those who share our path, both laypeople and renunciates. What, then, is the difference between you and us?’

Evaṁvādino, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā: ‘kiṁ panāvuso, ekā niṭṭhā, udāhu puthu niṭṭhā’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘ekāvuso, niṭṭhā, na puthu niṭṭhā’ti.

You should say to them: ‘Well, friends, is the goal one or many?’ Answering rightly, the wanderers would say: ‘The goal is one, friends, not many.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā sarāgassa udāhu vītarāgassā’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘vītarāgassāvuso, sā niṭṭhā, na sā niṭṭhā sarāgassā’ti.

‘But is that goal for the greedy or for those free of greed?’ Answering rightly, the wanderers would say: ‘That goal is for those free of greed, not for the greedy.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā sadosassa udāhu vītadosassā’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘vītadosassāvuso, sā niṭṭhā, na sā niṭṭhā sadosassā’ti.

‘Is it for the hateful or those free of hate?’ ‘It’s for those free of hate.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā samohassa udāhu vītamohassā’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘vītamohassāvuso, sā niṭṭhā, na sā niṭṭhā samohassā’ti.

‘Is it for the delusional or those free of delusion?’ ‘It’s for those free of delusion.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā sataṇhassa udāhu vītataṇhassā’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘vītataṇhassāvuso, sā niṭṭhā, na sā niṭṭhā sataṇhassā’ti.

‘Is it for those who crave or those rid of craving?’ ‘It’s for those rid of craving.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā saupādānassa udāhu anupādānassā’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘anupādānassāvuso, sā niṭṭhā, na sā niṭṭhā saupādānassā’ti.

‘Is it for those who grasp or those who don’t grasp?’ ‘It’s for those who don’t grasp.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā viddasuno udāhu aviddasuno’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘viddasuno, āvuso, sā niṭṭhā, na sā niṭṭhā aviddasuno’ti.

‘Is it for the knowledgeable or the ignorant?’ ‘It’s for the knowledgeable.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā anuruddhappaṭiviruddhassa udāhu ananuruddhaappaṭiviruddhassā’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘ananuruddhaappaṭiviruddhassāvuso, sā niṭṭhā, na sā niṭṭhā anuruddhappaṭiviruddhassā’ti.

‘Is it for those who favor and oppose or for those who don’t favor and oppose?’ ‘It’s for those who don’t favor and oppose.’

‘Sā panāvuso, niṭṭhā papañcārāmassa papañcaratino udāhu nippapañcārāmassa nippapañcaratino’ti? Sammā byākaramānā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ byākareyyuṁ: ‘nippapañcārāmassāvuso, sā niṭṭhā nippapañcaratino, na sā niṭṭhā papañcārāmassa papañcaratino’ti.

‘But is that goal for those who enjoy proliferation or for those who enjoy non-proliferation?’ Answering rightly, the wanderers would say: ‘It’s for those who enjoy non-proliferation, not for those who enjoy proliferation.’

Dvemā, bhikkhave, diṭṭhiyo—bhavadiṭṭhi ca vibhavadiṭṭhi ca. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā bhavadiṭṭhiṁ allīnā bhavadiṭṭhiṁ upagatā bhavadiṭṭhiṁ ajjhositā, vibhavadiṭṭhiyā te paṭiviruddhā. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā vibhavadiṭṭhiṁ allīnā vibhavadiṭṭhiṁ upagatā vibhavadiṭṭhiṁ ajjhositā, bhavadiṭṭhiyā te paṭiviruddhā.

Bhikkhus, there are these two views: views favoring continued existence and views favoring ending existence. Any ascetics or brahmins who cling, hold, and attach to a view favoring continued existence will oppose a view favoring ending existence. Any ascetics or brahmins who cling, hold, and attach to a view favoring ending existence will oppose a view favoring continued existence.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ diṭṭhīnaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, ‘te sarāgā te sadosā te samohā te sataṇhā te saupādānā te aviddasuno te anuruddhappaṭiviruddhā te papañcārāmā papañcaratino; te na parimuccanti jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi; na parimuccanti dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

There are some ascetics and brahmins who don’t truly understand these two views’ origin, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape. They’re greedy, hateful, delusional, craving, grasping, and ignorant. They favor and oppose, and they enjoy proliferation. They’re not freed from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re not freed from suffering, I say.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ diṭṭhīnaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, ‘te vītarāgā te vītadosā te vītamohā te vītataṇhā te anupādānā te viddasuno te ananuruddhaappaṭiviruddhā te nippapañcārāmā nippapañcaratino; te parimuccanti jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi; parimuccanti dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

There are some ascetics and brahmins who do truly understand these two views’ origin, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape. They’re rid of greed, hate, delusion, craving, grasping, and ignorance. They don’t favor and oppose, and they enjoy non-proliferation. They’re freed from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re freed from suffering, I say.

Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, upādānāni. Katamāni cattāri? Kāmupādānaṁ, diṭṭhupādānaṁ, sīlabbatupādānaṁ, attavādupādānaṁ.

There are these four kinds of grasping. What four? Grasping at sensual pleasures, views, precepts and observances, and theories of a self.

Santi, bhikkhave, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sabbupādānapariññāvādā paṭijānamānā. Te na sammā sabbupādānapariññaṁ paññapenti—kāmupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na diṭṭhupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na sīlabbatupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na attavādupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Imāni hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā tīṇi ṭhānāni yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti. Tasmā te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā sabbupādānapariññāvādā paṭijānamānā; te na sammā sabbupādānapariññaṁ paññapenti—kāmupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na diṭṭhupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na sīlabbatupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na attavādupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti.

There are some ascetics and brahmins who claim to propound the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping. But they don’t correctly describe the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping. They describe the complete understanding of grasping at sensual pleasures, but not views, precepts and observances, and theories of a self. Why is that? Because those gentlemen don’t truly understand these three things. That’s why they claim to propound the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping, but they don’t really.

Santi, bhikkhave, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sabbupādānapariññāvādā paṭijānamānā. Te na sammā sabbupādānapariññaṁ paññapenti—kāmupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, diṭṭhupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na sīlabbatupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na attavādupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Imāni hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā dve ṭhānāni yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti. Tasmā te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā sabbupādānapariññāvādā paṭijānamānā; te na sammā sabbupādānapariññaṁ paññapenti—kāmupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, diṭṭhupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na sīlabbatupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na attavādupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti.

There are some other ascetics and brahmins who claim to propound the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping, but they don’t really. They describe the complete understanding of grasping at sensual pleasures and views, but not precepts and observances, and theories of a self. Why is that? Because those gentlemen don’t truly understand these two things. That’s why they claim to propound the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping, but they don’t really.

Santi, bhikkhave, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sabbupādānapariññāvādā paṭijānamānā. Te na sammā sabbupādānapariññaṁ paññapenti—kāmupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, diṭṭhupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, sīlabbatupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na attavādupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Imañhi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā ekaṁ ṭhānaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti. Tasmā te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā sabbupādānapariññāvādā paṭijānamānā; te na sammā sabbupādānapariññaṁ paññapenti—kāmupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, diṭṭhupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, sīlabbatupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti, na attavādupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapenti.

There are some other ascetics and brahmins who claim to propound the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping, but they don’t really. They describe the complete understanding of grasping at sensual pleasures, views, and precepts and observances, but not theories of a self. Why is that? Because those gentlemen don’t truly understand this one thing. That’s why they claim to propound the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping, but they don’t really.

Evarūpe kho, bhikkhave, dhammavinaye yo satthari pasādo so na sammaggato akkhāyati; yo dhamme pasādo so na sammaggato akkhāyati; yā sīlesu paripūrakāritā sā na sammaggatā akkhāyati; yā sahadhammikesu piyamanāpatā sā na sammaggatā akkhāyati. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ durakkhāte dhammavinaye duppavedite aniyyānike anupasamasaṁvattanike asammāsambuddhappavedite.

In such a teaching and training, confidence in the Teacher is said to be far from ideal. Likewise, confidence in the teaching, fulfillment of the precepts, and love and affection for those sharing the same path are said to be far from ideal. Why is that? It’s because that teaching and training is poorly explained and poorly propounded, not emancipating, not leading to peace, proclaimed by someone who is not a fully awakened Buddha.

Tathāgato ca kho, bhikkhave, arahaṁ sammāsambuddho sabbupādānapariññāvādo paṭijānamāno sammā sabbupādānapariññaṁ paññapeti—kāmupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapeti, diṭṭhupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapeti, sīlabbatupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapeti, attavādupādānassa pariññaṁ paññapeti.

The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha claims to propound the complete understanding of all kinds of grasping. He describes the complete understanding of grasping at sensual pleasures, views, precepts and observances, and theories of a self.

Evarūpe kho, bhikkhave, dhammavinaye yo satthari pasādo so sammaggato akkhāyati; yo dhamme pasādo so sammaggato akkhāyati; yā sīlesu paripūrakāritā sā sammaggatā akkhāyati; yā sahadhammikesu piyamanāpatā sā sammaggatā akkhāyati. Taṁ kissa hetu? Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye suppavedite niyyānike upasamasaṁvattanike sammāsambuddhappavedite.

In such a teaching and training, confidence in the Teacher is said to be ideal. Likewise, confidence in the teaching, fulfillment of the precepts, and love and affection for those sharing the same path are said to be ideal. Why is that? It’s because that teaching and training is well explained and well propounded, emancipating, leading to peace, proclaimed by a fully awakened Buddha.

Ime ca, bhikkhave, cattāro upādānā. Kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Ime cattāro upādānā taṇhānidānā taṇhāsamudayā taṇhājātikā taṇhāpabhavā. Taṇhā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Taṇhā vedanānidānā vedanāsamudayā vedanājātikā vedanāpabhavā. Vedanā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Vedanā phassanidānā phassasamudayā phassajātikā phassapabhavā. Phasso cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidāno kiṁsamudayo kiṁjātiko kiṁpabhavo? Phasso saḷāyatananidāno saḷāyatanasamudayo saḷāyatanajātiko saḷāyatanapabhavo. Saḷāyatanañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ? Saḷāyatanaṁ nāmarūpanidānaṁ nāmarūpasamudayaṁ nāmarūpajātikaṁ nāmarūpapabhavaṁ. Nāmarūpañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ? Nāmarūpaṁ viññāṇanidānaṁ viññāṇasamudayaṁ viññāṇajātikaṁ viññāṇapabhavaṁ. Viññāṇañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ? Viññāṇaṁ saṅkhāranidānaṁ saṅkhārasamudayaṁ saṅkhārajātikaṁ saṅkhārapabhavaṁ. Saṅkhārā cime, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Saṅkhārā avijjānidānā avijjāsamudayā avijjājātikā avijjāpabhavā.

What is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of these four kinds of grasping? Craving. And what is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of craving? Feeling. And what is the source of feeling? Contact. And what is the source of contact? The six sense fields. And what is the source of the six sense fields? Name and form. And what is the source of name and form? Consciousness. And what is the source of consciousness? Choices. And what is the source of choices? Ignorance.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno avijjā pahīnā hoti vijjā uppannā, so avijjāvirāgā vijjuppādā neva kāmupādānaṁ upādiyati, na diṭṭhupādānaṁ upādiyati, na sīlabbatupādānaṁ upādiyati, na attavādupādānaṁ upādiyati. Anupādiyaṁ na paritassati, aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati.

When that bhikkhu has given up ignorance and given rise to knowledge, they don’t grasp at sensual pleasures, views, precepts and observances, or theories of a self. Not grasping, they’re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is no return to any state of existence.’”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the bhikkhus approved what the Buddha said.

Cūḷasīhanādasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.