Saṁyutta Nikāya 41.10

The Related Suttas Collection 41.10

1. Cittavagga

1. With Citta

Gilānadassanasutta

Seeing the Sick

Tena kho pana samayena citto gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Now at that time the householder Citta was sick, suffering, gravely ill.

Atha kho sambahulā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā saṅgamma samāgamma cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī”ti.

Then several deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees came together and said to Citta, “Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!”

Evaṁ vutte, citto gahapati tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā etadavoca: “tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan”ti.

When they said this, Citta said to them, “That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!”

Evaṁ vutte, cittassa gahapatino mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī”ti.

When he said this, his friends and colleagues, relatives and family members said, “Be mindful, master! Don’t babble.”

“Kiṁ tāhaṁ vadāmi yaṁ maṁ tumhe evaṁ vadetha: ‘satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, mā vippalapī’”ti?

“What have I said that makes you say that?”

“Evaṁ kho tvaṁ, ayyaputta, vadesi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“It’s because you said: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

“Tathā hi pana maṁ ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ …pe… tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“Oh, well, that’s because the deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees said to me: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ So I said to them: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

“Kiṁ pana tā, ayyaputta, ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’”ti?

“But what reason do they see for saying that to you?”

“Tāsaṁ kho ārāmadevatānaṁ vanadevatānaṁ rukkhadevatānaṁ osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthānaṁ devatānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘ayaṁ kho citto gahapati, sīlavā¹ kalyāṇadhammo. Sace paṇidahissati—anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti, ‘tassa kho ayaṁ ijjhissati, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā dhammiko dhammikaṁ phalaṁ anupassatī’ti. Imaṁ kho tā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“They think: ‘This householder Citta is ethical, of good character. If he makes a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future, his heart’s wish will succeed because of the purity of his ethics. And then as a proper, principled king he will provide proper spirit-offerings.’ That’s the reason they see for saying to me: ‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’ So I said to them: ‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

“Tena hi, ayyaputta, amhepi ovadāhī”ti.

“Then, master, advise us!”

“Tasmā hi vo evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ—

“So you should train like this:

buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

We will have experiential confidence in the Buddha: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

Dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

We will have experiential confidence in the teaching: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

Saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

We will have experiential confidence in the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’

Yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ bhavissati sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehīti evañhi vo sikkhitabban”ti.

And we will share without reservation all the gifts available to give in our family with those who are ethical and of good character.”

Atha kho citto gahapati mittāmacce ñātisālohite buddhe ca dhamme ca saṅghe ca cāge ca samādapetvā kālamakāsīti.

Then, after Citta had encouraged his friends and colleagues, relatives and family members in the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and generosity, he passed away.

Dasamaṁ.

Cittavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Saṁyojanaṁ dve isidattā, Mahako kāmabhūpi ca; Godatto ca nigaṇṭho ca, Acelena gilānadassananti.

Cittasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Related Suttas Collection on Citta the Householder are complete.