Majjhima Nikāya 73

The Middle-Length Suttas Collection 73

Mahāvacchasutta

The Longer Discourse With Vacchagotta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

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

Atha kho vacchagotto paribbājako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vacchagotto paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “dīgharattāhaṁ bhotā gotamena sahakathī. Sādhu me bhavaṁ gotamo saṅkhittena kusalākusalaṁ desetū”ti.

Then the wanderer Vacchagotta went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha, “For a long time I have had discussions with Master Gotama. Please teach me in brief what is skillful and what is unskillful.”

“Saṅkhittenapi kho te ahaṁ, vaccha, kusalākusalaṁ deseyyaṁ, vitthārenapi kho te ahaṁ, vaccha, kusalākusalaṁ deseyyaṁ; api ca te ahaṁ, vaccha, saṅkhittena kusalākusalaṁ desessāmi. Taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Vaccha, I can teach you what is skillful and what is unskillful in brief or in detail. Still, let me do so in brief. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho vacchagotto paribbājako bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Yes, sir,” Vaccha replied. The Buddha said this:

“Lobho kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, alobho kusalaṁ; doso kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, adoso kusalaṁ; moho kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, amoho kusalaṁ. Iti kho, vaccha, ime tayo dhammā akusalā, tayo dhammā kusalā.

“Greed is unskillful, contentment is skillful. Hate is unskillful, love is skillful. Delusion is unskillful, understanding is skillful. So there are these three unskillful things and three that are skillful.

Pāṇātipāto kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, pāṇātipātā veramaṇī kusalaṁ; adinnādānaṁ kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, adinnādānā veramaṇī kusalaṁ; kāmesumicchācāro kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī kusalaṁ; musāvādo kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, musāvādā veramaṇī kusalaṁ; pisuṇā vācā kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī kusalaṁ; pharusā vācā kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī kusalaṁ; samphappalāpo kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, samphappalāpā veramaṇī kusalaṁ; abhijjhā kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, anabhijjhā kusalaṁ; byāpādo kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ, abyāpādo kusalaṁ; micchādiṭṭhi kho, vaccha, akusalaṁ sammādiṭṭhi kusalaṁ. Iti kho, vaccha, ime dasa dhammā akusalā, dasa dhammā kusalā.

Killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual misconduct; speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical; covetousness, ill will, and wrong view: these things are unskillful. Refraining from killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual misconduct; refraining from speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical; contentment, kind-heartedness, and right view: these things are skillful. So there are these ten unskillful things and ten that are skillful.

Yato kho, vaccha, bhikkhuno taṇhā pahīnā hoti ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, so hoti bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo vusitavā katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto”ti.

When a bhikkhu has given up craving so it is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future, that bhikkhu is perfected. They’ve ended the defilements, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their own true goal, utterly ended the fetters of rebirth, and are rightly freed through enlightenment.”

“Tiṭṭhatu bhavaṁ gotamo. Atthi pana te bhoto gotamassa ekabhikkhupi sāvako yo āsavānaṁ khayā¹ anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti?

“Leaving aside Master Gotama, is there even a single monk disciple of Master Gotama who has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and lives having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements?”

“Na kho, vaccha, ekaṁyeva sataṁ na dve satāni na tīṇi satāni na cattāri satāni na pañca satāni, atha kho bhiyyova ye bhikkhū mama sāvakā āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

“There are not just one hundred such monks who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Tiṭṭhatu bhavaṁ gotamo, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhū. Atthi pana bhoto gotamassa ekā bhikkhunīpi sāvikā yā āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti?

“Leaving aside Master Gotama and the monks, is there even a single nun disciple of Master Gotama who has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and lives having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements?”

“Na kho, vaccha, ekaṁyeva sataṁ na dve satāni na tīṇi satāni na cattāri satāni na pañca satāni, atha kho bhiyyova yā bhikkhuniyo mama sāvikā āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

“There are not just one hundred such nuns who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Tiṭṭhatu bhavaṁ gotamo, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhū, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhuniyo. Atthi pana bhoto gotamassa ekupāsakopi sāvako gihī odātavasano brahmacārī yo pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā”ti?

“Leaving aside Master Gotama, the monks, and the nuns, is there even a single layman disciple of Master Gotama—white-clothed and celibate—who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously, to be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world?”

“Na kho, vaccha, ekaṁyeva sataṁ na dve satāni na tīṇi satāni na cattāri satāni na pañca satāni, atha kho bhiyyova ye upāsakā mama sāvakā gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyino anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā”ti.

“There are not just one hundred such celibate laymen who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Tiṭṭhatu bhavaṁ gotamo, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhū, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhuniyo, tiṭṭhantu upāsakā gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino. Atthi pana bhoto gotamassa ekupāsakopi sāvako gihī odātavasano kāmabhogī sāsanakaro ovādappaṭikaro yo tiṇṇavicikiccho vigatakathaṅkatho vesārajjappatto aparappaccayo satthusāsane viharatī”ti?

“Leaving aside Master Gotama, the monks, the nuns, and the celibate laymen, is there even a single layman disciple of Master Gotama—white-clothed, enjoying sensual pleasures, following instructions, and responding to advice—who has gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and lives self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instruction?”

“Na kho, vaccha, ekaṁyeva sataṁ na dve satāni na tīṇi satāni na cattāri satāni na pañca satāni, atha kho bhiyyova ye upāsakā mama sāvakā gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino sāsanakarā ovādappaṭikarā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharantī”ti.

“There are not just one hundred such laymen enjoying sensual pleasures who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Tiṭṭhatu bhavaṁ gotamo, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhū, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhuniyo, tiṭṭhantu upāsakā gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino, tiṭṭhantu upāsakā gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino. Atthi pana bhoto gotamassa ekupāsikāpi sāvikā gihinī odātavasanā brahmacārinī yā pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyinī anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā”ti?

“Leaving aside Master Gotama, the monks, the nuns, the celibate laymen, and the laymen enjoying sensual pleasures, is there even a single laywoman disciple of Master Gotama—white-clothed and celibate—who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously, to be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world?”

“Na kho, vaccha, ekaṁyeva sataṁ na dve satāni na tīṇi satāni na cattāri satāni na pañca satāni, atha kho bhiyyova yā upāsikā mama sāvikā gihiniyo odātavasanā brahmacāriniyo pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyiniyo anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā”ti.

“There are not just one hundred such celibate laywomen who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Tiṭṭhatu bhavaṁ gotamo, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhū, tiṭṭhantu bhikkhuniyo, tiṭṭhantu upāsakā gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino, tiṭṭhantu upāsakā gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino, tiṭṭhantu upāsikā gihiniyo odātavasanā brahmacāriniyo. Atthi pana bhoto gotamassa ekupāsikāpi sāvikā gihinī odātavasanā kāmabhoginī sāsanakarā ovādappaṭikarā yā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharatī”ti?

“Leaving aside Master Gotama, the monks, the nuns, the celibate laymen, the laymen enjoying sensual pleasures, and the celibate laywomen, is there even a single laywoman disciple of Master Gotama—white-clothed, enjoying sensual pleasures, following instructions, and responding to advice—who has gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and lives self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instruction?”

“Na kho, vaccha, ekaṁyeva sataṁ na dve satāni na tīṇi satāni na cattāri satāni na pañca satāni, atha kho bhiyyova yā upāsikā mama sāvikā gihiniyo odātavasanā kāmabhoginiyo sāsanakarā ovādappaṭikarā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharantī”ti.

“There are not just one hundred such laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Sace hi, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavaṁyeva gotamo ārādhako abhavissa, no ca kho bhikkhū ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ aparipūraṁ abhavissa tenaṅgena. Yasmā ca kho, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako bhikkhū ca ārādhakā; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ paripūraṁ tenaṅgena.

“If Master Gotama was the only one to succeed in this teaching, not any monks, then this spiritual path would be incomplete in that respect. But because both Master Gotama and monks have succeeded in this teaching, this spiritual path is complete in that respect.

Sace hi, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako abhavissa, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, no ca kho bhikkhuniyo ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ aparipūraṁ abhavissa tenaṅgena. Yasmā ca kho, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ paripūraṁ tenaṅgena. Sace hi, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako abhavissa, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu, no ca kho upāsakā gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ aparipūraṁ abhavissa tenaṅgena. Yasmā ca kho, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ paripūraṁ tenaṅgena. Sace hi, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako abhavissa, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, no ca kho upāsakā gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ aparipūraṁ abhavissa tenaṅgena. Yasmā ca kho, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino ārādhakā; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ paripūraṁ tenaṅgena. Sace hi, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako abhavissa, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, no ca kho upāsikā gihiniyo odātavasanā brahmacāriniyo ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ aparipūraṁ abhavissa tenaṅgena. Yasmā ca kho, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino ārādhakā, upāsikā ca gihiniyo odātavasanā brahmacāriniyo ārādhikā; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ paripūraṁ tenaṅgena.

If Master Gotama and the monks were the only ones to succeed in this teaching, not any nuns … celibate laymen … laymen enjoying sensual pleasures … celibate laywomen …

Sace hi, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako abhavissa, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino ārādhakā abhavissaṁsu, upāsikā ca gihiniyo odātavasanā brahmacāriniyo ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu, no ca kho upāsikā gihiniyo odātavasanā kāmabhoginiyo ārādhikā abhavissaṁsu; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ aparipūraṁ abhavissa tenaṅgena. Yasmā ca kho, bho gotama, imaṁ dhammaṁ bhavañceva gotamo ārādhako, bhikkhū ca ārādhakā, bhikkhuniyo ca ārādhikā, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino ārādhakā, upāsakā ca gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino ārādhakā, upāsikā ca gihiniyo odātavasanā brahmacāriniyo ārādhikā, upāsikā ca gihiniyo odātavasanā kāmabhoginiyo ārādhikā; evamidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ paripūraṁ tenaṅgena.

laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures, then this spiritual path would be incomplete in that respect. But because Master Gotama, monks, nuns, celibate laymen, laymen enjoying sensual pleasures, celibate laywomen, and laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures have all succeeded in this teaching, this spiritual path is complete in that respect.

Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, gaṅgā nadī samuddaninnā samuddapoṇā samuddapabbhārā samuddaṁ āhacca tiṭṭhati, evamevāyaṁ bhoto gotamassa parisā sagahaṭṭhapabbajitā nibbānaninnā nibbānapoṇā nibbānapabbhārā nibbānaṁ āhacca tiṭṭhati.

Just as the Ganges river slants, slopes, and inclines towards the ocean, and keeps pushing into the ocean, in the same way Master Gotama’s assembly—with both laypeople and renunciates—slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbana, and keeps pushing into Nibbana.

Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Labheyyāhaṁ bhoto gotamassa santike pabbajjaṁ, labheyyaṁ upasampadan”ti.

Excellent, Master Gotama! … I go for refuge to Master Gotama, to the teaching, and to the bhikkhu Saṅgha. May I receive the going forth, the ordination in the ascetic Gotama’s presence?”

“Yo kho, vaccha, aññatitthiyapubbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ākaṅkhati pabbajjaṁ, ākaṅkhati upasampadaṁ, so cattāro māse parivasati. Catunnaṁ māsānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājenti upasampādenti bhikkhubhāvāya; api ca mettha puggalavemattatā viditā”ti.

“Vaccha, if someone formerly ordained in another sect wishes to take the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training, they must spend four months on probation. When four months have passed, if the bhikkhus are satisfied, they’ll give the going forth, the ordination into monkhood. However, I have recognized individual differences in this matter.”

“Sace, bhante, aññatitthiyapubbā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ākaṅkhantā pabbajjaṁ, ākaṅkhantā upasampadaṁ cattāro māse parivasanti, catunnaṁ māsānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājenti upasampādenti bhikkhubhāvāya; ahaṁ cattāri vassāni parivasissāmi. Catunnaṁ vassānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājentu upasampādentu bhikkhubhāvāyā”ti. Alattha kho vacchagotto paribbājako bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ alattha upasampadaṁ.

“Sir, if four months probation are required in such a case, I’ll spend four years on probation. When four years have passed, if the bhikkhus are satisfied, let them give me the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.” And the wanderer Vaccha received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.

Acirūpasampanno kho panāyasmā vacchagotto addhamāsūpasampanno yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā vacchagotto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “yāvatakaṁ, bhante, sekhena ñāṇena sekhāya vijjāya pattabbaṁ, anuppattaṁ taṁ mayā; uttari ca me² bhagavā dhammaṁ desetū”ti.

Not long after his ordination, a fortnight later, Venerable Vacchagotta went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, I’ve reached as far as possible with the knowledge and understanding of a trainee. Please teach me further.”

“Tena hi tvaṁ, vaccha, dve dhamme uttari bhāvehi—samathañca vipassanañca. Ime kho te, vaccha, dve dhammā uttari bhāvitā—samatho ca vipassanā ca—anekadhātupaṭivedhāya saṁvattissanti.

“Well then, Vaccha, further develop two things: serenity and discernment. When you have further developed these two things, they’ll lead to the penetration of many elements.

So tvaṁ, vaccha, yāvadeva ākaṅkhissasi: ‘anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhaveyyaṁ—ekopi hutvā bahudhā assaṁ, bahudhāpi hutvā eko assaṁ; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ; tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamāno gaccheyyaṁ, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ kareyyaṁ, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gaccheyyaṁ, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kameyyaṁ, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimaseyyaṁ, parimajjeyyaṁ; yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇissasi, sati satiāyatane.

Whenever you want, you’ll be capable of realizing the following, in each and every case: ‘May I wield the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying myself and becoming one again; appearing and disappearing; going unimpeded through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with my hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; controlling my body as far as the Brahmā realm.’

So tvaṁ, vaccha, yāvadeva ākaṅkhissasi: ‘dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇeyyaṁ—dibbe ca mānuse ca, ye dūre santike cā’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇissasi, sati satiāyatane.

Whenever you want, you’ll be capable of realizing the following, in each and every case: ‘With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, may I hear both kinds of sounds, human and divine, whether near or far.’

So tvaṁ, vaccha, yāvadeva ākaṅkhissasi: ‘parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajāneyyaṁ—sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ sarāgaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vītarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ vītarāgaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; sadosaṁ vā cittaṁ sadosaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vītadosaṁ vā cittaṁ vītadosaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; samohaṁ vā cittaṁ samohaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vītamohaṁ vā cittaṁ vītamohaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; saṅkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vikkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ vikkhittaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; mahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ mahaggataṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, amahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ amahaggataṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; sauttaraṁ vā cittaṁ sauttaraṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, anuttaraṁ vā cittaṁ anuttaraṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ samāhitaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ asamāhitaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ avimuttaṁ cittanti pajāneyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇissasi, sati satiāyatane.

Whenever you want, you’ll be capable of realizing the following, in each and every case: ‘May I understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having comprehended them with my mind. May I understand mind with greed as “mind with greed”, and mind without greed as “mind without greed”; mind with hate as “mind with hate”, and mind without hate as “mind without hate”; mind with delusion as “mind with delusion”, and mind without delusion as “mind without delusion”; constricted mind as “constricted mind”, and scattered mind as “scattered mind”; expansive mind as “expansive mind”, and unexpansive mind as “unexpansive mind”; mind that is not supreme as “mind that is not supreme”, and mind that is supreme as “mind that is supreme”; mind immersed in samādhi as “mind immersed in samādhi”, and mind not immersed in samādhi as “mind not immersed in samādhi”; freed mind as “freed mind”, and unfreed mind as “unfreed mind”.’

So tvaṁ, vaccha, yāvadeva ākaṅkhissasi: ‘anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussareyyaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattālīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi; anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe—amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapannoti; iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussareyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇissasi, sati satiāyatane.

Whenever you want, you’ll be capable of realizing the following, in each and every case: ‘May I recollect many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. May I remember: “There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.” May I recollect my many past lives, with features and details.’

So tvaṁ, vaccha, yāvadeva ākaṅkhissasi: ‘dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passeyyaṁ cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajāneyyaṁ—ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā; ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannāti; iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passeyyaṁ cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajāneyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇissasi, sati satiāyatane.

Whenever you want, you’ll be capable of realizing the following, in each and every case: ‘With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, may I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place—and understand how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds: “These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They spoke ill of the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never spoke ill of the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.” And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, may I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. And may I understand how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds.’

So tvaṁ, vaccha, yāvadeva ākaṅkhissasi: ‘āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇissasi, sati satiāyatane”ti.

Whenever you want, you’ll be capable of realizing the following, in each and every case: ‘May I realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with my own insight due to the ending of defilements.’

Atha kho āyasmā vacchagotto bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

And then Venerable Vacchagotta approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho āyasmā vacchagotto eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.

Then Vacchagotta, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi. Aññataro kho panāyasmā vacchagotto arahataṁ ahosi.

He understood: “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.” And Venerable Vacchagotta became one of the perfected.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ dassanāya gacchanti. Addasā kho āyasmā vacchagotto te bhikkhū dūratova āgacchante. Disvāna yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū etadavoca: “handa kahaṁ pana tumhe āyasmanto gacchathā”ti?

Now at that time several bhikkhus were going to see the Buddha. Vacchagotta saw them coming off in the distance, went up to them, and said, “Hello venerables, where are you going?”

“Bhagavantaṁ kho mayaṁ, āvuso, dassanāya gacchāmā”ti.

“Friend, we are going to see the Buddha.”

“Tenahāyasmanto mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha, evañca vadetha: ‘vacchagotto, bhante, bhikkhu bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, evañca vadeti—pariciṇṇo me bhagavā, pariciṇṇo me sugato’”ti.

“Well then, friends, in my name please bow with your head at the Buddha’s feet and say: ‘Sir, the bhikkhu Vacchagotta bows with his head to your feet and says, “I have served the Blessed One! I have served the Holy One!”’”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vacchagottassa paccassosuṁ. Atha kho te bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “āyasmā, bhante, vacchagotto bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, evañca vadeti: ‘pariciṇṇo me bhagavā, pariciṇṇo me sugato’”ti.

“Yes, friend,” they replied. Then those bhikkhus went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, the bhikkhu Vacchagotta bows with his head to your feet and says: ‘I have served the Blessed One! I have served the Holy One!’”

“Pubbeva me, bhikkhave, vacchagotto bhikkhu cetasā ceto paricca vidito: ‘tevijjo vacchagotto bhikkhu mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo’ti. Devatāpi me etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ: ‘tevijjo, bhante, vacchagotto bhikkhu mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo’”ti.

“I’ve already comprehended Vacchagotta’s mind and understood that he has the three knowledges, and is very mighty and powerful. And deities also told me about this.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

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

Mahāvacchasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.