Saṁyutta Nikāya 21.10

The Related Suttas Collection 21.10

1. Bhikkhuvagga

1. Monks

Theranāmakasutta

A Bhikkhu Named Senior

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

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

Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ceva hoti ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī. So eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisati eko paṭikkamati eko raho nisīdati eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāti.

Now at that time there was a certain bhikkhu named Senior. He lived alone and praised living alone. He entered the village for alms alone, returned alone, sat in private alone, and concentrated on walking mindfully alone.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha, bhante, aññataro bhikkhu theranāmako ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

Then several bhikkhus went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, there’s a certain bhikkhu named Senior who lives alone and praises living alone.”

Atha kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi: “ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena theraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantehi: ‘satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī’”ti.

So the Buddha addressed a certain monk, “Please, monk, in my name tell the bhikkhu Senior that the teacher summons him.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā thero tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca: “satthā taṁ, āvuso thera, āmantetī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Venerable Senior and said to him, “Friend Senior, the teacher summons you.”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā thero tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ theraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Yes, friend,” that monk replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

“Is it really true, Senior, that you live alone and praise living alone?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, thera, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti?

“But in what way do you live alone and praise living alone?”

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, eko gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisāmi eko paṭikkamāmi eko raho nisīdāmi eko caṅkamaṁ adhiṭṭhāmi. Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, ekavihārī ekavihārassa ca vaṇṇavādī”ti.

“Well, sir, I enter the village for alms alone, return alone, sit in private alone, and concentrate on walking mindfully alone. That’s how I live alone and praise living alone.”

“Attheso, thera, ekavihāro neso natthīti vadāmi. Api ca, thera, yathā ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“That is a kind of living alone, I don’t deny it. But as to how living alone is fulfilled in detail, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho …pe….

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

“Kathañca, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hoti. Idha, thera, yaṁ atītaṁ taṁ pahīnaṁ, yaṁ anāgataṁ taṁ paṭinissaṭṭhaṁ, paccuppannesu ca attabhāvapaṭilābhesu chandarāgo suppaṭivinīto. Evaṁ kho, thera, ekavihāro vitthārena paripuṇṇo hotī”ti.

“And how, Senior, is living alone fulfilled in detail? It’s when what’s in the past is given up, what’s in the future is relinquished, and desire and greed for present incarnations is eliminated. That’s how living alone is fulfilled in detail.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Sabbābhibhuṁ sabbaviduṁ sumedhaṁ, Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalittaṁ; Sabbañjahaṁ taṇhākkhaye vimuttaṁ, Tamahaṁ naraṁ ekavihārīti brūmī”ti.

“The champion, all-knower, so very intelligent, is unsullied in the midst of all things. He’s given up all, freed in the ending of craving: I declare that man to be one who lives alone.”

Dasamaṁ.