SN 55.24
PTS: S v 375
CDB ii 1811
Sarakaani Sutta: Sarakaani (Who Took to Drink)
translated from the Pali by
Maurice O'Connell Walshe
© 2007–2012
The Pali title of this sutta is based on the PTS (Feer)
edition.
[At Kapilavasthu] Now at that time Sarakaani the Sakyan, who had
died, was proclaimed by the Blessed One to be a Stream-Winner, not
subject to rebirth in states of woe, assured of enlightenment. At
this, a number of the Sakyans, whenever they met each other or came
together in company, were indignant and angry, and said scornfully:
"A fine thing, a marvelous thing! Nowadays anyone can become a
Stream-Winner, if the Blessed One has proclaimed Sarakaani who died
to be Stream-Winner... assured of enlightenment! Why, Sarakaani
failed in his training and took to drink!"
[Mahaanaama the Sakyan reported this to the Buddha who said:]
"Mahaanaama, a lay-follower who has for a long time taken refuge in
the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha — how could he go to states
of woe? [And this can be truly said of Sarakaani the Sakyan.] How
could he go to states of woe?
"Mahaanaama, take the case of a man endowed with unwavering
devotion to the Buddha, declaring 'He is the Blessed One...,'[1]
the Dhamma... the Sangha... He is joyous and swift in wisdom, one
who has gained release.[2] By the destruction of the cankers he has
by his own realization gained the cankerless heart's release, the
release through wisdom, in this very life, and abides in it. The
man is entirely released from the hell-state, from rebirth as an
animal,[3] he is free from the realm of hungry ghosts, fully freed
from the downfall, the evil way, from states of woe.
"Take the case of another man. He is endowed with unwavering
devotion to the Buddha... the Dhamma... the Sangha... he is joyous
and swift in wisdom but has not gained release. Having destroyed
the five lower fetters,[4] he is reborn spontaneously[5] where he
will attain Nibbaana without returning from that world. That man is
entirely released from... states of woe.
"Take the case of another man. He is endowed with unwavering
devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha. But he is not
joyous in wisdom and has not gained release. Yet by destroying
three fetters[6] and weakening lust, hatred and delusion, he is a
Once-returner, who will return once more to this world and put an
end to suffering. That man is entirely freed from... states of
woe.
"Take the case of another man. He is endowed with unwavering
devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha. But he is not
joyous in wisdom and has not gained release. Yet by destroying
three fetters he is a Stream-Winner, not subject to rebirth in
states of woe, assured of enlightenment. That man is entirely
freed... from states of woe.
"Take the case of another man. He is not even endowed with
unwavering devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha. He is
not joyous and swift in wisdom and has not gained release. But
perhaps he has these things: the faculty of faith, of energy, of
mindfulness, of concentration, of wisdom. And the things proclaimed
by the Tathaagata are moderately approved by him with insight. That
man does not go to the realm of hungry ghosts, to the downfall, to
the evil way, to states of woe.
"Take the case of another man. He is not even endowed with
unwavering devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha. He is
not joyous and swift in wisdom and has not gained release. But he
has just these things: the faculty of faith, of energy, of
mindfulness, of concentration, of wisdom. Yet if he has merely
faith, merely affection for the Tathaagata, that man, too, does not
go to... states of woe.[7]
"Why, Mahaanaama, if these great sal trees could distinguish
what is well spoken from what is ill spoken, I would proclaim these
great sal trees to be Stream-Winners... bound for enlightenment,
how much more so then Sarakaani the Sakyan! Mahaanaama, Sarakaani
the Sakyan fulfilled the training at the time of death.'[8]
Notes
1.
These are, of course, the standard formulations for referring to
the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. They seem to fit awkwardly into the
context here and may have been interpolated.
2.
These terms are used of Saariputta at SN 2.9 (not translated
here). Cf. the distinction between difficult and easy progress in
VM XXI, 117.
3.
Theosophists and others maintain that rebirth as an animal,
after a human existence, is impossible. This view is not supported
by the Buddhist texts of any school.
4.
Cf. n. 300. This is the anaagaamin or "Non-Returner."
5.
I.e., not born from a womb by spontaneously arising in another
world (in this case the "Pure Abodes" (suddhaavaasaa), where they
will attain to final release without returning to this world).
6.
These are the first three of the five lower fetters
(orambhaagiya-sa.myojanaani Vol. I, n. 83), i.e., sakkaaya-di.t.thi
"personality-view" or belief in a permanent, really existing self;
vicikicchaa "doubt" (once the "personality-view" has been
shattered, there can be no further fundamental doubt about the
Dhamma); and siilabbata-paraamaasa "attachment to rites and
rituals" (siila + vata). It is noteworthy that even at this
(second) stage on the Path, sensuality (kaamaraaga) and ill-will
(vyaapaada), the fourth and fifth fetters, are only weakened but
not destroyed. Their destruction is, however, inevitable.
7.
An encouraging message for many! Cf. the end of MN 22, and also
the charming image of the new-born calf in MN 34. The Commentary
(MA) to MN 22 says such people are termed "lesser stream-winners"
(cuulasotaapannaa). This term is discussed in VM XIX, 27. The
stress laid here on the importance of faith is interesting in view
of later developments such as the Pure Land Schools (e.g.,
Jodo-Shishu or "Shin-Buddhism" in Japan).
8.
Sarakaani in fact became a Stream-winner at the moment of
death.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn55/sn55.024.wlsh.html
"Sarakaani Sutta: Sarakaani (Who Took to Drink)" (SN
55.24), translated from the Pali by Maurice O'Connell Walshe.
Access to Insight, 1 July 2010,
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn55/sn55.024.wlsh.html
. Retrieved on 26 June 2012.