Ajivaka Sutta
To the Fatalists' Student
Translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that on one occasion
Ven. Ananda was staying in Kosambi at Ghosita's monastery. Then a
certain householder, a disciple of the Fatalists (Ajivakas), went
to him and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As he was sitting there he said to Ven. Ananda, "Among us, sir,
whose Dhamma is well-taught? Who has practiced well in this world?
Who in the world is well-gone?"
"In that case, householder, I will question you in return. Answer
as you see fit. Now, what do you think: those who teach a Dhamma
for the abandoning of passion, for the abandoning of aversion, for
the abandoning of delusion is their Dhamma well-taught or not? Or
how does this strike you?"
"Sir, those who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of
passion, for the abandoning of aversion, for the abandoning of
delusion their Dhamma is well-taught. That's how it
strikes me."
"And what do you think, householder: those who have practiced for
the abandoning of passion, for the abandoning of aversion, for the
abandoning of delusion have they practiced well in this world or
not? Or how does this strike you?"
"Sir, those who have practiced for the abandoning of passion, for
the abandoning of aversion, for the abandoning of delusion they
have practiced well in this world. That's how it strikes me."
"And what do you think, householder: those whose passion is
abandoned, its root destroyed, like an uprooted palm tree, deprived
of the conditions of existence, not destined for future arising;
those whose aversion is abandoned... whose delusion is abandoned,
its root destroyed, like an uprooted palm tree, deprived of the
conditions of existence, not destined for future arising: are they,
in this world, well-gone or not? Or how does this strike
you?"
"Sir, those whose passion... aversion... delusion is abandoned, its
root destroyed, like an uprooted palm tree, deprived of the
conditions of existence, not destined for future arising: they, in
this world, are well-gone. That's how it strikes me."
"In this way, householder, you have answered yourself: 'Those who
teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of passion, for the abandoning of
aversion, for the abandoning of delusion their Dhamma is
well-taught. Those who have practiced for the abandoning of
passion, for the abandoning of aversion, for the abandoning of
delusion they have practiced well in this world. Those whose
passion... aversion... delusion is abandoned, its root destroyed,
like an uprooted palm tree, deprived of the conditions of
existence, not destined for future arising: they, in this world,
are well-gone.'"
"How amazing, sir. How astounding, that there is neither extolling
of one's own Dhamma nor deprecation of another's, but just the
teaching of the Dhamma in its proper sphere, speaking to the point
without mentioning oneself.
"You, venerable sir, teach the Dhamma for the abandoning of
passion... aversion... delusion. Your Dhamma is well-taught. You
have practiced for the abandoning of passion... aversion...
delusion. You have practiced well in this world. Your passion...
aversion... delusion is abandoned, its root destroyed, like an
uprooted palm tree, deprived of the conditions of existence, not
destined for future arising. You, in this world, are
well-gone.
"Magnificent, Master Ananda! Magnificent! Just as if he were to
place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to
point out the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the
dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has
Master Ananda through many lines of reasoning made the Dhamma
clear. I go to the Buddha for refuge, to the Dhamma, & to the
community of monks. May Master Ananda remember me as a lay follower
who has gone for refuge from this day forward, for
life."
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.072.than.html
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