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Udana » Context of this sutta
- Udana I.10
- Bahiya Sutta
- About Bahiya
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi,
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that time Bahiya of the Bark-cloth was living in Supparaka
by the seashore. He was worshipped, revered, honored, venerated, given homage -- a
recipient of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medical requisites for the sick. Then, when he
was alone in seclusion, this line of thinking arose to his awareness: "Now, of those
who in this world are arahants or have entered the path of arahantship, am I one?"
Then a devata who had once been a blood relative of Bahiya of the Bark-cloth --
compassionate, desiring his welfare, knowing with her own awareness the line of thinking
that had arisen in his awareness -- went to where he was staying and on arrival said to
him: "You, Bahiya, are neither an arahant nor have you entered the path of
arahantship. You don't even have the practice whereby you would become an arahant or enter
the path of arahantship."
"But who, living in this world with its devas, is an arahant or has entered the
path to arahantship?"
"Bahiya, there is a city in the northern country named Savatthi. The Blessed One
-- an arahant, rightly self-awakened -- is living there now. He is truly an arahant and he
teaches the Dhamma that leads to arahantship. "
Then Bahiya, deeply chastened by the devata, left Supparaka right then and, in the
space of one day and night, went all the way to where the Blessed One was staying near
Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. At that time, a large number of
monks were doing walking meditation in the open air. He went to them and, on arrival,
said, "Where, venerable sirs, is the Blessed One staying -- the arahant, right
self-awakened? We want to see him."
"He has gone into the town for alms."
Then Bahiya, hurriedly leaving Jeta's Grove and entering Savatthi, saw the Blessed One
going for alms in Savatthi -- calm, calming, his senses at peace, his mind at peace,
tranquil and poised in the ultimate sense, accomplished, trained, guarded, his senses
restrained, a Great One (naga). Seeing him, he approached the Blessed
One and, on reaching him, threw himself down, with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and
said, "Teach me the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma, O One-Well-Gone, that
will be for my long-term welfare and bliss."
When this was said, the Blessed One said to him: "This is not the time, Bahiya. We
have entered the town for alms."
A second time, Bahiya said to the Blessed One: "But it is hard to know for sure
what dangers there may be for the Blessed One's life, or what dangers there may be for
mine. Teach me the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma, O One-Well-Gone, that will
be for my long-term welfare and bliss."
A second time, the Blessed One said to him: "This is not the time, Bahiya. We have
entered the town for alms."
A third time, Bahiya said to the Blessed One: "But it is hard to know for sure
what dangers there may be for the Blessed One's life, or what dangers there may be for
mine. Teach me the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma, O One-Well-Gone, that will
be for my long-term welfare and bliss."
"Then, Bahiya, you should train yourself thus: In reference to the seen, there
will be only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the
sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized. That is how your
should train yourself. When for you there will be only the seen in reference to the seen,
only the heard in reference to the heard, only the sensed in reference to the sensed, only
the cognized in reference to the cognized, then, Bahiya, there is no you in terms of that.
When there is no you in terms of that, there is no you there. When there is no you there,
you are neither here nor yonder nor between the two. This, just this, is the end of
stress."
Through hearing this brief explanation of the Dhamma from the
Blessed One, the mind of Bahiya of the Bark-cloth right then and there was released from
the effluents through lack of clinging/sustenance. Having exhorted Bahiya of the
Bark-cloth with this brief explanation of the Dhamma, the Blessed One left.
Now, not long after the Blessed One's departure, Bahiya -- attacked
by a cow with a calf -- lost his life. Then the Blessed One, having gone for alms in
Savatthi, after the meal, returning from his alms round with a large number of monks, saw
that Bahiya had died. On seeing him, he said to the monks, "Take Bahiya's body and,
placing it on a litter and carrying it away, cremate it and build him a memorial. Your
companion in the holy life has died."
"As you say, lord," the monks replied. After placing Bahiya's body on a
litter, carrying it off, cremating it, and building him a memorial, they went to the
Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were
sitting there, they said to him, "Bahiya's body has been cremated, lord, and his
memorial has been built. What is his destination? What is his future state?"
"Monks, Bahiya of the Bark-cloth was wise. He practiced the Dhamma in accordance
with the Dhamma and did not pester me with issues related to the Dhamma. Bahiya of the
Bark-cloth, monks, is totally unbound."
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion
exclaimed:
Where water, earth, fire, & wind have no footing:
There the stars do not shine,
the sun is not visible,
the moon does not appear,
darkness is not found.
And when a sage,
a brahmin through sagacity,
has known [this] for himself,
then from form & formless,
from bliss & pain,
he is freed.