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- Majjhima Nikaya 126
- Bhumija Sutta
- To Bhumija
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha
in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Sanctuary.
Then, early in the morning, Ven. Bhumija put on his robes and,
carrying his bowl & outer robe, went to Prince Jayasena's residence.[1] On arrival, he sat down on a seat made ready. Prince
Jayasena went to Ven. Bhumija and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him.
After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was
sitting there he said to Ven. Bhumija, "Master Bhumija, there are some priests &
contemplatives who espouse this teaching, espouse this view: 'If one follows the holy
life, even when having made a wish [for results], one is incapable of obtaining results.
If one follows the holy life even when having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining
results. If one follows the holy life even when both having made a wish and having made no
wish, one is incapable of obtaining results. If one follows the holy life even when
neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining
results.'[2] With regard to that, what does Master Bhumija's
teacher say, what is his view, what does he declare?"
"I haven't heard this face to face with the Blessed One, prince, I haven't
received this face to face with the Blessed One, but there is the possibility that the
Blessed One would answer in this way: 'If one follows the holy life inappropriately, even
when having made a wish [for results], one is incapable of obtaining results. If one
follows the holy life inappropriately, even when having made no wish...both having made a
wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is
incapable of obtaining results. [But] if one follows the holy life appropriately, even
when having made a wish, one is capable of obtaining results. If one follows the holy life
appropriately, even when having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no
wish...neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is capable of obtaining
results.' I haven't heard this face to face with the Blessed One, I haven't received this
face to face with the Blessed One, but there is the possibility that the Blessed One would
answer in this way."
"If that is what Master Bhumija's teacher says, if that is his view, if that is
what he declares, then yes, Master Bhumija's teacher stands, as it were, having struck all
of those many priests & contemplatives down by the head."
Prince Jayasena then served Ven. Bhumija from his own dish of milk rice.
Then Ven. Bhumija, after his meal, returning from his almsround, went to the Blessed
One. On arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, he sat to one side. As he was
sitting there he said to the Blessed One: "Just now, lord, early in the morning, I
put on my robes and, carrying my bowl & outer robe, went to Prince Jayasena's
residence. On arrival, I sat down on a seat made ready. Then Prince Jayasena went to we
and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with me. After an exchange of friendly
greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to me,
'Master Bhumija, there are some priest & contemplatives who espouse this teaching,
espouse this view: "If one follows the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining results."
With regard to that, what does Master Bhumija's teacher say, what is his view, what does
he declare?'
"When this was said, I replied to Prince Jayasena, 'I haven't heard this face to
face with the Blessed One, prince, I haven't received this face to face with the Blessed
One, but there is the possibility that the Blessed One would answer in this way: "If
one follows the holy life inappropriately, even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining results. [But]
if one follows the holy life appropriately, even when having made a wish...having made no
wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor
having made no wish, one is capable of obtaining results." I haven't heard this face
to face with the Blessed One, I haven't received this face to face with the Blessed One,
but there is the possibility that the Blessed One would answer in this way.'
"'If that is what Master Bhumija's teacher says, if that is his view, if that is
what he declares, then yes, Master Bhumija's teacher stands, as it were, having struck all
of those many priests & contemplatives down by the head.'
"Answering in this way when thus asked, lord, am I speaking in line with what the
Blessed One has said, am I not misrepresenting the Blessed One with what is unfactual, am
I answering in line with the Dhamma so that no one whose thinking is in line with the
Dhamma will have grounds for criticizing me?"
"Certainly, Bhumija, in answering in this way when thus asked, you are speaking in
line with what I have said, you are not misrepresenting me with what is unfactual, and you
are answering in line with the Dhamma so that no one whose thinking is in line with the
Dhamma will have grounds for criticizing you. For any priests or contemplatives endowed
with wrong view, wrong resolve, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong
effort, wrong mindfulness, & wrong concentration: If they follow the holy life even
when having made a wish [for results], they are incapable of obtaining results. If they
follow the holy life even when having made no wish, they are incapable of obtaining
results. If they follow the holy life even when both having made a wish and having made no
wish, they are incapable of obtaining results. If they follow the holy life even when
neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are incapable of obtaining
results. Why is that? Because it is an inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of oil, looking for oil, wandering in
search of oil, would pile gravel in a tub and press it, sprinkling it again & again
with water. If he were to pile gravel in a tub and press it, sprinkling it again &
again with water even when having made a wish [for results]...having made no wish...both
having made a wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor having made no
wish, he would be incapable of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it is an
inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with wrong view, wrong
resolve, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness,
& wrong concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are incapable of obtaining results. Why
is that? Because it is an inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of milk, looking for milk, wandering in
search of milk, would twist the horn of a newly-calved cow. If he were to twist the horn
of a newly-calved cow even when having made a wish [for results]...having made no
wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor
having made no wish, he would be incapable of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it
is an inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with wrong view, wrong
resolve, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness,
& wrong concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are incapable of obtaining results. Why
is that? Because it is an inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of butter, looking for butter,
wandering in search of butter, would sprinkle water on water in a crock and twirl it with
a churn-stick. If he were to sprinkle water on water in a crock and twirl it with a
churn-stick even when having made a wish [for results]...having made no wish...both having
made a wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor having made no wish,
he would be incapable of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it is an inappropriate
way of obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with wrong view, wrong
resolve, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness,
& wrong concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are incapable of obtaining results. Why
is that? Because it is an inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of fire, looking for fire, wandering in search of fire,
would take a fire stick and rub it into a wet, sappy piece of wood. If he were to take a
fire stick and rub it into a wet, sappy piece of wood even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, he would be incapable of obtaining results.
Why is that? Because it is an inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with wrong view, wrong
resolve, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness,
& wrong concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are incapable of obtaining results. Why
is that? Because it is an inappropriate way of obtaining results.
"But as for any priests or contemplatives endowed with right view, right resolve,
right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, & right
concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish, they are capable
of obtaining results. If they follow the holy life even when having made no wish, they are
capable of obtaining results. If they follow the holy life even when both having made a
wish and having made no wish, they are capable of obtaining results. If they follow the
holy life even when neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are capable
of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it is an appropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of oil, looking for oil, wandering in search of oil, would
pile sesame seeds in a tub and press them, sprinkling them again & again with water.
If he were to pile sesame seeds in a tub and press them, sprinkling them again & again
with water, even when having made a wish [for results]...having made no wish...both having
made a wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor having made no wish,
he would be capable of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it is an appropriate way of
obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with right view, right
resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,
& right concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are capable of obtaining results. Why is
that? Because it is an appropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of milk, looking for milk, wandering in search of milk,
would twist the teat of a newly-calved cow. If he were to twist the teat of a newly-calved
cow even when having made a wish [for results]...having made no wish...both having made a
wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, he
would be capable of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it is an appropriate way of
obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with right view, right
resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,
& right concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are capable of obtaining results. Why is
that? Because it is an appropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of butter, looking for butter, wandering in search of
butter, would sprinkle water on curds in a crock and twirl them with a churn-stick.[3] If he were to sprinkle water on curds in a crock and twirl them
with a churn-stick even when having made a wish [for results]...having made no wish...both
having made a wish and having made no wish...neither having made a wish nor having made no
wish, he would be capable of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it is an appropriate
way of obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with right view, right
resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,
& right concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, they are capable of obtaining results. Why is
that? Because it is an appropriate way of obtaining results.
"Suppose a man in need of fire, looking for fire, wandering in search of fire,
would take a fire stick and rub it into a dry, sapless piece of wood. If he were to take a
fire stick and rub it into a dry, sapless piece of wood even when having made a wish [for
results]...having made no wish...both having made a wish and having made no wish...neither
having made a wish nor having made no wish, he would be capable of obtaining results. Why
is that? Because it is an appropriate way of obtaining results.
"In the same way, any priests or contemplatives endowed with right view, right
resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,
& right concentration: If they follow the holy life even when having made a wish [for
results], they are capable of obtaining results. If they follow the holy life even when
having made no wish, they are capable of obtaining results. If they follow the holy life
even when both having made a wish and having made no wish, they are capable of obtaining
results. If they follow the holy life even when neither having made a wish nor having made
no wish, they are capable of obtaining results. Why is that? Because it is an appropriate
way of obtaining results.
"Bhumija, if these four similes had occurred to you in the presence of Prince
Jayasena, he would have naturally felt confidence in you and -- feeling confidence --
would have shown his confidence in you."
"But, lord, how could these four similes have occurred to me in the presence of
Prince Jayasena, as they are natural to the Blessed One and have never before been heard
from him?"
That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Ven. Bhumija delighted in the Blessed
One's words.
Notes
1. According to the Commentary, Ven. Bhumija was Prince
Jayasena's uncle. [Go back]
2. These priests & contemplatives are probably the
proponents of non-action, annihilation, and non-relatedness as presented in DN 2. [Go back]
3. To this day, this is the way butter is obtained in rural
north India. The churn-stick is a small stick that has attached to its end blocks of wood
resembling an orange with alternate sections removed. This is twirled in the curds. The
water sprinkled on the curds dilutes the buttermilk, which helps in separating it from the
milk fat left on the blocks of the churn-stick. [Go back]