The Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya X.8
Sudatta Sutta
About Sudatta (Anathapindika)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Translator's note: Many discourses are set in
Jeta's Grove, the monastery donated by Anathapindika. Here we learn how
Anathapindika first met the Buddha. A dramatic point in the story revolves
around the fact that most people knew of him by his epithet --
Anathapindika means "Almsgiver to those without protection" --
rather than by his given name. Thus he is surprised to hear the Buddha, at
their first meeting, address him correctly.
The Cullavagga (VI) gives this same story in greater
detail and adds more incidents: After reciting the verse with which this
discourse ends, the Buddha gives Anathapindika a step-by-step teaching,
culminating in an explanation of the four noble truths. At the end of the
teaching, Anathapindika attains stream-entry. He then returns home to
Savatthi, purchases a grove from Prince Jeta at immense price, and
establishes a monastery for the Buddha and the Sangha. There, according to
the commentaries, the Buddha spent more rains retreats than at any other
monastery.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was
staying near Rajagaha in the Cool Grove. Now at
that time Anathapindika the householder had arrived in Rajagaha on some
business. He heard, "An Awakened One, they say, has appeared in the
world," and he wanted to go right then to see the Blessed One. Then
the thought occurred to him, "Today is not the proper time to go to
see the Blessed One. Tomorrow I will go to see the Blessed One at the
proper time." With his mindfulness immersed in the Awakened One he
lay down to sleep. Three times he got up during the night, thinking it was
light. Then he went to the gate to the charnel ground. Non-human beings
opened the gate.
When Anathapindika the householder had left the city,
the light vanished and darkness appeared. Fear, terror, &
horripilation arose, and because of that he wanted to turn back. Then Sivaka
the yakkha-spirit, invisible, proclaimed:
A hundred elephants,
a hundred horses,
a hundred mule-drawn carts,
a hundred-thousand maidens
adorned with jewels & earrings
aren't worth one-sixteenth
of one step forward.
Go forward, householder!
Go forward, householder!
Going forward is better for you,
not back!
The darkness then vanished for Anathapindika and the
light appeared. The fear, terror, & horripilation he had felt
subsided.
For a second time...a third time, the light vanished
and darkness appeared. Fear, terror, & horripilation arose, and
because of that Anathapindika wanted to turn back. Then for a third time,
Sivaka the yakkha-spirit, invisible, proclaimed:
A hundred elephants,
a hundred horses,
a hundred mule-drawn carts,
a hundred-thousand maidens
adorned with jewels & earrings
aren't worth one-sixteenth
of one step forward.
Go forward, householder!
Go forward, householder!
Going forward is better for you,
not back!
The darkness then vanished for Anathapindika and the
light appeared. The fear, terror, & horripilation he had felt
subsided.
So Anathapindika went to the Cool Grove. Now at that
time, the Blessed One -- having gotten up as the night was ending -- was
pacing back & forth in the open air. He saw Anathapindika the
householder coming from afar. On seeing him, he got down from his
meditation path and sat on a seat made ready. As he was sitting there he
said to Anathapindika, "Come, Sudatta."
Then Anathapindika, [thinking,] "The Blessed One
is calling me by my given name!" threw himself down right there at
the Blessed One's feet and said to him, "Lord, I hope the Blessed One
has slept in ease."
[The Buddha:]
Always, always,
he sleeps in ease:
the brahman totally unbound,
who doesn't adhere
to sensual pleasures,
who's without acquisitions
& cooled.
Having cut all ties
& subdued fear in the
heart,
calmed,
he sleeps in ease,
having reached peace
of awareness.
---o0o---
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