Aṇguttara Nikāya
Chakka Nipāta
Paṇṇāsakāsaṇgahitā Vaggā
The Book of Sixes
Suttas 131-151
[PTS Pāḷi #119-120]
(PTS GS III: 131-151)
Seers of the Deathless
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Introduction:
The topic of whether or not it is possible for a layman to attain arahantship is a subject of debate going way back. As far as I can tell the doubt begins after the compilation of the suttas; I can't find anything in the suttas to indicate that there is any reason to think that it is impossible. The selection below would indicate that it was undoubtedly possible, but there is some doubt about the authority of the passage. Anāthapiṇḍika, for one, is pretty clearly stated to have become a Non-Returner elsewhere (citation missing of course). Does this mean that the meaning of "seeing the deathless, going on to realization of the deathless" should be taken to mean the state of Non-Returner? This in turn is complicated by the definition of Arahant (as well as the other stages) as including those "on the way to attainment of ..."
Why is this important? For motivation. There are a few out there I know of who are really going at this system full tilt. They live alone, don't work, are celibate or are working on celibacy, eat one meal a day or very moderately, and meditate. Like the Karate Master who, wanting to make his punch really powerful, envisions not only hitting the target, but penetrating the target, the meditator needs to be able to see that he can really attain the goal if he works at it.
Personally, I think it can be done. The very weakest take on this collection of little suttas would say that there was no question that the layman was able to attain Non-Returning, meaning, in this case the sort of non-returner who attains the deathless upon death, or just after death, or in any case before taking birth in a new individuality.
Tapussa Suttaṃ
[119.1][pts] "Having mastered six things, beggars,
the housefather Tapusso,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the Dhamma,
undoubting faith in the Saṇgha,
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Tapusso,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Bhallika Suttaṃ
[120.1][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus,
the housefather Bhallika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Bhallika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika Suttaṃ
[120.2][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus,
the housefather Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Citta Macchikāsaṇḍika Suttaṃ
[120.3][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Citta Macchikāsaṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Citta Macchikāsaṇḍika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Hatthaka Āḷavaka Suttaṃ
[120.4][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Hatthaka Āḷavaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Hatthaka Āḷavaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Mahānāma Sakka Suttaṃ
[120.5][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Mahānāma Sakka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Mahānāma Sakka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Ugga Vesālika Suttaṃ
[120.6][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Ugga Vesālika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Ugga Vesālika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Uggata Suttaṃ
[120.7][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Uggata,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Uggata,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sūra Ambaṭṭha Suttaṃ
[120.8][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Sūra Ambaṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sūra Ambaṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Jīvaka Komārabhacca Suttaṃ
[120.9][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Jīvaka Komārabhacca,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Jīvaka Komārabhacca,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Nakulapitā Suttaṃ
[120.10][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Nakulapitā,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Nakulapitā,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Tavakaṇṇika Suttaṃ
[120.11][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Tavakaṇṇika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Tavakaṇṇika,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Pūraṇa Suttaṃ
[120.12][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Pūraṇa,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Pūraṇa,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Isidatta Suttaṃ
[120.13][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Isidatta,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Isidatta,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sandhāna Suttaṃ
[120.14][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Sandhāna
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sandhāna,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Vijaya Suttaṃ
[120.15][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Vijaya,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Vijaya,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Vajiyamāhita Suttaṃ
[120.16][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Vajjiyamāhita,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Vajiyamāhita,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Meṇḍaka Suttaṃ
[120.17][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the housefather Meṇḍaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Meṇḍaka,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Vāseṭṭha Suttaṃ
[120.18][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the lay disciple Vāseṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Vāseṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Ariṭṭha Suttaṃ
[120.19][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the lay disciple Ariṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Ariṭṭha,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
Sārangga Suttaṃ
[120.20][pts] "Having mastered six things, bhikkhus, the lay disciple Sārangga,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless.
What six?
Undoubting faith in the Buddha,
undoubting faith in the "Dhamma,"
undoubting faith in the "Saṇgha,"
the ethical culture of the Aristocrat,
the knowledge of the Aristocrat,
the freedom of the Aristocrat.
Indeed, beggars, having mastered six things,
the housefather Sārangga,
coming to perfection under the Tathāgata,
has positioned himself
as an eye-witness seer of the deathless."
