Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
38. Jambukhādaka Saṃyutta
Roseapple-Eater's Questions
Sutta 16
Dukkara Suttaṃ
Hard to Do
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time, Old Man Sāriputta,
was living amungst the Magadhese,
in Nālagā town.
There then Roseapple-Eater, the wanderer,
went to where Old Man Sāriputta was located,
where he drew near and
having drawn near Old Man Sāriputta,
having given salutation,
took a seat to one side.
Having taken a seat to one side then,
Roseapple-Eater, the wanderer, said this
to Old Man Sāriputta:
"'What, then, friend Sāriputta,
is hard to do
in this Dhamma and Disipline?"
"Leaving the world, friend,
is hard to do,
in this Dhamma and Disipline"
"Then going deeper, friend,
for one who has left the world,
what is hard to do?"
"For one who has left the world, friend,
finding contentment
is hard to do."
"Then going deeper, friend
for one who has found contentment,
what is hard to do?"
"For one who has found contentment, friend,
following the Dhamma
within the Dhamma,
is hard to do."
"Then going deeper, friend,
for one who follows the Dhamma
within the Dhamma,
in this way,
how long a while will it be
before he becomes an Arahant?"
"Not a long while, friend."
