Saɱyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
41. Citta Saɱyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
41. Kindred Sayings about Citta
Sutta 10
Gilāna-Dassana Suttaɱ
Seeing the Sick
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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Now at that time Citta, the housefather, was sick,
afflicted,
stricken with a sore disease.
Then a number of devas that dwell in gardens,[1]
forest
and trees,
devas that dwell in healing herbs
and forest trees,
gathered and came together
and said to Citta, the housefather: -
"Aspire thus, housefather:
'In future time may I be a rajah,
a world-ruler.'"
At these words Citta, the housefather, replied to those devas that dwell in gardens,
forest
and trees,
devas that dwell in healing herbs
and forest trees:
"That is a thing impermanent,
that is a thing unstable,
that must pass
and be left behind."
At these words
the comrades and blood-relations of Citta, the housefather,
said to him: -
"Set up mindfulness, good master!
Talk not at random."
[211] "What have I said
that makes you tell me
to set up mindfulness
and talk not at random?"
"Why, good master, you said this:
'That is a thing impermanent,
that is a thing unstable,
that must pass
and be left behind.'"
"Yes, but I said that
to the devas that dwell in gardens,
forest
and trees,
devas that dwell in healing herbs
and forest trees, who said to me:
'Aspire thus, housefather:
"In future time may I be a rajah,
a world-ruler."'"
"What significance, housefather,
did the devas that dwell in gardens,
forest
and trees,
devas that dwell in healing herbs
and forest trees see,
so as to say:
'Aspire thus, housefather:
"In future time may I be a rajah,
a world-ruler."'"
"Those devas that dwell in gardens,
forest
and trees,
devas that dwell in healing herbs
and forest trees
thought thus:
'This Citta, the housefather,
is a virtuous man,
of a lovely nature.
If he aspire to be in future time a rajah,
a world-ruler,
the righteous aspiration of the heart,
righteous in its very purity,
will prove a blessing to the virtuous man,
will bring forth righteous fruit.
Seeing such significance
did those that dwell in gardens,
forest
and trees,
devas that dwell in healing herbs
and forest trees say:
'Aspire thus, housefather:
"In future time may I be a rajah,
a world-ruler."'
Then I said to them:
'That is a thing impermanent,
that is a thing unstable,
that must pass
and be left behind.'"
"Then, good master, do you instruct us."
"Wherefore thus must ye train yourselves:
'Possessed of faith unfaltering in the Buddha will we be,
saying:
"'Tis he,
that Exalted One,
Arahant,
the Fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
world knower,
unsurpassed charioteer of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One."
Possessed of faith unfaltering in the Norm
will we be,
saying:
"Well proclaimed by the Exalted One is the Norm,
a thing to be seen in this very life,
not a thing of time,
inviting to come and see,
leading onward,
to be realized by them that are wise,
each for himself."
Possessed will we be of faith unfaltering in the Order,
saying:
"Walking righteously
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples,
walking in the right way
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples,
to wit,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men, [212]
that is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples,
worthy of honour,
worthy of respect,
worthy of offerings,
worthy to be saluted with uplifted palms,
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.
Whatsoever worthy offering there be in our clan,
all that shall be imparted without favour
to righteous ones[2]
that are of lovely nature."'
Thus must ye train yourselves."
So, when he had inclined the hearts
of his comrades and blood-relations
towards the Buddha,
the Norm
and the Order,
when he had established them
in giving up, Citta,
the housefather, made an end.
[1] According to Comy. they are fairies that dwell on flowers and fruits.
[2] Comy. appropriates these qualities for the bhikkhus.
