Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
1. Cāpāla Vagga

The Book of the Related Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
51. Related Sayings on the Paths of Power
1. Cāpāla Shrine

Sutta 7

Bhikkhū Suttaṃ

Beggars

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

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[1][pts] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time Bhagava,
Sāvatthi-town revisiting,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Jeta-forest park.

"Whatever beggars, beggars,
in past times,
having realized higher knowledge^[1] for themselves
destroyed the corrupting influences,^[2]
without the corrupting influences,
entered into and made a habitat of
freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom,
in this seen thing,
all such did so developing and making a big thing of
the four power-paths.

Whatever beggars, beggars,
in future time,
will realize higher knowledge for themselves,
and destroy the corrupting influences,
and without the corrupting influences
will enter into and make a habitat of
freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom,
in this seen thing,
all such will do so developing and making a big thing of
the four power-paths.

Whatever beggars, beggars,
here now,
having realized higher knowledge for themselves
have destroyed the corrupting influences,
and without the corrupting influences
enter into and make a habitat of
freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom,
in this seen thing,
all such do so having developed and made a big thing of
the four power-paths.

Which four?

Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.

Whatever beggars, beggars,
in past times,
having realized higher knowledge for themselves
destroyed the corrupting influences,
without the corrupting influences
entered into and made a habitat of
freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom,
in this seen thing,
all such did so developing and making a big thing of
the four power-paths.

Whatever beggars, beggars,
in future time,
will realize higher knowledge for themselves
and destroy the corrupting influences,
and without the corrupting influences
will enter into and make a habitat of
freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom,
in this seen thing,
all such will do so developing and making a big thing of
the four power-paths.

Whatever beggars, beggars,
here now,
having realized higher knowledge for themselves
have destroyed the corrupting influences,
and without the corrupting influences
enter into and make a habitat of
freedom of heart,
freedom of wisdom,
in this seen thing,
all such do so having developed and made a big thing of
the four power-paths."

 

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^[1] Abhiññā. The six higher knowledges of the Arahant: Knowledge of magic powers enabling manipulation of the visible world; super-normal hearing and comprehension of sounds far and near; knowledge of the hearts and minds of others; knowledge of past lives; knowledge of the outcome of deeds; knowledge that the corrupting influences [āsavas] have been destroyed.

^[2] Āsava. Seeking sense pleasure; seeking existence; and blindness to the pain inherent in living, its source, what needs to be done to end it, and how to accomplish its ending — (The Four Truths) — sometimes with 'Opinions' as a fourth: The highest-level, or 'most-generalized' terms for that which must be got rid of to realize Nibbāna, or the other way around the things that bind one to the world and rebirth. When 'diṭṭhi' is included it is sometimes translated as 'erroneous views', but all views are to be abandoned by the Arahant.