Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta
4. Puññ-ā-bhisanda Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning
4. Flood of Merit
Sutta 40
Nandiya Suttaṃ
Nandiya
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Kapilavatthu, in Banyan Park.
Then Nandiya the Sakyan went to see the Exalted One,
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.
Seated at one side he said to the Exalted One: -
"Pray, lord, if an Ariyan disciple is
in every way,
altogether,
[341] in every respect
and utterly,
without the four limbs of stream-winning,
can he in such case be called
'An Ariyan disciple who lives remiss?'"
"Of such an one, Nandiya, who
in every way,
altogether,
in every respect
and utterly,
without the four limbs of stream-winning,
I declare him to be one who stands without,
in the ranks of the manyfolk.
Moreover, Nandiya, I will tell you
how the Ariyan disciple is one who lives remiss
and one who lives in earnest.
Do you listen.
Apply your mind
and I will speak."
"I will, lord,"
replied Nandiya the Sakyan to the Exalted One.
§
The Exalted One said:
"And how, Nandiya, is the Ariyan disciple
one who dwells remiss?
Herein, Nandiya, the Ariyan disciple is blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Buddha
thus:
'He it is the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
a Happy One,
world-knower,
unsurpassed charioteer
of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.'
He is content with that unwavering loyalty to the Buddha,
but he makes no further effort,
either to get seclusion by day
or meditation by night.
As he thus dwells remiss
he has no delight.
Without delight in a thing
there is no zest.
Zest lacking,
there is no calm.
Without calm
one dwells in discomfort.
In him who dwells in discomfort
the mind is not tranquillized.
In the mind that is not tranquillized
the teachings do not show clear.[1]
Owing to the teachings being obscure to him
he is reckoned one who dwells remiss.
■
Again, Nandiya, suppose the Ariyan disciple is blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Norm,
thus:
'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'
He is content with that unwavering loyalty to the Norm,
but he makes no further effort,
either to get seclusion by day
or meditation by night.
As he thus dwells remiss
he has no delight.
Without delight in a thing
there is no zest.
Zest lacking,
there is no calm.
Without calm
one dwells in discomfort.
In him who dwells in discomfort
the mind is not tranquillized.
In the mind that is not tranquillized
the teachings do not show clear.
Owing to the teachings being obscure to him
he is reckoned one who dwells remiss.
■
Again, Nandiya, suppose the Ariyan disciple is blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Order,
thus:
'Walking righteously is the Exalted One's Order,
walking uprightly,
walking in the right way,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples:
namely,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men.
That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.
Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'
He is content with that unwavering loyalty to the Order,
but he makes no further effort,
either to get seclusion by day
or meditation by night.
As he thus dwells remiss
he has no delight.
Without delight in a thing
there is no zest.
Zest lacking,
there is no calm.
Without calm
one dwells in discomfort.
In him who dwells in discomfort
the mind is not tranquillized.
In the mind that is not tranquillized
the teachings do not show clear.
Owing to the teachings being obscure to him
he is reckoned one who dwells remiss.
■
Again, Nandiya, he is blessed
with the virtues dear to the Ariyans,
virtues unbroken,
whole,
unspotted,
untarnished,
giving freedom,
praised by the wise:
virtues untainted (by craving or delusion),
which lead to concentration of the mind.
He is content with that virtues dear to the Ariyans,
but he makes no further effort,
either to get seclusion by day
or meditation by night.
As he thus dwells remiss
he has no delight.
Without delight in a thing
there is no zest.
Zest lacking,
there is no calm.
Without calm
one dwells in discomfort.
In him who dwells in discomfort
the mind is not tranquillized.
In the mind that is not tranquillized
the teachings do not show clear.
Owing to the teachings being obscure to him
he is reckoned one who dwells remiss.
§
[342] And bow, Nandiya, does the Ariyan disciple
dwell in earnest?
Herein, Nandiya, the Ariyan disciple is blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Buddha
thus:
'He it is the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
a Happy One,
world-knower,
unsurpassed charioteer
of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.'
He is not content with that unwavering loyalty to the Buddha,
he makes a further effort,
to get seclusion by day
and meditation by night.
As he thus dwells in earnest
delight springs up.
In him that is delighted in a thing
zest is born.
The body of the zestful man
is tranquillized.
One whose body is tranquil
lives at ease.
In him who lives at ease,
the mind is concentrated.
To the concentrated mind,
the teachings show clear.
Owing to the teachings being clear
he is reckoned one who dwells in earnest.
■
Again, Nandiya, suppose the Ariyan disciple is blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Norm,
thus:
'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'
He is not content with that unwavering loyalty to the Norm,
he makes a further effort,
to get seclusion by day
and meditation by night.
As he thus dwells in earnest
delight springs up.
In him that is delighted in a thing
zest is born.
The body of the zestful man
is tranquillized.
One whose body is tranquil
lives at ease.
In him who lives at ease,
the mind is concentrated.
To the concentrated mind,
the teachings show clear.
Owing to the teachings being clear
he is reckoned one who dwells in earnest.
■
Again, Nandiya, suppose the Ariyan disciple is blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Order,
thus:
'Walking righteously is the Exalted One's Order,
walking uprightly,
walking in the right way,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples:
namely,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men.
That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.
Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'
He is not content with that unwavering loyalty to the Order,
he makes a further effort,
to get seclusion by day
and meditation by night.
As he thus dwells in earnest
delight springs up.
In him that is delighted in a thing
zest is born.
The body of the zestful man
is tranquillized.
One whose body is tranquil
lives at ease.
In him who lives at ease,
the mind is concentrated.
To the concentrated mind,
the teachings show clear.
Owing to the teachings being clear
he is reckoned one who dwells in earnest.
■
Again, Nandiya, he is blessed
with the virtues dear to the Ariyans,
virtues unbroken,
whole,
unspotted,
untarnished,
giving freedom,
praised by the wise:
virtues untainted (by craving or delusion),
which lead to concentration of the mind.
He is not content with that virtues dear to the Ariyans,
he makes a further effort,
to get seclusion by day
and meditation by night.
As he thus dwells in earnest
delight springs up.
In him that is delighted in a thing
zest is born.
The body of the zestful man
is tranquillized.
One whose body is tranquil
lives at ease.
In him who lives at ease,
the mind is concentrated.
To the concentrated mind,
the teachings show clear.
Owing to the teachings being clear
he is reckoned one who dwells in earnest."
[1] Comy. 'by way of vipassana.'
