經律異相 23.18

23.18

Udāyin went to the kingdom of Kosala and dwelt in the mango grove of a brāhmaṇa nun of the Veṇukātyāyana clan. The disciples of the nun wandered about gathering firewood and came into the mango grove. They saw Udāyin sitting beneath a tree, his countenance upright and serene, his sense faculties tranquil, his mind peaceful and resolute, having accomplished supreme taming. They went to his place, greeted him, and sat down. At that time Udāyin expounded various teachings of the Dharma for the youths. Having encouraged them, he remained silent. Those youths, having heard the Dharma, were overjoyed, and carrying their bundles of firewood, returned to the nun's place. They said, "Upādhyāyā, in the grove there is a śramaṇa of the Gautama clan who expounds the Dharma exceedingly well." The nun said to her disciples, "You may go invite him to dine here tomorrow." The disciples, having received her instruction, went to invite him. The Venerable One remained silent. They returned and told the upādhyāyā, "The Venerable One has accepted the invitation." When the night had passed, Udāyin put on his robes, took his bowl, and went to the nun's house. Seeing him coming from afar, the nun spread a seat and invited him to sit. She set out various kinds of food and drink, offering them with her own hands in rich abundance. Having rinsed his mouth and washed his bowl, he returned to his original seat. The brāhmaṇa nun, wearing fine leather sandals, covering her head with a robe, and having set up a separate high seat, displayed an arrogant manner. She said to Udāyin, "I wish to ask something. Do you have the leisure to give me an answer or not?" He replied, "Sister, now is not the time." The next day, the disciples again went into the grove to gather firewood, heard the Dharma, returned, and told the upādhyāyā. The nun again sent an invitation for food, repeating this three times as before, even to asking for the Dharma, to which he replied, "It is not the time." The disciples said, "Upādhyāyā, you did not sit with respect. Why should he speak?" The upādhyāyā said, "If that is so, invite him for me once more." Receiving her instruction, they invited him again, and she made offerings as before. At that time the upādhyāyā, knowing the meal was finished, took off her leather sandals and fine upper garment, sat upon a low seat, and respectfully said, "I wish to ask something. Would you grant an answer?" He replied, "Just ask, and I will explain it for you." She then asked, "Why do some say that suffering and pleasure are made by oneself, others say that suffering and pleasure are made by another, others say that suffering and pleasure are made by both oneself and another, and others say that suffering and pleasure are made neither by oneself nor by another?" He replied, "Sister, the Arhat says that suffering and pleasure arise differently." She asked again, "What is the meaning of that?" He replied, "It is through causes and conditions that suffering and pleasure arise." He said further, "I now ask you; answer me as you please: Is there an eye?" She answered, "There is." "Are there forms?" She answered, "There are." "Through eye-consciousness and eye-contact, do causes and conditions of contact give rise to feelings, inwardly perceiving either suffering, or pleasure, or neither-suffering-nor-pleasure?" She replied, "It is so." Udāyin said, "This is what the Arhat said: from causes and conditions arise suffering and pleasure." When the Venerable One expounded this Dharma, the brāhmaṇa nun became free from dust and separated from defilement, attaining the purity of the Dharma eye. Rising from her seat and adjusting her robes, she respectfully joined her palms and said to the Venerable One, "Today I have transcended and entered certainty. From this day forward I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha, relying on the Three Jewels for the rest of my life" (from the Sūtra on Udāyin Sitting Tranquil and Tamed beneath a Tree).