Dighanikaya 22.373_7

22.373_7

Bahūni nāmāni. Svāyamidha ayananāmena vutto, tasmā ekāyano ayaṃ, bhikkhave, maggoti ettha ekamaggo ayaṃ, bhikkhave, maggo na dvidhā pathabhūtoti evamattho daṭṭhabbo. Atha vā ekena ayitabboti ekāyano. Ekenāti gaṇasaṅgaṇikaṃ pahāya vūpakaṭṭhena pavivittacittena. Ayitabbo paṭipajjitabbo, ayanti vā etenāti ayano, saṃsārato nibbānaṃ gacchantīti attho. Ekassa ayano ekāyano. Ekassāti seṭṭhassa. Sabbasattaseṭṭho ca bhagavā, tasmā bhagavatoti vuttaṃ hoti. Kiñcāpi hi tena aññepi ayanti, evaṃ santepi bhagavatova so ayano tena uppāditattā. Yathāha ‘‘so hi, brāhmaṇa, bhagavā anuppannassa maggassa uppādetā’’tiādi (ma. ni. 3.79). Ayatīti vā ayano, gacchati pavattatīti attho. Ekasmiṃ ayanoti ekāyano, imasmiññeva dhammavinaye pavattati, na aññatthāti vuttaṃ hoti. Yathāha – ‘‘imasmiṃ kho, subhadda, dhammavinaye ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo upalabbhatī’’ti (dī. ni. 2.214). Desanābhedoyeva heso, atthato pana ekova. Apica ekaṃ ayatīti ekāyano. Pubbabhāge nānāmukhabhāvanānayappavattopi aparabhāge ekaṃ nibbānameva gacchatīti vuttaṃ hoti. Yathāha brahmā sahampati –

There are many names. Here, this [path] is spoken of by the name 'ayana' [way/going]; therefore, regarding 'this is the ekāyana path, monks', the meaning here should be understood as: this is a single path, monks, not one that is bifurcated into two paths. Or else, it is 'ekāyana' because it is to be gone on (ayitabba) by one alone (ekena). 'By one alone' means by one who has abandoned association with a group, who is secluded, with a solitary mind. 'It is to be gone on' means it is to be practiced; or 'ayana' means they go by it, meaning they go from saṃsāra to Nibbāna. 'Ekāyana' means the path of the One (ekassa ayano). 'Of the One' means of the foremost. And the Blessed One is the foremost among all beings; therefore, 'of the Blessed One' is what is meant. For although others also go by it, even so, it is the Blessed One's path alone because it was produced by him. As he said: 'For indeed, brahmin, the Blessed One is the producer of the unarisen path', and so forth. Or 'ayana' means it goes (ayati), meaning it proceeds, it operates. 'Ekāyana' means going in one (ekasmiṃ ayano), which means it operates only in this Dhamma and Vinaya, not anywhere else. As he said: 'Indeed, Subhadda, in this Dhamma and Vinaya the noble eightfold path is found.' This is only a distinction in teaching, but in meaning it is just one. Moreover, 'ekāyana' means it goes to one (ekaṃ ayati). What is meant is that although in the preliminary stage it proceeds in the mode of development with various aspects, in the subsequent stage it goes to Nibbāna alone. As Brahmā Sahampati said: