Dighanikaya 9.411

9.411

Tiṭṭhatesā, bhanteti sace bhagavā sotukāmo bhavissati, pacchāpesā kathā na dullabhā bhavissati, amhākaṃ panimāya kathāya attho natthi. Bhagavato panāgamanaṃ labhitvā mayaṃ aññadeva sukāraṇaṃ pucchāmāti dīpeti. Tato taṃ pucchanto – ‘‘purimāni, bhante’’tiādimāha. Tattha kotūhalasālāyanti kotūhalasālā nāma paccekasālā natthi. Yattha pana nānātitthiyā samaṇabrāhmaṇā nānāvidhaṃ kathaṃ pavattenti, sā bahūnaṃ – ‘‘ayaṃ kiṃ vadati, ayaṃ kiṃ vadatī’’ti kotūhaluppattiṭṭhānato kotūhalasālāti vuccati. Abhisaññānirodheti ettha abhīti upasaggamattaṃ. Saññānirodheti cittanirodhe, khaṇikanirodhe kathā uppannāti attho. Idaṃ pana tassā uppattikāraṇaṃ. Yadā kira bhagavā jātakaṃ vā katheti, sikkhāpadaṃ vā paññapeti tadā sakalajambudīpe bhagavato kittighoso pattharati, titthiyā taṃ sutvā – ‘‘bhavaṃ kira gotamo pubbacariyaṃ kathesi, mayaṃ kiṃ na sakkoma tādisaṃ kiñci kathetu’’nti bhagavato paṭibhāgakiriyaṃ karontā ekaṃ bhavantarasamayaṃ kathenti – ‘‘bhavaṃ gotamo sikkhāpadaṃ paññapesi, mayaṃ kiṃ na sakkoma paññapetu’’nti attano sāvakānaṃ kiñcideva sikkhāpadaṃ paññapenti. Tadā pana bhagavā aṭṭhavidhaparisamajjhe nisīditvā nirodhakathaṃ kathesi. Titthiyā taṃ sutvā – ‘‘bhavaṃ kira gotamo nirodhaṃ nāma kathesi, mayampi taṃ kathessāmā’’ti sannipatitvā kathayiṃsu. Tena vuttaṃ – ‘‘abhisaññānirodhe kathā udapādī’’ti.

"Let that be, venerable sir": he indicates, 'If the Blessed One wishes to hear it, later that conversation will not be difficult to obtain; but for us there is no purpose in that conversation. Having obtained the arrival of the Blessed One, we shall ask another good matter instead.' Then, asking him about that, he spoke the words beginning with, "In former days, venerable sir." There, "in the debating hall": there is no separate hall named 'debating hall' (kotūhalasālā). But where ascetics and brahmins of various sectarian views carry on various discussions, because it is a place where curiosity arises for many people, wondering, 'What does this one say? What does that one say?', it is called a debating hall. "On the cessation of higher perception": here, *abhi-* is merely a prefix. "On the cessation of perception": the meaning is that a discussion arose concerning the cessation of mind, momentary cessation. And this was the reason for its arising: Whenever the Blessed One relates a Jātaka or lays down a training rule, the Blessed One's fame and renown spreads throughout the whole of Jambudīpa. The sectarians, hearing that, thinking, 'The master Gotama reportedly relates his past conduct; why should we not be able to relate something similar?', imitating the Blessed One, relate a tradition of another existence. Thinking, 'The master Gotama has laid down a training rule; why should we not be able to lay down one?', they lay down some training rule for their own disciples. But at that time the Blessed One, seated in the midst of the eight assemblies, delivered a talk on cessation. The sectarians, hearing that, gathered together and talked, saying, 'The master Gotama reportedly spoke of what is called cessation; we too will speak of that.' Therefore it was said: "A discussion arose concerning the cessation of higher perception."