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Sampasadaniyasutta 1: 1. Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar

Inspiring Confidence 1

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English

1. Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar

1.1

So I have heard.

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Nāḷandā in Pāvārika’s Mango Grove.

1.3

Then Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

1.4

“Sir, I have such confidence in the Buddha that I believe there’s no other ascetic or brahmin—whether past, future, or present—whose direct knowledge is superior to the Buddha when it comes to awakening.”

1.5

“That’s a grand and bold statement, Sāriputta. You’ve roared a definitive, categorical lion’s roar, saying:

1.6

‘I have such confidence in the Buddha that

1.7

I believe there’s no other ascetic or brahmin—whether past, future, or present—whose direct knowledge is superior to the Buddha when it comes to awakening.’

1.8

What about all the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas who lived in the past? Have you encompassed their minds to know that

1.9

those Buddhas had such ethics, or such qualities, or such wisdom, or such meditation, or such freedom?”

1.10

“No, sir.”

1.11

“And what about all the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas who will live in the future? Have you encompassed their minds to know that

1.12

those Buddhas will have such ethics, or such qualities, or such wisdom, or such meditation, or such freedom?”

1.13

“No, sir.”

1.14

“And what about me, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha at present? Have you encompassed my mind to know that

1.15

I have such ethics, or such qualities, or such wisdom, or such meditation, or such freedom?”

1.16

“No, sir.”

1.17

“In that case, Sāriputta, given that you don’t encompass the minds of Buddhas past, future, or present,

1.18

what then are you doing, making such a grand and bold statement, roaring such a definitive, categorical lion’s roar?”

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