Dhammapada 3.2.p4

3.2.p4

Tesu evaṃ katikaṃ katvā viharantesu ekadivasaṃ sā upāsikā sappitelaphāṇitādīni gāhāpetvā dāsadāsikammakarādīhi parivutā sāyanhasamaye taṃ vihāraṃ gantvā vihāramajjhe bhikkhū adisvā, ‘‘kahaṃ nu kho, ayyā, gatā’’ti purise pucchitvā, ‘‘attano attano rattiṭṭhānadivāṭṭhānesu nisinnā bhavissanti, ayye’’ti vutte, ‘‘kiṃ nu kho katvā daṭṭhuṃ sakkhissāmī’’ti āha. Atha naṃ bhikkhusaṅghassa katikavattaṃ jānanamanussā āhaṃsu – ‘‘ghaṇḍiyā pahatāya sannipatissanti, ayye’’ti. Sā ca ghaṇḍiṃ paharāpesi. Bhikkhū ghaṇḍisaddaṃ sutvā, ‘‘kassaci aphāsukaṃ bhavissatī’’ti sakasakaṭṭhānehi nikkhamitvā vihāramajjhe sannipatiṃsu. Dvepi janā ekamaggenāgatā nāma natthi. Upāsikā ekekaṭṭhānato ekekameva āgacchantaṃ disvā, ‘‘mama puttehi aññamaññaṃ kalaho kato bhavissatī’’ti cintetvā bhikkhusaṅghaṃ vanditvā pucchi – ‘‘kalahaṃ nu kho, bhante, karitthā’’ti? ‘‘Na karoma, mahāupāsike’’ti. ‘‘Sace vo, bhante, kalaho natthi, atha kasmā yathā amhākaṃ gehaṃ āgacchantā sabbe ekatova āgacchatha, evaṃ anāgantvā ekekaṭṭhānato ekekāva āgatā’’ti? ‘‘Mahāupāsike, ekekasmiṃ ṭhāne nisīditvā samaṇadhammaṃ karimhā’’ti. ‘‘Ko esa, bhante, samaṇadhammo nāmā’’ti? ‘‘Dvattiṃsākāre sajjhāyaṃ karoma, attabhāve ca khayavayaṃ paṭṭhapema, mahāupāsike’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ pana, bhante, dvattiṃsākāre sajjhāyaṃ kātuṃ, attabhāve ca khayavayaṃ paṭṭhapetuṃ tumhākameva vaṭṭati, udāhu amhākampīti, kassacipi avārito esa dhammo, mahāupāsike’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi, bhante, mayhampi dvattiṃsākāraṃ detha, attabhāve ca khayavayapaṭṭhapanaṃ ācikkhathā’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi uggaṇha, mahāupāsike’’ti sabbaṃ uggaṇhāpesuṃ.

One day, while the monks were in residence, that female lay disciple took ghee, molasses, and other kinds of food and at eventide, accompanied by a retinue of slaves and servants, went to the monastery. Seeing no monks, she asked some men, "Where have the noble monks gone?" "My lady, they must be sitting in their own respective night-quarters and day-quarters." "What must I do in order to see them?" Men who knew about the agreement made by the Congregation of Monks said, “If you strike the bell, my lady, they will assemble.” So she struck the bell. When the monks heard the sound of the bell, they thought to themselves, “Someone must be sick.” And coming forth from their several quarters, they assembled in the monastery court. No two monks came by the same path.

When the female lay disciple saw them approach one at a time, each from his own quarters, she thought to herself, “My sons must have had a quarrel with each other.” So, after paying obeisance to the Congregation of Monks, she asked them, “Have you had a quarrel, Reverend Sirs?” “No indeed, great lay disciple.” “If, Reverend Sirs, there is no quarrel among you, how is it that, whereas in coming to our house you came all together, to-day you do not approach in this manner, but instead approach one at a time, each from his own quarters?” “Great lay disciple, we were sitting each in his own cell, engaged in the practice of meditation.” “What do you mean, Reverend Sirs, by this expression, ‘practice of meditation’?” “We rehearse the Thirty-two Constituent Parts of the Body, and thus obtain a clear conception of the decay and death inherent in the body, great lay disciple.” “But, Reverend Sirs, are you alone permitted to rehearse the Thirty-two Constituent Parts of the Body, and thus obtain a clear conception of the decay and death inherent in the body; or are we also permitted to do this?” “This practice is forbidden to none, great lay disciple.” “Well then, teach me also the Thirty-two Constituent Parts of the Body and show me how to obtain a clear conception of the decay and death inherent in the body.” “Very well, lay disciple,” said the monks, “learn them.” So saying, they taught her all. She began at once to rehearse the Thirty-two Constituent Parts of the Body, striving thereby to obtain for herself a clear conception of the decay and death inherent in the body. So successful was she that even in advance of those monks she attained the Three Paths and the Three Fruits, and by the same Paths won the Four Supernatural Powers and the Higher Faculties.