Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2275

v2.c31.2275

Mahāsuññatā Sutta.—Preached at Nigrodhārāma in Kapilavatthu. The Buddha was staying in the cell erected by Kāḷakhemaka, and near by, in the cell erected by Ghaṭāya, Ānanda, with many monks, was making robes. The Buddha knew from the number of pallets outside the cells of Kāḷakhemaka that many monks were in residence there. He therefore addressed Ānanda, telling him of the joys of tranquillity and solitude. A monk should dwell apart and concentrate his heart internally and thus develop the four jhāna. He then knows that, whatever his posture, he will be free from evil dispositions, his speech will be free from faults, his thoughts pure. A monk should always search his heart to discover if he has any traffic with pleasures of sense. A disciple should follow his master's footsteps, not in order to obtain interpretations of canonical law, but solely to hear words which conduce to passionlessness, illumination, Nibbāna.¹