Udana – Inspirations
Introduction:
The Udana is the third book of the Khuddaka Nikaya, which is the fifth collection in the Sutta Pitaka, where the sacred expositions of the Buddha are stored. This is a dense collection of short suttas of significant beauty, each of which culminates in a short verse spoken by the Buddha. Totally there are eighty suttas, arranged in eight chapters.
The rendering here was motivated by a wish to exactly preserve the original meaning, while skipping the terse style.
Contents:
I: Enlightenment
II: Mucalinda
III: Nanda
IV: Meghiya
V: Elder Sona
VI: Born Blind
VII: The Minor
VIII: The Patali Village
I: Enlightenment
Enlightenment; - Root Cause -
So have I heard:
When the Buddha, after 7 days of non-stop sitting meditation in the bliss of Awakening,
in the first watch of the night then directed his unified attention to dependent co-arising in
forward order thus:
‘When this exists, then that exists too.
When this arises, that arises too.
When ignorance arises, mental construction also comes to be.
When mental construction arises, consciousness emerges too.
When consciousness arises, name-&-form develops as well.
When name-&-form arises, the six senses appear too.
When the six senses arise, contact becomes obvious.
When contact arises, feeling is assigned on top.
When feeling arises, craving also automatically arises.
When craving arises, clinging follows.
When clinging arises, becoming additionally develops.
When becoming arises, rebirth emerges to.
When the rebirth process arises, aging & death, sorrow, distress, pain, grief and despair also manifest.
This verily is the origin of this whole mass of Suffering…’
Then, he, the Blessed One, on recognizing the significance of that reason, exclaimed:
‘When the appearance of phenomena becomes clearly manifest to the Noble friend through keen meditation,
then all his doubts evaporate, since by that he understands the originating root causes of all phenomena.’
Udana – Inspiration: I – 1
Extinction; - Game Over -
So have I heard:
When the Buddha, after 7 days of non-stop sitting meditation in the bliss of Awakening,
in the middle watch of the night then directed his unified attention to dependent co-arising
in reverse order thus:
‘When this do not exist, then neither do that exist.
When this ceases, that ceases too.
When ignorance ceases, mental construction also ceases.
When mental construction ceases, consciousness vanishes too.
When consciousness ceases, name-&-form also disappears.
When name-&-form ceases, the six senses closes down too.
When the six senses ceases, contact ends as well.
When contact ceases, feeling dissolves too.
When feeling ceases, craving also evaporates.
When craving ceases, clinging is dispersed too.
When clinging ceases, becoming is discontinued.
When becoming ceases, rebirth ceases too.
When birth ceases, aging & death, sorrow, distress, pain, grief and despair also utterly cease.
This verily is the ceasing, the elimination, the abrogation of this whole mass of Suffering…’
Then, he, the Blessed One, on recognizing the consequence of that opening, exclaimed:
‘When the appearance of phenomena becomes clearly manifest to the Noble friend through keen meditation,
then all his doubts evaporate, as he, by that, comprehends the stilling of all conditioning.’
Udana – Inspiration: I – 2
Awakening; – Assured & Ascertained -
So have I heard:
When the Buddha, after 7 days of non-stop sitting meditation in the bliss of Awakening,
in the last watch of the night then directed his unified attention to dependent co-arising
in both forward & reverse order thus:
‘When this exists, then that exists too.
When this arises, that arises too.
When this do not exist, then neither do that exist.
When this ceases, that ceases too:
When ignorance arises, mental construction also appears.
When mental construction arises, consciousness comes to be too.
When consciousness arises, additionally name-&-form come in to being.
When name-&-form arises, the six senses develop.
When the six senses arise, contact emerges as well.
When contact arises, feeling is assigned too.
When feeling arises, craving also becomes apparent.
When craving arises, clinging comes to be too.
When clinging arises, becoming also develops.
When becoming arises, rebirth comes to be too.
When birth arises, aging & death, sorrow, distress, pain,
grief and despair also arises. This verily is the origin, the causing,
the arising of this entire mass of Suffering …
Consequently, when this very same ignorance is utterly vanished, uprooted,
then mental construction ceases. When mental construction ceases …then …
…
When birth ceases, aging & death, sorrow, distress, pain, grief and despair also cease.
This verily is the cessation, the irreversible End of this whole mass of Suffering…’
Then, he, the Blessed One, on recognizing the magnitude of that sequence, exclaimed:
‘When the appearance of phenomena becomes clearly manifest to the Noble friend
through keen meditation, then he is continually dispersing Mara’s army,
even & exactly as the sun continuously disperses all darkness, when lighting up the sky.’
Udana – Inspiration: I – 3
The Banyan Tree; - Highest –
So have I heard:
Right after Enlightenment, the Blessed one remained sitting cross-legged for seven days
under the Goatherds Banyan-tree absorbed in the bliss of liberation. Emerging from that
concentration, a certain proud, superstitious & mantra-repeating Brahmin stepped right
up to the Blessed One and so standing, asked: “What makes a man Holy ?”
Comprehending the long-term implications of this incident the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘The One who have extirpated all evil states, cleaned of all mental filth, self-possessed,
not merely a simple “Om or Um” empty mantra repeater, who is perfected in knowledge
and in purity of living the Noble life, one who is cleared of all preference, latency, tendency,
leaning, bias & affinity, such Holy One may rightly use the title: ‘Highest’.’
Udana – Inspiration: I – 4
The Elders; - Theras -
So have I heard:
On seeing all the mighty sages; Ven. Sariputta, Mahamoggallana, Mahakassapa & Anurudda ao.
approach, a certain bhikkhu asked the Blessed One: What makes one an Elder ?
Appreciating the opportunity of this occasion the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘Those who have eradicated all evil states,
who is ever aware, who has broken all chains,
these Buddhas are truly the Elders of this
very world. ’
Udana – Inspiration: I – 5
MahaKassapa; - The Colossal Giant -
So have I heard:
While seeing Venerable Mahakassapa resolutely walk alone for alms among the most poor &
needy after refusing offerings of divine food, the Blessed One, grasping the importance of this
event exclaimed:
‘Attended by no-one, attending no-one,
well tamed, well known, anchored’
at the core essence, one who have
eliminated all mental fermentations (asavas),
who have vomited up the faults, him I rightly
call both Holy & Hero.
Udana – Inspiration: I – 6
Fearless; - When Beyond Own –
So have I heard:
When sitting close to a local shrine in a totally black night during gentle rain,
a demon tried to scare the Blessed One by yelling ‘here is a ghost for you’ 3 times.
Apprehending the impact of this episode the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘When one has gone beyond all states regarded ‘Own’, then certainly neither ghost
nor demon can scare such Noble Friend, by neither screams nor spells.’
Udana – Inspiration: I – 7
Mama & wife freed; - Cool –
So have I heard:
When Venerable Sanghamaji’s former wife came & requested him repeatedly
to give her & son money, the Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghamaji remained silent.
On realizing the meaning behind this episode the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘Neither excited when she comes,
nor depressed when she goes,
Sanghamaji from the bonds released,
such one I call a Bhikkhu.'
Udana – Inspiration: I – 8
Ritual Bathing
So have I heard:
When seeing a number of recluses bath ritually,
irrationally assuming this to purify them mentally,
knowing the implication of such an empty action,
the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘Mental purity is not achieved by mere bathing, since most simple folk wash
daily in the very same water. In whom there is imbedded the Truth of Dhamma,
such one do I call Pure & Divine.’
Udana – Inspiration: I – 9
Elementally Beyond
So have I heard:
When the Blessed One, on repeated requests from the Venerable Bahiya instructed him,
standing in the street, in what were Venerable Bahiya’s last minutes of life, the result was that he,
Venerable Bahiya - the Bark-Clothed Recluse - attained final Nibbana!
This direct, clear-cut & acutely express admonition was so simply expounded:
‘In the seen is merely (the process of seeing &) what is seen.
In the heard is merely (hearing &) what is heard.
In the sensed is merely (sensing &) what is sensed.
In the thought is merely (thinking &) what is thought.
So knowing, you will not be (connected) ‘with that’.
So disconnected you will not be (absorbed) ‘in that’.
So neither ‘with that’ nor ‘in that’ you are! not ‘by that’ sensation. #
When there is no ‘you’ inferred or conjectured by that sensation,
then ‘you’ are neither ‘here’, ‘there’, ‘both’, ‘beyond’ nor ‘in between’…’
On realizing the importance of this incident the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘Where neither solidity, fluidity, heat or diffusion find footing,
there no sun, moon nor star shines. There is neither any light
yet nor is there any darkness. When the Noble, through stilling of
all construction, through quieting of all mental formation, directly
experiences this, then is he freed from both form & formlessness,
then is he released from both pleasure & pain …’
# Comments: A gold-nugget of an instruction! Brevity is clarity!
There is no-one who senses, even though sensing occurs!
Seeing is just a selfless event of contact between eye, object & visual consciousness.
No ‘person’ or ‘onlooker’ is involved there! No subject or ‘I’ is created,
just because there is an object, or just because there occurs the process of seeing …
The fact that there is an image projected, does per se imply, in or by itself,
that any-one actually is ‘looking in’ or ‘is behind’ the camera …
‘By that’ perception no ‘perceiver’ is thereby present or created …
So the ‘personal entity’ we assume, suppose, deduce, expect & believe to enjoy the experience
is merely a mental construct, an idea, a concept, & not a reality …
The passive impersonal process of sensing, perception & experiencing cannot thereby
be ‘instrumental’ for neither creating nor inferring any ‘being in existence’.
The fact of this fundamental ‘selflessness’ is far the most essential core of the Buddha-Dhamma.
Outmost important to grasp yet subtle, counterintuitive & thereby difficult & somewhat ‘nasty’ to comprehend.
Keep trying, since this central Anatta doctrine is the ‘opener, releaser & freer’ of any mind.
Being hopelessly in love with an imagined idea of ‘I’ is both fatal, tragic & sardonically comic … Hehehe : - ]
Udana – Inspiration: I – 10
II: Mucalinda
Beyond Blissful:
So have I heard:
When the Buddha, after 7 days of non-stop sitting meditation in the bliss of Awakening,
in a mighty rainstorm while protected by Mucalinda the mighty snake, then, he,
the Blessed One, on recognizing the value of that event, exclaimed:
‘Blissful is solitude for one who is content, learned & who see the True Dhamma.
Blissful is harmlessness towards all beings without exception.
Blissful is freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever.
Yet, the supreme bliss, is the elimination of the abysmal conceit “I am”!’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 1
Empty Kingship:
So have I heard:
When the Buddha overheard the Bhikkhus gossiping about the might of various local kings,
then, he, the Blessed One, on grapping the chance of that incident, exclaimed:
‘Any satisfaction found either in this or any divine world, is not worth a sixteenth fraction of
the peace of ease found in absence of craving.’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 2
Boomerang
So have I heard:
When the Blessed one saw some boys beating a snake with a stick,
then comprehending the implications of this episode, he exclaimed:
‘The one who is harming beings seeking their ease with a stick,
when seeking same ease after death, such one cannot obtain it.
The one who never harm any beings seeking ease with any stick,
when seeking same ease after death, such one certainly gain it.’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 3
Touch
So have I heard:
When hearing the Bhikkhus complain about being harassed & abused
verbally by sectarians of other views, the Blessed One, appreciating the
opportunity of this occasion exclaimed:
‘Whenever touched by pleasure or pain, whether in town or in forest,
do never assign it to any ‘self’, neither to any ‘other’,
since contacts can only afflict the 5 clusters of clinging !
What can contacts touch & affect in one not clinging ?’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 4
Comments:
The arising of feeling from contact is an ownerless & impersonal phenomenon induced by the meeting of
a sense, an object & consciousness (phassa=contact). The assumptions: “I feel pain, it is MY feeling” is
thereby false and based on the deep-rooted conceit: “I am”. There is contact & feeling yes, yet no “I” is involved.
Empty Engagements.
So have I heard:
While speaking to a lay follower, who excused the rareness of his visits with his many & various duties,
the Blessed One, grasping the importance of this event, exclaimed:
‘Happy indeed are those having nothing,
owing nothing, possessing only Dhamma,
mastering only Dhamma.’
While those obsessed by possessions,
projects & company gain only grief.’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 5
Panic
So have I heard:
Once the Buddha saw a father-to-be be afflicted by frustration over not being
able to help with the delivery with oil. Apprehending the relevance of this incidence
the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘Happy indeed are those owing nothing. Those won to insight cling to nothing.
While those attached to family, friends & property are as tied to torture.’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 6
The Trap to Loss
So have I heard:
Once a family, who had recently lost their only son, visited the Buddha,
on realizing the significance of this event, the Blessed one exclaimed:
‘Obsessed with transient forms – dear & sweet -’ anyone wearing a body –
human or divine – are distressed by the king of Death.
Yet those who by day & night - renounce this tantalizing form,
they go beyond this bait of Death so hard to pass,
thereby digging up the very root of misery.
Udana – Inspiration: II – 7
Realistic
So have I heard:
Once a woman who had been in birth-pain for 7 days wanted 7 more sons,
knowing the implication of such foolish wish, the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘Disguised as joy, appearing as true love;
promising only pleasure, frustration, adversity
& pain surprises, shocks & overwhelms the
one not aware ...’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 8
Dependency
So have I heard:
Visakha - the Upasika – once expressed disappointment over
the decision of another in their shared deal.
On realizing the importance of this incident the Blessed One exclaimed:
‘Painful is dependency. Blissful is full control.
Whatever deal joined in common, always brings
Vexation, as bonds are hard to break.’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 9
Independency
So have I heard:
On hearing about the bliss of a free, fearless & forest dwelling Bhikkhu,
the Blessed One, on appreciating the worth of this event, exclaimed:
‘The one not resisting, fearless & free,
in a bliss of joy gone all beyond any
endless becoming, ending & grief,
such one even the divine cannot
see through nor overview !’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 10
III: Nanda
Debt:
So have I heard:
When the Buddha saw a certain Bhikkhu sitting straight upright & cross-legged,
silently enduring severe pain, which was consequence of an ancient action, then,
he, the Blessed One, on recognizing the significance of this occasion, exclaimed:
‘For the Bhikkhu who has left behind action, who is shaking of the accumulated
dust of prior doings, who is stilled, steady & stable, beyond any notion of ‘I’ or ‘mine’,
there is no need for talk.’
Udana – Inspiration: III - 1
Skillfully Tricked:
So have I heard:
When the Buddha had tricked his brother Nanda to endure the Noble life by promising
him ‘Nymph Beauty’, Nanda achieved full awakening. Then, he, the Blessed One,
on understanding the significance of that affair, exclaimed:
‘The one who has passed free of the mud,
who has broken the thorn of sensual urge,
who has reached the end of confusion,
is neither stirred by pain nor pleasure.’
Udana – Inspiration: III - 2
Breathless:
So have I heard:
When the Blessed one, after sitting a whole night absorbed in the 4th Jhana – motionless,
without even breathing – among 500 recently awakened Bhikkhus,
realized the power of that event, he exclaimed:
‘The one who have thrusted off the thorn of lust,
when insulted, abused, tortured or imprisoned
remains undisturbed like a smiling mountain,
& is hence unperturbed by both joy & sorrow.’
Udana – Inspiration: III - 3
The Mountain:
So have I heard:
When seeing Ven. Sariputta sitting absorbed in meditation, cross-legged, upright & aware,
the Blessed One, inspired & appreciating the opportunity of this incident,
exclaimed: ‘Just as a mighty mountain is fixed, all still & immovable,
even so do the Bhikkhu remain unshaken like a rock, by destruction of all illusion.’
Udana – Inspiration: III - 4
The Meditator:
So have I heard:
When seeing Ven. Mahamoggallana sitting absorbed in meditation, cross-legged,
upright & internally aware of the body, the Blessed One, inspired & welcoming the
opening of this event, exclaimed:
‘Aware of the body, perceiving it’s internal forms, in complete control of the contacts