16.8 The Story about an Elder Who Was a Non-Returner

Dhp 218

CST4: Ekaanāgāmittheravatthu

Burlingame: The Elder Who had Attained the Fruit of the Third Path

A bhikkhu attained the third stage of Awakening, but when questioned by his fellow bhikkhus, didn’t mention it as he first wanted to attain Arahatship; in the meantime he passed away and was reborn in the Pure Lands; his fellow bhikkhus lamented, thinking he had fallen short, but the Buddha explained his attainment with a verse.

Keywords: Attainments, Pure Abodes

“The one with desire for the undeclared,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain elder who was a Non-returner.

For one day the co-residents of this elder asked him the following question: “But, venerable Sir, have you attained distinction?” The elder thought: “Even laymen are able to attain the fruition of a Non-returner; so soon as I attain Arahatship, I will talk with them.” Therefore, because of embarrassment, he said nothing. Shortly afterwards he died and was reborn in the heaven of the Pure Abodes. Thereupon his fellow bhikkhus wept and lamented. And going to the Teacher, they saluted him and sat down on one side, weeping and lamenting. {3.289}

The Teacher asked them: “Bhikkhus, why are you weeping?” – “Our preceptor is dead, venerable Sir.” – “Never mind, bhikkhus, grieve not; this is a sure thing.” – “Yes, venerable Sir, we too know that. But we asked our preceptor whether or not he had attained distinction, and he died without giving us an answer. That is why we are so distressed.”

The Teacher said: “Bhikkhus, be not troubled. Your preceptor had attained the fruition of a Non-returner and thought: ‘Even laymen are able to attain the fruition of a Non-returner. So soon as I attain Arahatship, I will tell them.’ It was because of embarrassment that he said nothing. When he died, he was reborn in the Pure Abodes. Cheer up, bhikkhus; your preceptor had freed his heart from [30.92] attachment to sensual desire.” So saying, the Teacher pronounced the following verse:

218. Chandajāto anakkhāte, manasā ca phuṭo siyā,
kāmesu ca appaṭibaddhacitto: ‘uddhaṁsoto’ ti vuccati.

The one with desire for the undeclared,
will be suffused with the awak’ning mind,
with a mind unconnected with pleasures,
he is spoken of as ‘one gone upstream.’ {3.290}

At the end of the teaching those bhikkhus were established in the fruition of Arahatship, and many people had benefit from the teaching.