26.2 The Story about a Company of Bhikkhus
Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu
Dhp 384
Burlingame: What Are the “Two States”?
During a visit by thirty bhikkhus who had come in from the countryside, Elder Sāriputta, believing they were ready to become Arahats, asked the Buddha to explain what were the two things he had heard spoken about, and the Buddha told they were calm and insight, and exhorted the bhikkhus with a verse.
Keywords: Insight, Meditation
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“When a Brahmin has … crossed over,”
For one day thirty bhikkhus who resided in foreign parts came and worshipped the Teacher and sat down. Elder Sāriputta, knowing that they possessed the supporting conditions for the attainment of Arahatship, went to the Teacher and, without sitting down, asked him the following question: “Venerable Sir: ‘two states’ are frequently spoken of; now what are the ‘two states’?” The Teacher replied: “By the ‘two states,’ Sāriputta, are meant tranquillity and insight.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:
384. Yadā dvayesu dhammesu pāragū hoti brāhmaṇo,
athassa sabbe saṁyogā atthaṁ gacchanti jānato.
When a Brahmin has, through
two states, crossed over, then
for one who knows, all his
fetters are laid to rest.
At the end of the teaching all of those bhikkhus were established in Arahatship.