Udāna 6: Jaccandhavaggo
The Chapter (including the Discourse) about the Congenitally Blind



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7: The Discourse about Subhūti

 

Thus I heard:
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Then at that time venerable Subhūti was sitting not far away from the Fortunate One, after folding his legs crosswise, and setting his body straight, having attained a concentration free from thought.

The Fortunate One saw venerable Subhūti sat not far away, after folding his legs crosswise, and setting his body straight, who had attained a concentration free from thought.

Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“For he who has dispelled thoughts,
Totally cut (them) off within himself without remainder,
Perceiving the formless (nibbāna), Arūpa, the formless, beyond the shackle, is defined as signifying nibbāna in the Commentary here.
Having overcome the four yokes - he surely does not come (to birth again).” There is another reading given in the Commentary, na jātim-eti, which might seem preferable, in which case the translation would run: does not come to birth (again).

last updated: November 2011