6. The Discourse about Cālā



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

Then the nun Cālā, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up her bowl and robe, was entering Sāvatthī for alms. After walking for alms in Sāvatthī, and returning from the alms-round after the meal, she approached the Blind Man’s Wood to pass the day, and having entered Blind Man’s Wood, she sat down at the root of a certain tree to pass the day.

Then the Wicked Māra approached the nun Cālā, and after approaching he said this to the nun Cālā:

“With what, nun, are you not pleased?”
“I am not pleased, friend, with birth.”

“Why is it you're not pleased with birth? Being born one enjoys pleasures,
Just who made you agree to this: Comm: just who made you agree to this means which fool of dull intellect made you seize on this? ‘Do not be pleased with birth, nun’?”

“For one who is born there is death, being born one feels suffering,
(There is) bondage, murder, hardship, Comm: hardship means manifold calamities. Now this is what Māra said: “Just who made you agree to this?” To show how she rejects that: “No blind fool made me agree, but the greatest man in the world, the Teacher who taught the Dhamma.” (So) The Awakened One and so on is said. therefore I am not pleased with birth.

The Awakened One taught the Dhamma, the transcendence of birth (and death),
For giving up of all suffering, he has established me in the Truth. Comm: herein, he has established (me) in the Truth means he has established (me) in the highest truth, in Emancipation.

(There are) those beings attached to form, those (attached to) formless states,
(And) those who know not cessation, Comm: those know not cessation means those who do not know the truth of cessation. they (all) come to rebirth again.”

Then the Wicked Māra (thought): “The nun Cālā knows me!” and pained and depressed he vanished right there.