Dhamma Sharing by Bhante Dr. G. Chandima "Nakulapitu Sutta: AN 6.16" | Dying with Concerns @ Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society (June 20, 2024)
A man (Nakulapitu) who is sick is comforted by his wife (Nakulamatā), who tells him not to worry about dying because she can take care of the family and practice the Dhamma. After he gets better, he goes to see the Buddha to praise his lovely and smart wife.
Worry 1 (taking care of children)
“Householder, don’t pass away with concerns. Such concern is suffering, and it’s criticized by the Buddha. Householder, you might think: ‘When I’ve gone, the housewife Nakula’s mother won’t be able to provide for the children and keep up the household carpets.’ But you should not see it like this. I’m skilled at spinning cotton and carding wool. I’m able to provide for the children and keep up the household carpets. So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …
“Mā kho tvaṁ, gahapati, sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā. Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa. Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa: ‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena sakkhissati dārake posetuṁ, gharāvāsaṁ santharitun’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Kusalāhaṁ, gahapati, kappāsaṁ kantituṁ veṇiṁ olikhituṁ. Sakkomahaṁ, gahapati, tavaccayena dārake posetuṁ, gharāvāsaṁ santharituṁ. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.
Worry 2 (thinking of marrying again)
Householder, you might think: ‘When I’ve gone, the housewife Nakula’s mother will take another husband.’ But you should not see it like this. Both you and I know that we have remained celibate while at home for the past sixteen years. So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa: ‘nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena aññaṁ gharaṁ gamissatī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Tvañceva kho, gahapati, jānāsi ahañca, yaṁ no soḷasavassāni gahaṭṭhakaṁ brahmacariyaṁ samāciṇṇaṁ. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.
Worry 3 (not being able to see the Buddha and other monastics)
Householder, you might think: ‘When I’ve gone, the housewife Nakula’s mother won’t want to see the Buddha and his Saṅgha.’ But you should not see it like this. When you’ve gone, I’ll want to see the Buddha and his mendicant Saṅgha even more. So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …
Worry 4 (the practice of morality)
Householder, you might think: ‘The housewife Nakula’s mother won’t fulfill ethics.’ But you should not see it like this. I am one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who fulfills their ethics. Whoever doubts this can go and ask the Buddha. He is staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood. So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …
Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa: ‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena sīlesu paripūrakārinī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā sīlesu paripūrakāriniyo, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā—ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye—taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.
Worry 5 (no inner tranquillity of awareness)
Householder, you might think: ‘The housewife Nakula’s mother doesn’t have inner tranquillity of awareness.’ But you should not see it like this. I am one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who has inner tranquillity of awareness. Whoever doubts this can go and ask the Buddha. He is staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood. So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …
Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa: ‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī lābhinī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā lābhiniyo ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā—ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye—taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.
Worry 6 (no foundational trust about the Triple Gems)
Householder, you might think: ‘The housewife Nakula’s mother has not gained a basis, a firm basis, and solace in this teaching and training. She has not gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and gained assurance. And she’s not independent of others in the Teacher’s instructions.’ But you should not see it like this. I am one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who has gained a basis, a firm basis, and solace in this teaching and training. I have gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and gained assurance. And I am independent of others in the Teacher’s instructions. Whoever doubts this can go and ask the Buddha. He is staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood. So householder, don’t pass away with concerns. Such concern is suffering, and it’s criticized by the Buddha.”
Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa: ‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharatī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharanti, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā—ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye—taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā”ti.
Nakula (Husband of Nakulapitu recovers)
Then, soon after Nakula’s father the householder had recovered from being sick, not long after his recovery from his illness, he went leaning on a stick to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him, “It is your gain, your great gain, householder, that you have Nakulamātā (your wife)—sympathetic & wishing for your welfare—as your counselor & instructor.
To the extent that I have white-clad householder female disciples who act fully in accordance with the precepts, she is one of them. To the extent that I have white-clad householder female disciples who attain inner tranquillity of awareness, she is one of them. To the extent that I have white-clad householder female disciples who reach firm ground in this Doctrine & Discipline, attain a firm foothold, attain consolation, overcome their doubts, dispel their perplexity, reach fearlessness, & gain independence from others with regard to the Teacher’s message, she is one of them. It is your gain, your great gain, householder, that you have Nakula’s mother—sympathetic & wishing for your welfare—as your counselor & instructor.”
Atha kho nakulapituno gahapatissa nakulamātarā gahapatāniyā iminā ovādena ovadiyamānassa so ābādho ṭhānaso paṭippassambhi. Vuṭṭhahi ca nakulapitā gahapati tamhā ābādhā; tathā pahīno ca pana nakulapituno gahapatissa so ābādho ahosi. Atha kho nakulapitā gahapati gilānā vuṭṭhito aciravuṭṭhito gelaññā daṇḍamolubbha yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nakulapitaraṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
“Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati. Yassa te nakulamātā gahapatānī anukampikā atthakāmā ovādikā anusāsikā.
Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā sīlesu paripūrakāriniyo, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā.
Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā lābhiniyo ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā.
Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharanti, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā.
Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati. Yassa te nakulamātā gahapatānī anukampikā atthakāmā ovādikā anusāsikā”ti.
Comments
Post a Comment