With Āḷavaka
- buddhavacanaword
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Āḷavakasutta SN 10.12
SO I HAVE HEARD. At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī in the haunt of the native spirit Āḷavaka.
Then the native spirit Āḷavaka went up to the Buddha, and said to him: “Get out, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Get in, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went in.
And for a second time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha, “Get out, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Get in, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went in.
And for a third time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha, “Get out, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Get in, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went in.
And for a fourth time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha,
“Get out, ascetic!”
“No, good sir, I won’t get out. Do what you must.”
“I will ask you a question, ascetic. If you don’t answer me, I’ll drive you insane, or explode your heart, or grab you by the feet and throw you to the far shore of the Ganges!”
“I don’t see anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and Divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans who could do that to me. But anyway, ask what you wish.”
“What’s a person’s best wealth?
What brings happiness when practiced well?
What’s the sweetest taste of all?
The one they say has the best life: how do they live?”
“Faith here is a person’s best wealth.
The Dhamma brings happiness when practiced well.
Truth is the sweetest taste of all.
The one they say has the best life lives by wisdom.”
“How does one cross the flood?
How does one cross the deluge?
How does one get over suffering?
How does one get purified?”
“By faith one crosses the flood,
and by diligence the deluge.
By energy one gets past suffering,
and one is purified by wisdom.”
“How does one get wisdom?
How does one earn wealth?
How does one get a good reputation?
How does one hold on to friends?
How do the departed not grieve
when passing from this world to the next?”
“One who is diligent and discerning
gains wisdom by wanting to learn,
having faith in the perfected ones,
and the teaching for becoming extinguished.
Being responsible, acting appropriately,
and working hard one earns wealth.
Truthfulness wins one a good reputation.
one holds on to friends by giving.
That’s how the departed do not grieve
when passing from this world to the next.
A faithful householder
who has these four qualities
does not grieve after passing away:
truth, principle, steadfastness, and generosity.
Go ahead, ask others as well,
there are many ascetics and brahmins.
See whether anything better is found
than truth, self-control, generosity, and patience.”
“Why now would I question
the many ascetics and brahmins?
Today I understand
what’s good for the next life.
It was truly for my benefit
that the Buddha came to stay at Āḷavī.
Today I understand
where a gift is very fruitful.
I myself will journey
village to village, town to town,
paying homage to the Buddha,
and the natural excellence of the teaching!”