MN7 — Vatthasutta
Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
There the Blessed One addressed the disciples:
Disciples.
Venerable Sir, those disciples replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
Disciples, just as a cloth that is soiled and stained becomes impure in color when dyed with any dye, whether blue, yellow, red, or crimson, so too when the mind is defiled, a bad destination can be expected.
And just as a cloth that is clean and bright becomes pure in color when dyed with any dye, whether blue, yellow, red, or crimson, so too when the mind is undefiled, a good destination can be expected.
And what are the defilements of the mind?
Covetousness and unrighteous greed are defilements of the mind, ill will is a defilement of the mind, anger is a defilement of the mind, hostility is a defilement of the mind, denigration is a defilement of the mind, domineering is a defilement of the mind, envy is a defilement of the mind, avarice is a defilement of the mind, deceit is a defilement of the mind, fraud is a defilement of the mind, obstinacy is a defilement of the mind, presumption is a defilement of the mind, conceit is a defilement of the mind, arrogance is a defilement of the mind, intoxication is a defilement of the mind, heedlessness is a defilement of the mind.
A disciple who knows that covetousness and unrighteous greed are defilements of the mind abandons them.
Knowing that ill will is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that anger is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that hostility is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that denigration is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that domineering is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that envy is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that avarice is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that deceit is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that fraud is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that obstinacy is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that presumption is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that conceit is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that arrogance is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that intoxication is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
Knowing that heedlessness is a defilement of the mind, he abandons it.
When a disciple knows that covetousness and unrighteous greed are defilements of the mind and has abandoned them, knowing that ill will is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it, knowing that anger is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it, knowing that hostility is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it, knowing that denigration is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that domineering is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that envy is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that avarice is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that deceit is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that fraud is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that obstinacy is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that presumption is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that conceit is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that arrogance is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that intoxication is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it,
knowing that heedlessness is a defilement of the mind and has abandoned it.
Conceit is a defilement of the mind: thus understanding, conceit as a defilement of the mind is abandoned;
Intoxication is a defilement of the mind: thus understanding, intoxication as a defilement of the mind is abandoned;
Negligence is a defilement of the mind: thus understanding, negligence as a defilement of the mind is abandoned.
He is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha:
Indeed, the Blessed One is an Arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowing and conduct, well-gone, knower of the worlds, incomparable leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, enlightened and blessed; he is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Dhamma:
The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, visible here and now, timeless, inviting inspection, leading onwards, to be experienced by the wise for themselves; he is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Sangha:
The Sangha of the Blessed Ones disciples is practicing the good way, the straight way, the true way, the proper way. That is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals. This Sangha of the Blessed Ones disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
Just as when a cloth stained with impurities becomes pure and bright upon being washed with clean water, or gold becomes pure and bright upon being smelted in a furnace, so too, when a disciple is endowed with such virtue, such Dhamma, and such wisdom, even if he partakes of alms food consisting of choice rice with various sauces and curries, it does not become an obstacle for him.
He dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with goodwill, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, and all around, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with goodwill, vast, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without ill will.
He dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with compassion, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, and all around, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with compassion, vast, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without ill will.
He dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with sympathetic joy, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, and all around, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with sympathetic joy, vast, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without ill will.
He dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; so above, below, and all around, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with equanimity, vast, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without ill will.
He understands: There is this, there is the inferior, there is the superior, and there is an escape beyond this perception.
Knowing and seeing thus, his mind is liberated from the taints of sensual desire, from the taints of becoming, from the taints of ignorance.
When it is liberated, there comes the knowing: It is liberated.
He understands: Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of being.
This is called a disciple who is bathed with the inner bathing.
At that time, the brahmin Sundarika Bharadvaja was sitting not far from the Blessed One.
Then the brahmin Sundarika Bharadvaja said to the Blessed One:
Does Master Gotama go to the Bahuka River to bathe?
What, brahmin, is there in the Bahuka River? What can the Bahuka River do?
Indeed, Master Gotama, many people regard the Bahuka River as sacred. Many people regard the Bahuka River as a source of merit. Many people wash away their evil deeds in the Bahuka River.
Then the Blessed One addressed the brahmin Sundarika Bharadvaja in verse:
Bahuka and Adhikakka,
Gaya and Sundarika,
Sarasvati and Payaga,
And the river Bahumati: A fool may plunge into them constantly,
Yet his dark deeds are not cleansed.
What can Sundarika do?
What can Payaga or Bahuka River do?
For a person with evil deeds,
What can they do?
I do not purify the sinful.
For the pure, it is always the full moon,
For the pure, the observance day is always;
For the pure, who performs clean deeds,
The observance is always successful;
Bathe here, Brahmin,
Make safety for all beings.
If you do not speak falsely,
If you do not harm living beings;
If you do not take what is not given,
Believing and not being stingy;
What will you do by going to Gaya,
Even a well is your Gaya.
Having said this, the Brahmin Sundarikabharadvaja said to the Blessed One:
Excellent, Master Gotama, excellent, Master Gotama.
Just as, Master Gotama, one might set upright what was overturned, reveal what was hidden, show the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way, Master Gotama has made the Dhamma clear in many ways.
I go to Master Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of disciples.
May I receive the going forth in the presence of Master Gotama, may I receive the full ordination.
Then the Brahmin Sundarikabharadvaja received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One, he received the full ordination.
Soon after his full ordination, while dwelling alone, diligent, ardent, and resolute, he realized for himself with direct knowing, here and now, the ultimate goal of the holy life, for the sake of which sons of good families rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness.
He knew: Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being.
And the Venerable Bharadvaja became one of the arahants.