SNP5.8 — The Questions of Nanda
There are sages in the world,
(said the venerable Nanda),
so people say. How is this?
Do they call one a sage because of their knowing,
or truly because of their way of life?
Not by views, nor by learning, nor by knowing,
do the skillful here call one a sage, Nanda.
Having disbanded the armies, untroubled, free from longing—
those who live thus, I say, are sages.
Whoever these ascetics and brahmins are,
(said the venerable Nanda),
who declare purity through what is seen and heard,
who declare purity through rules and observances,
who declare purity in various other ways—
could it be, Blessed One, that by living restrained in those things,
they have crossed over birth and old age, dear sir?
I ask you, Blessed One, tell me this.
Whoever these ascetics and brahmins are,
(said the Blessed One),
who declare purity through what is seen and heard,
who declare purity through rules and observances,
who declare purity in various other ways—
even though they live restrained in those things,
they have not crossed over birth and old age, I say.
Whoever these ascetics and brahmins are,
(said the venerable Nanda),
who declare purity through what is seen and heard,
who declare purity through rules and observances,
who declare purity in various other ways—
if you, O sage, say they have not crossed the flood,
then who in the world of gods and humans
has crossed over birth and old age, dear sir?
I ask you, Blessed One, tell me this.
I do not say that all ascetics and brahmins,
(said the Blessed One),
are enveloped by birth and old age.
Those here who have abandoned entirely what is seen, heard, or sensed,
and abandoned entirely rules and observances,
and abandoned entirely the various other ways—
who, having fully understood craving, are free from taints:
these are the people, I say, who have crossed the flood.
I rejoice in these words of the great seer,
well-proclaimed by Gotama, free from acquisitions.
Those here who have abandoned entirely what is seen, heard, or sensed,
and abandoned entirely rules and observances,
and abandoned entirely the various other ways—
who, having fully understood craving, are free from taints:
I too say they have crossed the flood.
The Questions of Nanda, the seventh.