3. A Teaching on Gośṛṅga Park

Thus have I heard: 

At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Gośṛṅga Park in the Vṛji Country. 

There, a retinue of five hundred bhikṣus of great supernormal powers and high virtue, including the venerable Śāriputra, the venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana, the venerable Mahākāśyapa, the venerable Revata, and the venerable Ānanda, were present. At that time, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Mahākāśyapa, and Aniruddha went to Śāriputra's dwelling in the morning. When Ānanda saw the three great śrāvakas approaching Śāriputra from afar, he said to Revata, "The three great śrāvakas are going to Śāriputra. We two should also go to Śāriputra's dwelling. Why? So that we may hear Śāriputra speak the wondrous Dharma." 

Revata replied, "That is an excellent idea." 

1. Ānanda's Teaching

So, Revata and Ānanda went to Śāriputra's dwelling. Thereupon, Śāriputra said, "Welcome, venerables! Please be seated here." Then, Śāriputra said to Ānanda, "I wish to ask you something: 'This Gośṛṅga Park is exceedingly delightful, and naturally, divine fragrances permeate all directions. How then, should this park be enjoyed?'" 

Ānanda replied, "If a bhikṣu has heard much and forgets nothing, comprehensively grasping the meaning and essence of all Dharma teachings, and perfectly practices noble conduct, such a bhikṣu possesses all these dharmas fully and without omission. He teaches the Dharma to the fourfold saṅgha in due order, without being abrupt or agitated, and without confused thoughts. Such a bhikṣu enjoys the Gośṛṅga Park." 

2. Revata's Teaching

Then, Śāriputra said to Revata, "Ānanda has already expounded. Now I would like to ask you about the meaning of this. The Gośṛṅga Park is delightful in this way. It is now your turn to speak. What is your understanding?" 

Revata replied, "Thus it is that a bhikṣu who delights in secluded places, contemplating and meditating, is in accordance with Right View. Such a bhikṣu delights in the Gośṛṅga Park." 

Then, the venerable Śāriputra said to Aniruddha, "Now you shall speak of the meaning of delight." 

3. Aniruddha's Teaching

Aniruddha replied, "If a bhikṣu possesses the divine eye, seeing clearly and observing all sentient beings—those who are dying and those who are being born, those of good and bad complexion, those in good and bad destinies, whether beautiful or ugly—he knows them all. Some sentient beings commit evil actions by body, speech, and mind, slandering the noble ones, and upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, are reborn in hell. And some sentient beings perform good actions by body, speech, and mind, not slandering the noble ones. Just as a person observing the sky sees everything perfectly, so too does a bhikṣu with the divine eye observe the world without doubt or difficulty. Such a bhikṣu in the Gośṛṅga Park delights in this way." 

Then, Śāriputra said to Kāśyapa, "I say to you. These venerable ones have already spoken of the meaning of delight. Now it is your turn to speak." 

4. Kāśyapa's Teaching

Kāśyapa replied, "If a bhikṣu practices forest dwelling, and also teaches others to practice forest dwelling, praising the virtues of solitude; if he himself wears rag-robes, and also teaches others to practice dhūta ascetic practices; if he himself is content in seclusion, and also teaches others to cultivate that practice; if he himself is complete in virtue, accomplished in samādhi, accomplished in wisdom, accomplished in liberation, accomplished in knowledge and vision of liberation, and also teaches others to practice these dharmas, praising these dharmas, and having the ability to transform others, he also teaches them to practice these dharmas; instructing without satiety. Such a bhikṣu in the Gośṛṅga Park delights immensely." 

At that time, the venerable Śāriputra said to Mahāmaudgalyāyana, "The noble ones have spoken of the meaning of delight. Now it is your turn to speak of the meaning of delight. The Gośṛṅga Park is incomparably delightful. How will you now speak of it?" 

5. Maudgalyāyana's Teaching

Maudgalyāyana replied, "Thus, a bhikṣu possesses great supernormal power, and is master of supernormal powers. He can transform into countless thousands of things without difficulty. He can also transform one body into countless bodies, or again, reunite them into one. He passes through stone walls without hindrance and disappears and reappears at will. Just like a swift river, or like a bird in the sky leaving no trace; like a fierce fire burning mountains and fields; or like the sun and moon illuminating everything without exception; he can also reach up and touch the sun and moon, and can transform his body to ascend even to the Brahmā Heaven. Such a bhikṣu is suited for the Gośṛṅga Park." 

Then, Maudgalyāyana said to Śāriputra, "We have each spoken according to our understanding. Now we ask Śāriputra: The Gośṛṅga Park is exceedingly delightful. Which bhikṣu is suited to be in it?" 

6. Śāriputra's Teaching

Śāriputra said, "If a bhikṣu can subdue his mind, then his mind cannot subdue the bhikṣu. If that bhikṣu wishes to attain samādhi, he can immediately attain it. Whether far or near, he can accomplish samādhi at will. Just as a householder has fine clothes stored in a chest, and that householder can take out any clothes he desires at will, without difficulty, so too can such a one enter samādhi at will without difficulty. In this way, the mind serves the bhikṣu, not the bhikṣu serving the mind. Such a person is suited to be in the Gośṛṅga Park." 

Then, Śāriputra addressed the venerable ones, saying, "We have each spoken according to our understanding, each according to what is appropriate, and have well expounded this meaning. Now let us all go together to ask the Bhagavān how a bhikṣu can delight in this Gośṛṅga Park. Whatever the Bhagavān says, we shall practice." 

The bhikṣus replied, "Yes, O Śārputra!" 

The Buddha's Affirmation of the Bhikṣus' Discourse

Thereupon, the great śrāvakas went together to the Tathāgata. Having arrived, they prostrated themselves at his feet and sat to one side. Then, the great śrāvakas fully reported this matter to the Buddha. At that time, the Bhagavān said, "Excellent! Just as Ānanda has spoken. Why? Because the bhikṣu Ānanda, having heard the Dharma, can retain it, grasp all Dharma teachings comprehensively, and thoroughly practice the noble conduct. Such Dharma teachings, well heard and not forgotten, without false views, are expounded to the fourfold saṅgha without error or abruptness. 

"What the bhikṣu Revata has spoken is also excellent! Why? Because he delights in secluded places, not dwelling among people, constantly mindful of meditation, free from contention, and by tranquillity and insight meditation, dwelling in solitude and tranquillity. 

"The bhikṣu Aniruddha is also excellent! Why? Because the bhikṣu Aniruddha is foremost in the divine eye. With his divine eye, he observes the three thousand worlds, just as a person with eyes sees a jewel in his palm. So too, the bhikṣu Aniruddha observes this cosmos of three thousand great thousand worlds without doubt or difficulty. 

"Now, the bhikṣu Kāśyapa is also excellent! Why? Because the bhikṣu Kāśyapa himself practices forest dwelling, and can also praise the practice of solitude; he himself begs for alms, and can also praise the virtue of begging for alms; he himself wears rag-robes, and can also praise the virtue of rag-robes; he himself is content, and can also praise the virtue of contentment; he himself dwells in caves, and praises the virtue of caves. He himself is accomplished in virtue, accomplished in samādhi, accomplished in wisdom, accomplished in liberation, accomplished in knowledge and vision of liberation. He can also teach others to accomplish these five aspects of the Dharma-body. He himself can transform others and also teach others to practice these dharmas. 

"Excellent! Excellent! Just as Maudgalyāyana has spoken. Why? Because the bhikṣu Maudgalyāyana possesses great power, is foremost in supernormal powers, and has mastery over his mind. Whatever he intends to do, he can accomplish it. He can transform one body into tens of thousands or billions, or unite them back into one. He passes through stone walls without hindrance, without obstruction, disappearing and reappearing at will; just like swift water, without obstruction; like a bird in the sky leaving no traces; just like the sun and moon illuminating everything without exception; he can transform his body even to the Brahmā Heaven. 

"Excellent! Just as Śāriputra has spoken. Why? Because Śāriputra can subdue his mind, and his mind cannot subdue Śāriputra. When he wishes to enter samādhi, he can accomplish it without difficulty, just as a householder has fine clothes and can wear them at will without difficulty. The bhikṣu Śāriputra is likewise able to subdue his mind, and his mind cannot subdue Śāriputra. He enters samādhi at will. All of these accomplishments are present before him. 

"Excellent! Excellent! O bhikṣus! What you have each spoken is according to your respective skilful means. But now listen to what I shall say. How does a bhikṣu delight in the Gośṛṅga Park? If a bhikṣu dwells near a village, at the proper time, he puts on his robe and takes his alms-bowl, and enters the village for alms. Having collected alms, he returns to his dwelling place, washes his hands and face, and sits under a tree, straightening his body and mind, crossing his legs, and fixing his mindfulness before him. That bhikṣu then thinks: 'I will not break this sitting until I have extinguished all effluents and attained the unconditioned.' At that time, that bhikṣu's mind, freed from effluents, attains liberation. Such a bhikṣu is suited for the Gośṛṅga Park. Such a bhikṣu is constantly diligent and never lazy, and wherever he dwells, he is revered by all. Bhikṣus! You should train yourselves in this way." 

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha had taught, gladly accepted and joyfully practised it.