Venerable Hatthisariputta

At one time The Blessed One was living in the deer park in Isipatana in Benares. At that time, many elder bhikkhus were assembled in the circular hall after returning from the alms round and discussing the deeper aspects of the Teaching. At that time venerable Citta Hatthisariputta was disturbing the conversation of the elder bhikkhus with this and other conversation. Then venerable MahaKoṭṭhita said to Citta Hatthisariputta: Venerable Citta Hatthisariputta you should not disturb the elder bhikkhus discussing the deeper aspects of the Teaching, with this and other conversation. You should wait until the conversation finishes and then talk.

Then the co-associates of venerable Citta Hatthisaraputta said to venerable MahaKoṭṭhita: : Venerāble MahaKoṭṭhita, do not depreciate venerable Citta Hatthisariputta, he is wise, it is possible for him to converse on the deeper aspects of the Teaching with the elder bhikkhus.

Friend, it is difficult to be known by those who do not know the range of thoughts of others.

Here, friend, a certain person would be gentle, obedient and appeased as long as under the protection of the Teacher or under the protection of an eminent teacher. Withdrawn from the Teacher or an eminent teacher he mixes up with the bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, lay disciples male and female. kings and the ministers of kings, with those of other faiths and their disciples. Abiding with that association, diffused and engaged in talk, the mind touched with greed and corrupted he would give up the holy life and come to low life. Like a bull that eats the thriving corn, is bound or put in the cattle fold and someone was to say, now the bull will not eat the thriving corn. Is it right when you say, now the bull will not come to eat the thriving corn? No, venerable sir. There is a possibility for the bull to break the bonds, or break the cattlefold and descend to eat the thriving corn. In like manner, a certain person would be gentle, obedient and appeased as long as under the protection of the Teacher or under the protection of an eminent teacher. Withdrawn from the Teacher or an eminent teacher he mixes up with the bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, lay disciples male and female. kings and the ministers of kings, with those of other faiths and their disciples. Abiding with that association, diffused and engaged in talk, the mind touched with greed and corrupted he would give up the holy life and come to low life.

Here, friend, a certain person secluded from sensual desires ... re ... attains to the first higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the first higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Like huge rain drops falling on the four crossroads, would make the mud to disappear and someone saying,. now these crossroads would not be muddy any more. Is it correctly said? No, venerable sir. There is a possibility that it would be made muddy by people passing by, or when cattle and other four-footed pass by, or by the blowing of the hot wind or with snot it would be made muddy again. In like manner, a certain person secluded from sensual desires ... re ... attains to the first higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the first higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Here, friend, a certain person overcoming thoughts and discursive thoughts ... re ... attains to the second higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the second higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Like a huge flat land close to a village or hamlet, in which the heavy rain has made the stones and pebbles to disappear and someone saying,ṇow this flat land would not be with stones and pebbles any more. Is it correctly said? No, venerable sir. There is a possibility that people should come to drink in this flat land and cattle and other four-footed should come to drink in it, or by the blowing of the hot wind or with snot it would be with stone and pebbles again. In like manner, a certain person secluded from sensual desires ... re ... attains to the second higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the second higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Again, a certain person with equanimity to joy and detachment ... re ... attains to the third higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the third higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Like a man partaking exalted food would not desire stale food, and someone saying,. now this man will not like any other food Is it correctly said? No, venerable sir. There is a possibility that when the nourishment of the exalted food is absorbed and when it is no more in his body he would like food again. In like manner, a certain person with equanimity to joy and detachment ... re ... attains to the third higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the third higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Here, friend, a certain person dispelling both pleasantness and unpleasantnes ... re ... attains to the fourth higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the fourth higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

In the declivity of a huge rock there is a pond free of winds and waves and someone saying,. now there will be no more waves in the pond. Is it correctly said? No, venerable sir. There is a possibility that a huge storm with rain should come from the east, from the west, ... re ... from the north, ... re ... from the south. They will arouse waves in the pond. In like manner, a certain person secluded from sensual desires ... re ... attains to the fourth higher state of mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the fourth higher state of mind he mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Here, friend, a certain person not attending to any sign, attains to the signless concentration of the mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the signless concentrātion of the mind, mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to the low life.

Like the king or the king's chief minister who has come on the highway with the fourfold army, stays in the forest for one night and on account of the sounds of elephants, horses, chariots, the foot soldiers, the sound of drums small and large and the sound of conches. the sound of the crickets have vanished. Now the sound of crickets will not be heard in this forest stretch. Is it correctly said? No, venerable sir. There is a possibility that when that king or the king's chief minister goes away from that forest stretch the sounds of the crickets will appear again. In like manner, a certain person not attending to any sign, attains to the signless concentration of the mind. Thinking I am the gainer of the signless concentrātion of the mind, mixes up with the bhikkhus, ... re ... he would give up the holy life and come to low life.

After that Citta Hatthisariputta giving up the holy life came to the lower life. The co-associates of Citta Hatthisariputta approached venerable Mahakottita, and asked Did venerable Mahakottita penetratingly know the mind of Citta Hatthisariputta, that although Citta Hatthisariputta is a gainer of these abidings and attainments, yet he will give up the holy life and come to lay life? Friend, I penetratingly saw the mind of Citta Hatthisariputta, as a gainer of these abidings and attainments and knew he would give up the holy life and come to lower life. Even the gods informed me about this. Then the co-associates of Citta Hatthisariputta approached The Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said to The Blessed One: Venerable sir, Citta Hatthisariputta is a gainer of these abidings and attainnments, yet he gave up the holy life and came to the lower life. Bhikkhus, before long Citta will come to the non-sensual sphere.

Then before long Citta Hatthisariputta shaved his head and beard and wearing yellow clothes left the household and went forth. Then Citta Hatthisariputta withdrawing from the crowd and abiding diligent to dispel, before long, in this very life by himsself realizing attained the noble end of the holy life, for which sons of clansmen rightfully leave the household and become homeless. He knew, birth is destroyed, the holy life is lived, what should be done is done, there is nothing more to wish. Venerable Citta Hatthisariputta became one of the noble ones.