Timsamatta Sutta

Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the squirrels' sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha.

Then about thirty monks from Pava, all of them forest dwellers, dependants on morsel food, wearers of rag robes limited to three and all with bonds approached the Blessed One, worshipped and sat on a side.

Then it occurred to the Blessed One: "These thirty monks from Pava, are all forest dwellers, dependants on morsel food, wearers of rag robes limited to three and all with bonds. What if I teach them, so that their minds would be released from desires without holdings while sitting in these same seats?"

Then the Blessed One addressed them: "Monks." And those monks said-:"Yes, venerable sir."

The Blessed One said: "Monks, without an end is the train of existence, a beginning cannot be pointed out of beings enveloped in ignorance and bound by craving, running from one existence to another.

"Monks, what is more, the blood you have shed on account of the neck being severed from the body in this long journey in existences running from one existence to another, or the water in the four great oceans?"

"Venerable sir, as the Blessed One has taught us the blood we have shed on account of the neck being severed from the body in this long journey in existences running from one existence to another, is more than the water in the four great oceans."

"Excellent! Monks, you know the Teaching as taught by me.

"Indeed monks, the blood you have shed on account of the neck being severed from the body in this long journey in existences running from one existence to another, is more than the water in the four great oceans.

"Monks, you have long experienced the severing of the neck from the body and the shedding of blood when you were born as cattle, that blood is more than the water in the four great oceans.

"Monks, you have long experienced the severing of the neck from the body and the shedding of blood when you were born as buffaloes, that blood is more than the water in the four great oceans.

"Monks, you have long experienced the severing of the neck from the body and the shedding of blood when you were born as sheep, that blood is more than the water in the four great oceans.

"Monks, ... re ... born as goats ... re ...

"Monks, ... re ... born as deer... re ...

"Monks, ... re ... born as fowl ... re ...

"Monks, ... re ... born as pigs..... re ...

"Monks, you have long experienced the severing of the neck from the body and the shedding of blood when you were taken as robbers who destroy villages, that blood is more than the water in the four great oceans ...

"Monks, you have long experienced the severing of the neck from the body and the shedding of blood when you were taken as robbers who wait in ambush, that blood is more than the water in the four great oceans ...

"Monks, you have long experienced the severing of the neck from the body and the shedding of blood when you were taken as robbers who went to other wives that blood is more than the water in the four great oceans ...

"What is the reason? Monks, without an end is the train of existence, a beginning cannot be pointed out, of beings enveloped in ignorance and bound by craving, running from one existence to another.

"Monks, it is suitable that you should turn away from all determinations, fade and be released from them."

The Blessed One said thus and those monks delighted in the words of the Blessed One.

When this discourse was given the thirty monks of Pava experienced the release of their minds from desires without holdings.