22.71 Radha

SN 22.71 Radha

Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland

Now the Venerable Radha approached the Lord. Having approached and prostrated himself he sat down to one side. As he was sitting there, the venerable Radha said to the Lord:

“How can we know, Sir, how can we see, that in this consciousness-endowed body and externally among all outer objects there is no I-ness, no mine-ness, no underlying tendency to conceit?”

“Whatsoever body … feeling … perception … mental activities … consciousness, Radha, past, future or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near, is looked upon as, ’This is not mine,’ ’I am not this,’ ’This is not myself’—in this manner it is seen according to actuality with perfect wisdom. Thus knowing, thus seeing, in this consciousness-endowed body and externally among all outer objects there is no I-ness, no mine-ness, no underlying tendency to conceit.”

Then the venerable Radha, living alone, secluded, diligent, ardent and resolute, soon realized here and now, through his own direct knowledge, that unequalled quest of the holy life, for which sons of good family rightly go forth from home to the homeless state, and entering into it abide in it. And he knew: finished is birth, lived is the holy life, done is what had to be done, there is no more of this or that state.

And the venerable Radha became one of the Perfect Ones.