Itivuttaka 81

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Itivuttaka >> '''81. Sakkarasuttam'''

Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

81. Sakkarasuttam ( Receiving Offerings & Honour)

This was said by the Lord Buddha(Bhagavata), said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Monks, I have seen beings conquered by receiving offerings, their minds overwhelmed at the break-up of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell. I have seen beings conquered by not receiving offerings—their minds overwhelmed—at the break-up of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell. I have seen beings conquered both by receiving offerings & by not receiving offerings—their minds overwhelmed—at the break-up of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell.

“It’s not through having heard it from another ascetic(monk) or brahman(priest) that I say, ‘I have seen beings conquered by receiving offerings their minds overwhelmed—at the break-up of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell. I have seen beings conquered by not receiving offerings—their minds overwhelmed—at the breakup of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell. I have seen beings conquered both by receiving offerings & by not receiving offerings—their minds overwhelmed—at the breakup of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell.’

“Instead, it’s from having known it myself, seen it myself, observed it myself that I say, ‘I have seen beings conquered by receiving offerings—their minds overwhelmed—at the break-up of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell. I have seen beings conquered by not receiving offerings—their minds overwhelmed—at the breakup of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell. I have seen beings conquered both by receiving offerings & by not receiving offerings—their minds overwhelmed—at the breakup of the body, after death, reappearing in a plane of deprivation, a bad destination, a lower realm, hell.’”

Both when receiving offerings & not, his samadhi(trance state) doesn’t waver; he remains alert(without sloth): he,continually absorbed in jhana(trance), blissful, watchful, Vipassakam(insightfully in meditation), enjoying the ending of clinging— is called a man of integrity.

Note : Vipassakam - Here it refers to Vipassana meditation i.e. being aware of inner phenomenon (body, emotions, sensations mind) in equanimity.