Nanda, the cowherd
At one time the Blessed One lived in Kosambi on the
bank of river Ganges.
The Blessed One seeing a huge mass of wood carried
along by the current of the river, addressed the monks:
Monks, do you see that huge mass of wood carried along
by the current of river Ganges? Yes, venerable sir we
do.
Monks, if this mass of wood does not reach the hither
bank, the thither bank, does not sink in the middle, does not reach high
ground, is not seized by humans, is not seized by non-humans, is not caught in
a whirlpool, does not deteriorate from within, it bends, slants and turns
towards the ocean. What is the reason? Monks, the current of river Ganges
bends, slants and turns towards the ocean.
In the same manner monks, if you do not reach the
hither bank, the thither bank, do not sink in the middle, do not reach high
ground, are not seized by humans, are not seized by non-humans, are not caught
in a whirlpool, do not deteriorate from within, you bend, slant and turn
towards extinction. What is the reason? Monks, right view bends, slants and
turns towards extinction.
When this was said a certain monk said to the Blessed
One, venerable sir, what is the hither shore, what is the thither shore, what
is the middle, what is to sink, what is to reach high ground, what is the
seizure by humans, what is the seizure by non-humans, what is the whirlpool and
what is deterioration from within?
Monk, the hither shore is a synonym for the six
personal spheres.
Monk, the thither shore is a synonym for the six
external spheres.
To sink in the middle is a synonym for interest and
greed.
Monk, to reach high ground is a synonym for measuring
as I am.
Monk, what is seizure by humans? Here the monk lives
associating lay people sharing interests, grief, pleased with the pleasant,
unhappy with the unhappy and he yokes himself to whatever arisen situation.
Monk, this is called seizure by humans.
Monks, what is seizure by non-humans? Here, monk, a
certain one leads the holy life aspiring to be born in a certain heavenly clan.
Leading the holy life observing these virtues, observances and austerities may
I be born in the company of such and such a god! Monk, this is called seizure
by non humans.
Monk, whirlpool is a synonym for the five strands of
sensuality.
Monk, what is the deterioration from within? Here,
monks, someone is not virtuous, thinks evil, vile thoughts, has secret actions,
has only promised to be a recluse and lead the holy life. Evil thoughts leak
from him. This is deterioration from within.
At that time the cowherd Nanda was in the vicinity of
the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: Venerable sir, I do not reach the
hither bank nor the thither bank. I do not sink in the middle, nor reach high
ground. I am not seized by humans, non-humans, nor caught in a whirlpool and I
do not deteriorate from within, may I gain the going forth and the higher
ordination.
Then Nanda, return the herd to the master.
Venerable sir, they are with calves and they will go.
Nanda, you return them to the master.
Then the cowherd Nanda returned the herd to the master
and approached the Blessed One and said: ßVenerable sir, I have returned the
herd to the master. May I gain the going forth and the higher ordination in the
presence of the Blessed One.
The cowherd Nanda obtained the going forth and the
higher ordination and before long venerable Nanda secluded and withdrawing from
the crowd, for whatever purpose sons of clansmen rightfully go forth, that
highest end of the holy life he realized here and now.
Venerable Nanda became a worthy one.
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