Rāhulasutta

Sutta Nipāta 2.11

Anthology of Discourses 2.11

Rāhulasutta

With Rāhula

“Kacci abhiṇhasaṁvāsā,

“Does familiarity breed contempt,

nāvajānāsi paṇḍitaṁ;

even for the man of wisdom?

Ukkādhāro manussānaṁ,

Do you honor he who holds aloft

kacci apacito tayā”.

the torch for all humanity?”

“Nāhaṁ abhiṇhasaṁvāsā,

“Familiarity breeds no contempt

avajānāmi paṇḍitaṁ;

for the man of wisdom.

Ukkādhāro manussānaṁ,

I always honor he who holds aloft

niccaṁ apacito mayā”.

the torch for all humanity.”

“Pañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,

“One who’s given up the five sensual stimulations,

piyarūpe manorame;

so pleasing and delightful,

Saddhāya gharā nikkhamma,

and who’s left the home life out of faith—

dukkhassantakaro bhava.

let them make an end to suffering!

Mitte bhajassu kalyāṇe,

Mix with spiritual friends,

pantañca sayanāsanaṁ;

stay in remote lodgings,

Vivittaṁ appanigghosaṁ,

secluded and quiet,

mattaññū hohi bhojane.

and eat in moderation.

Cīvare piṇḍapāte ca,

Robes, almsfood,

paccaye sayanāsane;

requisites and lodgings:

Etesu taṇhaṁ mākāsi,

don’t crave such things;

mā lokaṁ punarāgami.

don’t come back to this world again.

Saṁvuto pātimokkhasmiṁ,

Be restrained in the monastic code

indriyesu ca pañcasu;

and the five sense faculties.

Sati kāyagatā tyatthu,

With mindfulness immersed in the body,

nibbidābahulo bhava.

be full of disillusionment.

Nimittaṁ parivajjehi,

Turn away from the sign

subhaṁ rāgūpasañhitaṁ;

that’s attractive, provoking lust.

Asubhāya cittaṁ bhāvehi,

With mind unified and serene,

ekaggaṁ susamāhitaṁ.

meditate on the ugly aspects of the body.

Animittañca bhāvehi,

Meditate on the signless,

Mānānusayamujjaha;

give up the tendency to conceit;

Tato mānābhisamayā,

and when you comprehend conceit,

Upasanto carissatī”ti.

you will live at peace.”

Itthaṁ sudaṁ bhagavā āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ imāhi gāthāhi abhiṇhaṁ ovadatīti.

That is how the Buddha regularly advised Venerable Rāhula with these verses.

Rāhulasuttaṁ ekādasamaṁ.