166(6)Cessation
There the Venerable Sāriputta...said this:
"Here,friends,a bhikkhu accomplished in virtuous behavior,concentration,and wisdom might enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is this possibility.
But if he does not reach final knowledge in this very life,having been reborn among a certain group of mind-made[deities]that transcend the company of devas that subsist on edible food,he might[again]enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.
Mp:"The devas that subsist on edible food (kabalikaraharabhakkhanam devanan):the deities of the sense sphere.A certain mind-made group(ainataram manomayam kayan):a certain group of brahmās *in the pure abodes,who are reborn by the jhāna-mind." There is this possibility."When this was said,the Venerable Udāyī said to the Venerable Sariputta:
"This is impossible,friend Sariputta,it cannot happen that a bhikkhu,having been reborn among a certain group of mind-made [deities]that transcend the company of devas that subsist on edible food,might [again]enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is no such possibility."
A second time...A third time,[193]the Venerable Sariputta said:
"Here,friends,it is possible that a bhikkhu accomplished in virtuous behavior...having been reborn among a certain group of mind-made.[deities]……
.….might [again]enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is this possibility."
A third time,the Venerable Udayī said to theVenerable Sariputta:
"This is impossible,friend Sariputta,itcannot happen that a bhikkhu,having been reborn among acertain group of mind-made [deities]...might [again]enter andemerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is no such possibility."
Then it occurred to the Venerable Sariputta:
"The Venerable Udayī has rejected me up to the third time,and not a single bhikkhu expresses agreement with me.
Let me approach the Blessed
One."
Then the Venerable Sariputta approached the Blessed
One,
paid homage to him,sat down to one side,
and addressed the bhikkhus:
"Here,friends,a bhikkhu accomplished in virtuous behavior,concentration,and wisdom might [again]enterand emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is this possibility.
If he does not reach final knowledge in this very life,having been reborn among a certain group of mind-made [deities]that transcend the company of devas that subsist on edible food,he might[again]enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is this possibility."
When this was said,the Venerable Udayī said to the Venerable Sariputta:
"This is impossible,friend Sariputta,it cannot happen that a bhikkhu,having been reborn among a certain group of mind-made [deities]transcending the company of devas that subsist on edible food,might [again]enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is no such possibility."
A second time...A third time,the Venerable Sariputta addressed the bhikkhus:
"Here,friends,a bhikkhu accomplished in virtuous behavior...[194]...having been reborn among a certain group of mind-made[deities]..
……might [again]enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is this possibility."
A third time,the Venerable Udāyi said to the Venerable Sariputta:
"This is impossible,friendSäriputta,it cannot happen that a bhikkhu...reborn amonga certain group of mind-made [deities]...might [again]enterand emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.There is no such possibility."
Then it occurred to the Venerable Sariputta:
"Even when I am in the presence of the Blessed One,the Venerable Udāyī rejects me up to the third time,and not a single bhikkhu expresses agreement with me.
Let me just keep silent."
Then the Venerable Sariputta fell silent.
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Udayi:
"Udāyī,just what do you understand by a mind-made group?"
"Bhante,it is those devas that are formless,perception-made."
Ye te,bhante,deva arapino sannamaya.Udāyī has confused the devas of the formless realm,who are said to be perception-made (sainamaya),with the devas of the form realm(including the pure abodes),who are said to be mind-made(manomaya)."What are you saying,Udayī,you foolish and incompetent fellow?
Yet you think you have to speak up!"
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ananda:
"Ananda,do you just look on passively as an elder bhikkhu is being harassed?
Don't you have any compassion toward an elder bhikkhu when he's being harassed?"
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus:
"Here,bhikkhus,a bhikkhu accomplished in virtuous behavior,concentration,and wisdom might enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.
If he does not reach final knowledge in this very life,then,having been reborn among a certain group of mind-made [deities]that transcend the company of devasthat subsist on edible food,he might [again]enter and emergefrom the cessation of perception and feeling.There is this possibility."
This is what the Blessed One said.
Having said this,the Fortunate One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.[195]
Then,not long after the Blessed One had left,the Venerable Ananda approached the Venerable Upavana
and said to him:
"Here,friend Upavāna,they were harassing other elder bhikkhus,
but we didn't question them.
I read with Ce and Ee mayam te na pucchāma,as against Be mayam tena na muccāma.It would not be surprising if this evening,when he emerges from seclusion,the Blessed One makes a pronouncement about this matter,and he mightcall upon the Venerable Upavāna himself [to give an account].
Yatha ayasmantamyev'ettha upavānam patibhaseyya.Mp explains yatha as a word for a cause(kāranavacanam).I take patibhasatito mean"calls upon [someone to say something]"(see SED svpratibhash).Mp continues:"When something has been uttered by the Blessed One with reference to this matter,you should think of some reply(pativacana,a counter-statement)."Just now I feel timid."
Then,in the evening,the Blessed One emerged from seclusion and went to the meeting hall.
He sat down in the appointed seat
and said to the Venerable Upavāna:
"Upavāna,how many qualities should an elder bhikkhu possess to be pleasing and agreeable to his fellow monks and to be respected and esteemed by them?"
"Possessing five qualities,Bhante,an elder bhikkhu is pleasing and agreeable to his fellow monks and is respected and esteemed by them.
What five?
(1)He is virtuous;he dwellsrestrained by the Patimokkha...[as in 5:134]...he trains in
them.
(2)He has learned much...[as in 5:134]...he has penetrated well by view.
(3)He is a good speaker with a good delivery;he is gifted with speech that is polished,clear,articulate,expressive of the meaning.
(4)He gains at will,without trouble or difficulty,the four jhānas that constitute the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life.
(5)With the destruction of the taints,he has realized for himself with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,he dwells in it.
Possessing these five qualities,an elder is pleasing and agreeable to his fellow monks and is respected and esteemed by them."
[196]"Good,good,Upavāna!
Possessing those five qualities,an elder is pleasing and agreeable to his fellow monks and is respected and esteemed by them.
But if these five qualities are not found in an elder bhikkhu,why should his fellow monks honor,respect,esteem,and venerate him?
I follow Ce and Ee,which have na samvijjeyyum,kena nam sabrahmacari sakkareyyum garukareyyum maneyyum pujeyyum.Be has na samvijjeyyum,tam sabrahmacari na sakkareyyum na garum kareyyum na maneyyum na pujeyyum.On account of his broken teeth,grey hair,and wrinkled skin?But because thesefive qualities are found in an elder bhikkhu,his fellow monks honor,respect,esteem,and venerate him."