Anuruddha Sutta

Anuruddha

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

I have heard that on one occasion Ven. Anuruddha was dwelling among the Kosalans in a forest thicket. Now at that time, a devata from the retinue of the heaven of the Thirty-three named Jalini, one of Ven. Anuruddha's former consorts, went to him and, on arrival, addressed him with this verse:

Direct your mind to where you used to live, among the devas of the Thirty-three, empowered with all sensual pleasures. Honored, surrounded by deva maidens, you will shine.

[Ven. Anuruddha:] They've gone astray, deva maidens established in self-identity. And they've gone astray, those beings with deva maidens as their aim.

[Jalini:]

They don't know bliss who haven't seen Nandana, abode of the eminent devas, glorious, of the Thirty-three.

[Ven. Anuruddha:]

You fool, don't you know the arahants' maxim? — 'How inconstant are compounded things! Their nature: to arise & pass away. They disband as they are arising. Their total stilling is bliss.'

Jalini, there is now in deva company no further abode [for me].

With the utter ending of wandering on in birth, there is now no further becoming.