The Shorter Elephant Footprint Simile Cūḍa Hatthipadopama Sutta (MN 27)

- suttas - - evening talks - short morning talks - lectures - guided meditations - talk collections - other themes - chants - - - - à¹à¸à¸¢ - Franā§ais - Espaā±ol - - Portuguāªs - Ð ÑÑÑÐºÐ¸Ð¹ - - - Ð£ÐºÑÐ°ÑÐ½ÑÑÐºÐ° Submit Search - Home - Suttas - MN - MN 27 The Shorter Elephant Footprint Simile ## Browse Suttas Go to Majjhima Nikṅya index MN index Show outline show outline ## Outline - (Top) - Virtue - Sense Restraint - Mindfulness & Alertness - Abandoning the Hindrances - The Four Jhṅnas - The Three Knowledges const prefersTocHidden = window.sessionStorage.getItem('user-prefers-toc-hidden') ?? window.localStorage.getItem('user-prefers-toc-hidden') ?? false; if (prefersTocHidden) { const tocToggleButton = document.getElementById("tocToggle"); const bookToc = document.getElementById("bookToc"); bookToc.classList.remove("show"); tocToggleButton.setAttribute("aria-expanded", false); tocToggleButton.querySelectorAll("[data-show-text]").forEach(el => { el.setAttribute("data-hide-text", el.innerText); el.innerText = el.getAttribute("data-show-text"); }); } ## The Shorter Elephant Footprint Simile Cūḍa Hatthipadopama SuttaÂ Â (MNÂ 27) I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sṅvatthī in Jetaâs Grove, Anṅthapiṃṇikaâs monastery. Now at that time, Jṅṃussoṃin the brahman was driving out of Sṅvatthī in the middle of the day in a totally white roofed-chariot.1 He saw Pilotika the wanderer coming from afar and, on seeing him, said to him, "Now where is Master Vacchṅyana2 coming from in the middle of the day?" "Sir, I have come here from the presence of Gotama the contemplative." "And what does a wise person think about Gotama the contemplativeâs acuity of discernment?" "Sir, who am I to know Gotama the contemplativeâs acuity of discernment? Wouldnât one have to be his equal to know his acuity of discernment?" "Master Vacchṅyana praises Gotama the contemplative with lavish praise indeed!" "Sir, who am I to praise Gotama the contemplative. He is praised by the praised as the best of beings, human & divine." "Seeing what reasons does Master Vacchṅyana have such high confidence in Gotama the contemplative?" "Sir, suppose an elephant hunter were to enter an elephant forest and were to see there a large elephant footprint, long in extent and broad in width. He would come to the conclusion, ), # Right single quote ('â', What a big bull elephant!â In the same way, when I saw four footprints in Gotama the contemplative, I came to the conclusion, ), # Right single quote ('â', The Blessed One is rightly self-awakened, the Dhamma is well-taught by the Blessed One, the Saṃgha of the Blessed Oneâs disciples has practiced rightly.â Which four? "There is the case where I see certain noble warriors who are pundits, subtle, skilled in debate, like hair-splitting marksmen. They prowl about, as it were, shooting philosophical positions to pieces with their dialectic. They hear, ), # Right single quote ('â', Gotama the contemplative, they say, will visit that village or town.â They formulate a question thus: ), # Right single quote ('â', Having gone to Gotama the contemplative, we will ask him this question of ours. If, having been asked like this, he answers like this, we will refute his teaching like this. And, if having been asked like this, he answers like that, we will refute his teaching like that.â "They hear, ), # Right single quote ('â', Gotama the contemplative is visiting that village or town.â They go to him, and he instructs, urges, rouses, & encourages them with a talk on Dhamma. Having been instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged by him with a talk on Dhamma, they donât even ask him their question, so since when could they refute him? As it turns out, they become his disciples. When I saw this first footprint in Gotama the contemplative, I came to the conclusion, ), # Right single quote ('â', The Blessed One is rightly self-awakened; the Dhamma is well-taught by the Blessed One; the Saṃgha of the Blessed Oneâs disciples has practiced rightly.â "Then there is the case where I see certain brahmansâ¦ "Then there is the case where I see certain householdersâ¦ "Then there is the case where I see certain contemplatives who are pundits, subtle, skilled in debate, like hair-splitting marksmen. They prowl about, as it were, shooting philosophical positions to pieces with their dialectic. They hear, ), # Right single quote ('â', Gotama the contemplative, they say, will visit that village or town.â They formulate a question thus: ), # Right single quote ('â', Having gone to Gotama the contemplative, we will ask him this question of ours. If, having been asked like this, he answers like this, we will refute his teaching like this. And, if having been asked like this, he answers like that, we will refute his teaching like that.â "They hear, ), # Right single quote ('â', Gotama the contemplative is visiting that village or town.â They go to him, and he instructs, urges, rouses, & encourages them with a talk on Dham