A Large Number Sambahula Sutta (SN 4:21)

- suttas - - evening talks - short morning talks - lectures - guided meditations - talk collections - other themes - chants - - - - à¹à¸à¸¢ - Franā§ais - Espaā±ol - - Portuguāªs - РÑÑÑкий - - - УкÑаÑнÑÑка Submit Search - Home - Suttas - SN - SN 4:21 A Large Number ## Browse Suttas Go to Saṃyutta Nikṅya index SN index ## A Large Number Sambahula Sutta  (SN 4:21) I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying among the Sakyans at Silṅvatī. And on that occasion a large number of monks were staying not far from the Blessed One: heedful, ardent, & resolute. Then Mṅra the Evil One, assuming the appearance of a brahman—with a large coiled top-knot, clad in an antelope hide, aged, crooked like a roof support, wheezing, holding a staff of fig wood—went to the monks and, on arrival, said to them, "You have gone forth while young, masters—black-haired, endowed with the blessings of youth in the first stage of life—without having played with sensuality. Enjoy human sensuality, monks. Donât drop what is visible here-&-now in pursuit of whatâs subject to time." "Brahman, weâre not dropping whatâs visible here-&-now in pursuit of whatâs subject to time. Weâre dropping whatâs subject to time in pursuit of whatâs visible here-&-now. For the Blessed One has said that sensuality is subject to time, of much stress, much despair, & greater drawbacks; whereas this Dhamma is visible here-&-now, not subject to time, inviting all to come & see, pertinent, to be known by the observant for themselves." When this was said, Mṅra the Evil One—shaking his head, wagging his tongue, raising his eyebrows so that his forehead was wrinkled in three furrows—left, leaning on his stick. So the monks went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting there they [told him what had happened]. "That wasnât a brahman, monks. That was Mṅra the Evil One, come to blind you." Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion spoke these verses: One who has seen the cause from which suffering comes: How could that person incline to sensuality? Having realized that acquisition is a tie in the world, a person should train to subdue just that. See also: SN 1:20; SN 35:127; Thag 7:1 - --> - - - -