Mahaka’s Demonstration

Then CittacittaMente, corazón o estado de consciencia. En los suttas puede referirse a la mente como experiencia cognitiva y afectiva, no solo al pensamiento conceptual. En meditación, citta suele señalar el estado o cualidad de la mente que se observa, calma, concentra o libera.Ver en el glosario the householder went up to them, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to them,“Sirs, would the senior monks please accept tomorrow’s meal from me in my milkshed?”*Gokula is unique in early Pali. For the sense “milkshed” see Harivaṁśa Purāṇa 2.17.4; Bṛhatkathākośa 21.29–33.

Atha kho citto gahapati yena therā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā there bhikkhū abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho citto gahapati there bhikkhū etadavoca: “adhivāsentu me, bhante, therā svātanāya gokule bhattan”ti.

Then Citta the householder went up to them, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to them,Atha kho citto gahapati yena therā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā there bhikkhū abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho citto gahapati there bhikkhū etadavoca: “Sirs, would the senior monks please accept tomorrow’s meal from me in my milkshed?”*Gokula is unique in early Pali. For the sense “milkshed” see Harivaṁśa Purāṇa 2.17.4; Bṛhatkathākośa 21.29–33.“adhivāsentu me, bhante, therā svātanāya gokule bhattan”ti.

They consented with silence.Then, knowing that the senior mendicants had consented, Citta rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled them, keeping them on his right, before leaving.

Adhivāsesuṁ kho therā bhikkhū tuṇhībhāvena. Atha kho citto gahapati therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā there bhikkhū abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

They consented with silence.Adhivāsesuṁ kho therā bhikkhū tuṇhībhāvena. Then, knowing that the senior mendicants had consented, Citta rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled them, keeping them on his right, before leaving.Atha kho citto gahapati therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā there bhikkhū abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then Citta served and satisfied the senior mendicants with his own hands with delicious milk-rice made with ghee.When the senior mendicants had eaten and washed their hands and bowls, they rose from their seats and left.Citta instructed that the leftovers of the food be distributed, then followed behind the senior mendicants.*Like the King of the Kurus at MN 82:28.1.

Atha kho citto gahapati there bhikkhū paṇītena sappipāyāsena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. Atha kho therā bhikkhū bhuttāvino onītapattapāṇino uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu. Cittopi kho gahapati “sesakaṁ vissajjethā”ti vatvā there bhikkhū piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.

Then Citta served and satisfied the senior mendicants with his own hands with delicious milk-rice made with ghee.Atha kho citto gahapati there bhikkhū paṇītena sappipāyāsena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. When the senior mendicants had eaten and washed their hands and bowls, they rose from their seats and left.Atha kho therā bhikkhū bhuttāvino onītapattapāṇino uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu. Citta instructed that the leftovers of the food be distributed, then followed behind the senior mendicants.*Like the King of the Kurus at MN 82:28.1.Cittopi kho gahapati “sesakaṁ vissajjethā”ti vatvā there bhikkhū piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.

Now at that time it was boiling hot.And those senior mendicants walked along as if their bodies were melting, as happens after a meal.

Tena kho pana samayena uṇhaṁ hoti kuthitaṁ; *kuthitaṁ → kuṭṭhitaṁ (bj, sya-all, km, pts1ed)te ca therā bhikkhū paveliyamānena maññe kāyena gacchanti, yathā taṁ bhojanaṁ bhuttāvino.

Now at that time it was boiling hot.Tena kho pana samayena uṇhaṁ hoti kuthitaṁ; *kuthitaṁ → kuṭṭhitaṁ (bj, sya-all, km, pts1ed)And those senior mendicants walked along as if their bodies were melting, as happens after a meal.te ca therā bhikkhū paveliyamānena maññe kāyena gacchanti, yathā taṁ bhojanaṁ bhuttāvino.

Now at that time Venerable Mahaka was the most junior mendicant in that SaṅghaSaṅghaEste término denota tanto: la «comunidad monástica» (comunidades de monjes y monjas budistas) en quienes los seguidores laicos toman refugio; como aquellos seguidores del Buddha, laicos u ordenados, que han alcanzado al menos la entrada en la corriente (ver sotāpanna), el primero de los senderos transcendentes (ver magga) que culmina en nibbāna. Recientemente en EE.UU., el término «sangha» se ha transformado para significar el sentido más amplio de «comunidad de seguidores en el sendero budista», aunque este uso no tiene base en el canon pali. El término parisā se usa en este sentido más amplio en los textos tempranos.Ver en el glosario.*Mahaka is unknown apart from this passage. The novice Mahaka of Kd 1:52.1.2 was a different person.Then Venerable Mahaka said to the senior venerable,“Wouldn’t it be nice, Honorable Senior, if a cool wind blew, a cloud canopy formed, and a gentle rain drizzled down?”

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahako tasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe sabbanavako hoti. Atha kho āyasmā mahako āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca: “sādhu khvassa, bhante thera, sītako ca vāto vāyeyya, abbhasampilāpo ca assa, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyeyyā”ti. *abbhasampilāpo → abbhisambhilāpo (bj); abbhasamvilāpo (pts1ed)

Now at that time Venerable Mahaka was the most junior mendicant in that Saṅgha.*Mahaka is unknown apart from this passage. The novice Mahaka of Kd 1:52.1.2 was a different person.Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā mahako tasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe sabbanavako hoti. Then Venerable Mahaka said to the senior venerable,Atha kho āyasmā mahako āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca: “Wouldn’t it be nice, Honorable Senior, if a cool wind blew, a cloud canopy formed, and a gentle rain drizzled down?”“sādhu khvassa, bhante thera, sītako ca vāto vāyeyya, abbhasampilāpo ca assa, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyeyyā”ti. *abbhasampilāpo → abbhisambhilāpo (bj); abbhasamvilāpo (pts1ed)

“It would indeed be nice, Reverend Mahaka.”Then Mahaka used his psychic power to will that a cool wind would blow, a cloud canopy would form, and a gentle rain would drizzle down.

“Sādhu khvassa, āvuso mahaka, yaṁ sītako ca vāto vāyeyya, abbhasampilāpo ca assa, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyeyyā”ti. Atha kho āyasmā mahako tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhari yathā sītako ca vāto vāyi, abbhasampilāpo ca assa, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusi. *abhisaṅkhari → abhisaṅkhāsi (bj) | assa → āsi (?)

“It would indeed be nice, Reverend Mahaka.”“Sādhu khvassa, āvuso mahaka, yaṁ sītako ca vāto vāyeyya, abbhasampilāpo ca assa, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyeyyā”ti. Then Mahaka used his psychic power to will that a cool wind would blow, a cloud canopy would form, and a gentle rain would drizzle down.Atha kho āyasmā mahako tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhari yathā sītako ca vāto vāyi, abbhasampilāpo ca assa, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusi. *abhisaṅkhari → abhisaṅkhāsi (bj) | assa → āsi (?)

Then Citta thought,“The most junior mendicant in this Saṅgha has such psychic power!”

Atha kho cittassa gahapatino etadahosi: “yo kho imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe sabbanavako bhikkhu tassāyaṁ evarūpo iddhānubhāvo”ti.

Then Citta thought,Atha kho cittassa gahapatino etadahosi: “The most junior mendicant in this Saṅgha has such psychic power!”“yo kho imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe sabbanavako bhikkhu tassāyaṁ evarūpo iddhānubhāvo”ti.

When they reached the monastery, Mahaka said to the senior venerable,“Honorable Senior, is that sufficient?”

Atha kho āyasmā mahako ārāmaṁ sampāpuṇitvā āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca: “alamettāvatā, bhante therā”ti?

When they reached the monastery, Mahaka said to the senior venerable,Atha kho āyasmā mahako ārāmaṁ sampāpuṇitvā āyasmantaṁ theraṁ etadavoca: “Honorable Senior, is that sufficient?”“alamettāvatā, bhante therā”ti?

“That’s sufficient, Reverend Mahaka,you’ve done enoughand offered enough.”Then the senior mendicants entered their dwellings,and Mahaka entered his own dwelling.

“Alamettāvatā, āvuso mahaka. Katamettāvatā, āvuso mahaka. Pūjitamettāvatā, āvuso mahakā”ti. Atha kho therā bhikkhū yathāvihāraṁ agamaṁsu. Āyasmāpi mahako sakaṁ vihāraṁ agamāsi.

“That’s sufficient, Reverend Mahaka,“Alamettāvatā, āvuso mahaka. you’ve done enoughKatamettāvatā, āvuso mahaka. and offered enough.”Pūjitamettāvatā, āvuso mahakā”ti. Then the senior mendicants entered their dwellings,Atha kho therā bhikkhū yathāvihāraṁ agamaṁsu. and Mahaka entered his own dwelling.Āyasmāpi mahako sakaṁ vihāraṁ agamāsi.

Then Citta went up to Mahaka, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,“Sir, please show me a superhuman demonstration of psychic power.”

Atha kho citto gahapati yenāyasmā mahako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahakaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho citto gahapati āyasmantaṁ mahakaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu me, bhante, ayyo mahako uttari manussadhammaṁ iddhipāṭihāriyaṁ dassetū”ti.

Then Citta went up to Mahaka, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,Atha kho citto gahapati yenāyasmā mahako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahakaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho citto gahapati āyasmantaṁ mahakaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, please show me a superhuman demonstration of psychic power.”“sādhu me, bhante, ayyo mahako uttari manussadhammaṁ iddhipāṭihāriyaṁ dassetū”ti.

Mahaka entered his dwelling and latched the door. Then he used his psychic power to will that a flame shoot out through the keyhole and the chink in the door-panel, and it burned up the grass but not the upper robe.*The Buddha’s position on psychic displays is discussed at AN 3.60. He asked Sāgata to make a demonstration for householders (Kd 5:1.7.4), but later dismissed such displays as vulgar and unworthy, making it an offense of wrong-doing to perform them in front of laypeople (Kd 15:8.2.23). Either this event was before the rule was laid down, or Mahaka is breaking the Vinaya. This passage is quoted at Visuddhimagga 393–94.Then Citta shook out his upper robe and stood to one side, shocked and awestruck.

Atha kho āyasmā mahako vihāraṁ pavisitvā sūcighaṭikaṁ datvā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhari yathā tālacchiggaḷena ca aggaḷantarikāya ca acci nikkhamitvā tiṇāni jhāpesi, uttarāsaṅgaṁ na jhāpesi. Atha kho citto gahapati uttarāsaṅgaṁ papphoṭetvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Mahaka entered his dwelling and latched the door. Then he used his psychic power to will that a flame shoot out through the keyhole and the chink in the door-panel, and it burned up the grass but not the upper robe.*The Buddha’s position on psychic displays is discussed at AN 3.60. He asked Sāgata to make a demonstration for householders (Kd 5:1.7.4), but later dismissed such displays as vulgar and unworthy, making it an offense of wrong-doing to perform them in front of laypeople (Kd 15:8.2.23). Either this event was before the rule was laid down, or Mahaka is breaking the Vinaya. This passage is quoted at Visuddhimagga 393–94.Atha kho āyasmā mahako vihāraṁ pavisitvā sūcighaṭikaṁ datvā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhari yathā tālacchiggaḷena ca aggaḷantarikāya ca acci nikkhamitvā tiṇāni jhāpesi, uttarāsaṅgaṁ na jhāpesi. Then Citta shook out his upper robe and stood to one side, shocked and awestruck.Atha kho citto gahapati uttarāsaṅgaṁ papphoṭetvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Mahaka left his dwelling and said to Citta,“Is that sufficient, householder?”

Atha kho āyasmā mahako vihārā nikkhamitvā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: “alamettāvatā, gahapatī”ti?

Mahaka left his dwelling and said to Citta,Atha kho āyasmā mahako vihārā nikkhamitvā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: “Is that sufficient, householder?”“alamettāvatā, gahapatī”ti?

“That’s sufficient, sir,you’ve done enoughand offered enough.I hope Master Mahaka is happy here in Macchikāsaṇḍa,for the Wild Mango Grove is lovely.I’ll make sure that Master Mahaka is provided with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.”

“Alamettāvatā, bhante mahaka. Katamettāvatā, bhante, mahaka. Pūjitamettāvatā, bhante mahaka. Abhiramatu, bhante, ayyo mahako macchikāsaṇḍe. Ramaṇīyaṁ ambāṭakavanaṁ. Ahaṁ ayyassa mahakassa ussukkaṁ karissāmi cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan”ti.

“That’s sufficient, sir,“Alamettāvatā, bhante mahaka. you’ve done enoughKatamettāvatā, bhante, mahaka. and offered enough.Pūjitamettāvatā, bhante mahaka. I hope Master Mahaka is happy here in Macchikāsaṇḍa,Abhiramatu, bhante, ayyo mahako macchikāsaṇḍe. for the Wild Mango Grove is lovely.Ramaṇīyaṁ ambāṭakavanaṁ. I’ll make sure that Master Mahaka is provided with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.”Ahaṁ ayyassa mahakassa ussukkaṁ karissāmi cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan”ti.

But Mahaka set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, left Macchikāsaṇḍa,never to return.*By displaying a psychic power, Mahaka had stepped up to and possibly over the line of behavior suitable for a mendicant. Perhaps he did not want to be seen as currying favor with an influential figure, as Devadatta had done (Kd 17:2.1.12).

Atha kho āyasmā mahako senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya macchikāsaṇḍamhā pakkāmi. Yaṁ macchikāsaṇḍamhā pakkāmi, tathā pakkantova ahosi; na puna paccāgacchīti.

But Mahaka set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, left Macchikāsaṇḍa,Atha kho āyasmā mahako senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya macchikāsaṇḍamhā pakkāmi. never to return.*By displaying a psychic power, Mahaka had stepped up to and possibly over the line of behavior suitable for a mendicant. Perhaps he did not want to be seen as currying favor with an influential figure, as Devadatta had done (Kd 17:2.1.12).Yaṁ macchikāsaṇḍamhā pakkāmi, tathā pakkantova ahosi; na puna paccāgacchīti.