Exalted Are The Unblemished
The Story of Venerable Sariputta
Chapter 7: The Arahats • Verse 8
The Story of Venerable Sariputta
Chapter 7: The Arahats • Verse 8
The man who is without blind faith, who knows the Uncreated, who has severed all links, destroyed all causes (for karma, good and evil), and thrown out all desires — he, truly, is the most excellent of men.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Venerable Sariputta.
One day thirty forest-dwelling monks came to the Buddha, paid homage, and sat down. Seeing that they were ready for Arahatship, the Buddha asked Venerable Sariputta whether he believed that the faculty of faith, when developed and cultivated, leads to and ends in the deathless. In this way he questioned him about each of the five spiritual faculties.
Sariputta replied that in this matter he did not go by faith in the Buddha. Only those who had not themselves known, seen, or realized the deathless would have to rely on the faith of others to believe that faith, when developed, leads to the deathless.
Hearing this, the monks began saying that Sariputta had never really given up wrong views, since even now he refused to believe the supremely Enlightened One.
The Buddha asked why they spoke this way. He explained that he had asked Sariputta whether anyone could realize the paths and fruits without developing the five faculties, tranquillity, and insight, and Sariputta had answered that no one could.
Sariputta did not deny the fruits of generosity and good deeds, or the virtues of the Buddhas. Rather, he did not walk by the faith of others, because he had himself realized, through insight born of meditation, the states to which the paths and fruits lead. He was therefore not open to blame.
The Story of Venerable Sariputta
Chapter 7: The Arahats • Verse 8
The man who is without blind faith, who knows the Uncreated, who has severed all links, destroyed all causes (for karma, good and evil), and thrown out all desires — he, truly, is the most excellent of men.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Venerable Sariputta.
One day thirty forest-dwelling monks came to the Buddha, paid homage, and sat down. Seeing that they were ready for Arahatship, the Buddha asked Venerable Sariputta whether he believed that the faculty of faith, when developed and cultivated, leads to and ends in the deathless. In this way he questioned him about each of the five spiritual faculties.
Sariputta replied that in this matter he did not go by faith in the Buddha. Only those who had not themselves known, seen, or realized the deathless would have to rely on the faith of others to believe that faith, when developed, leads to the deathless.
Hearing this, the monks began saying that Sariputta had never really given up wrong views, since even now he refused to believe the supremely Enlightened One.
The Buddha asked why they spoke this way. He explained that he had asked Sariputta whether anyone could realize the paths and fruits without developing the five faculties, tranquillity, and insight, and Sariputta had answered that no one could.
Sariputta did not deny the fruits of generosity and good deeds, or the virtues of the Buddhas. Rather, he did not walk by the faith of others, because he had himself realized, through insight born of meditation, the states to which the paths and fruits lead. He was therefore not open to blame.