38. Often Occurring Thoughts

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Tathāgataṁ, bhikkhave, arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dve vitakkā bahulaṁ samudācaranti—

khemo ca vitakko, paviveko ca.

Abyāpajjhārāmo, bhikkhave, tathāgato abyāpajjharato.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ abyāpajjhārāmaṁ abyāpajjharataṁ eseva vitakko bahulaṁ samudācarati:

‘imāyāhaṁ iriyāya na kañci byābādhemi tasaṁ vā thāvaraṁ vā’ti.

Pavivekārāmo, bhikkhave, tathāgato pavivekarato.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ pavivekārāmaṁ pavivekarataṁ eseva vitakko bahulaṁ samudācarati:

‘yaṁ akusalaṁ taṁ pahīnan’ti.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, tumhepi abyāpajjhārāmā viharatha abyāpajjharatā.

Tesaṁ vo, bhikkhave, tumhākaṁ abyāpajjhārāmānaṁ viharataṁ abyāpajjharatānaṁ eseva vitakko bahulaṁ samudācarissati:

‘imāya mayaṁ iriyāya na kañci byābādhema tasaṁ vā thāvaraṁ vā’ti.

Pavivekārāmā, bhikkhave, viharatha pavivekaratā.

Tesaṁ vo, bhikkhave, tumhākaṁ pavivekārāmānaṁ viharataṁ pavivekaratānaṁ eseva vitakko bahulaṁ samudācarissati:

‘kiṁ akusalaṁ, kiṁ appahīnaṁ, kiṁ pajahāmā’”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Tathāgataṁ buddhamasayhasāhinaṁ,

Duve vitakkā samudācaranti naṁ;

Khemo vitakko paṭhamo udīrito,

Tato viveko dutiyo pakāsito.

Tamonudaṁ pāragataṁ mahesiṁ,

Taṁ pattipattaṁ vasimaṁ anāsavaṁ;

Visantaraṁ taṇhakkhaye vimuttaṁ,

Taṁ ve muniṁ antimadehadhāriṁ;

Mārañjahaṁ brūmi jarāya pāraguṁ.

Sele yathā pabbatamuddhaniṭṭhito,

Yathāpi passe janataṁ samantato;

Tathūpamaṁ dhammamayaṁ sumedho,

Pāsādamāruyha samantacakkhu;

Sokāvatiṇṇaṁ janatamapetasoko,

Avekkhati jātijarābhibhūtan”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, two thoughts often occur to the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One: the thought of security (for beings) and the thought of solitude.

“The Tathāgata, bhikkhus, is one who delights in and enjoys non-ill will. As the Tathāgata delights in and enjoys non-ill will, this thought often occurs to him: ‘By this behaviour I do not oppress anyone either frail or firm.’The Tathāgata, bhikkhus, is one who delights in and enjoys solitude. As the Tathāgata delights in and enjoys solitude, this thought often occurs to him: ‘What is unwholesome has been abandoned.’

“Therefore, bhikkhus, I say, you too must live delighting in and enjoying non-ill will. As you so live this thought will often occur to you: ‘By this behaviour we do not oppress anyone either frail or firm.’

“Bhikkhus, you too must live delighting in and enjoying solitude. As you so live this thought will often occur to you: ‘What is unwholesome? What has not been abandoned? What have we abandoned?’”

Two thoughts occur to him,
The Tathāgata, the Awakened One
Who endured what is beyond endurance:
Security (for beings) was the first thought spoken of,
Solitude was the second announced.

The dispeller of darkness, gone beyond,
The great sage who has reached attainment,
Become a master, freed from taints,
Who has crossed over entirely,
Released by the destruction of craving—
That sage bears his final body,
And having left behind Māra, I say,
He has gone beyond decay.

As one standing on a mountain peak
Might see all round the people down below,
So having ascended the Dhamma-palace,
The vastly wise one, all-seeing,
Views the people of the world.
The sorrowless one views below
Those still immersed in sorrow,
Overwhelmed by birth and decay.