Beyond the miracle of the eye

​Namo  Tassa  Bhagavato  Arahato  Samma  Sambuddhassa !
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Supremely Enlightened One !
Udana - The Inspired Utterances in the Shorter Discourses of the Buddha.
Bahiya Sutta – The Discourse to Bahiya of the Bark Robe.
Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Ānandajoti
 
Bahiya saw the Blessed One walking for alms in Savatthi, confident, inspiring confidence, with sense faculties at peace, mind at peace, having attained supreme self-control and calm, controlled, guarded, with restrained faculties, a true sage. He went to the Blessed One, and after going and prostrating himself with his head at the Blessed One's feet, he said this to the Blessed One: "Let the Blessed One preach the Dharma to me, reverend Sir, let the Fortunate One preach the Dharma, that will be for my benefit and happiness for a long time." "It is the wrong time for you, Bahiya, we have entered among the houses for alms." "But it is hard to know, reverend Sir, the dangers to the Blessed One's life, or the dangers to my life! Let the Blessed One preach the Dharma to me, reverend Sir, let the Fortunate One preach the Dharma, that will be for my benefit and happiness for a long time."
"In that case, Bahiya, you should train yourself thus: In what is seen there must be only what is seen, ​

in what is heard there must be only what is heard, in what is sensed there must be only what is sensed, in what is cognized there must be only what is cognized. This is the way, Bahiya, you should train yourself.
"And since for you, Bahiya, in what is seen there will be only what is seen, in what is heard there will be only what is heard, in what is sensed there will be only what is sensed, in what is cognized there will be only what is cognized, therefore, Bahiya, you will not be with that; and since, Bahiya, you will not be with that, therefore, Bahiya, you will not be in that; and since, Bahiya, you will not be in that, therefore, Bahiya, you will not be here or hereafter or in between the two—just this is the end of suffering."
Then through the Blessed One's brief teaching of this Dharma Bahiya's mind was immediately freed from the pollutants, without attachment. Then the Blessed One, having advised Bahiya with this brief advice, went away. Then not long after the Blessed One had gone a cow with a young calf, having attacked Bahiya, deprived him of life. Then the Blessed One after walking for alms in Savatthi, while returning from the alms-round after the meal, after going out from the city with many monks, saw that Bahiya had died. After seeing him, he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks, take up Bahiya's body, and after putting it on a bier, carrying it away, and burning it, make a memorial mound for him, your fellow in the spiritual life, monks, has died." "Yes, reverend Sir," Then, putting Bahiya's body on a bier, carrying it away, burning it, and making a memorial mound for him, they went to the Blessed One, and after going and worshipping the Blessed One, they sat down on one side and said: "Burnt, reverend Sir, is Bahiya's body, and the memorial mound for him has been made. What is his destination? What is his future state?"  "A wise man, monks, was Bahiya, who practiced Dharma in accordance with the Dharma, and did not trouble me on account of the Dharma. Completely emancipated, monks, is Bahiya."
Then the Blessed One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
 
"In the place.....
Where the water, earth, fire, and wind find no footing,
There the stars do not shine...,
Nor does the sun give light...,
There the moon does not glow,
And
There darkness is not found.
And when the sage, the brahmana, has experienced Nirvana....,
Through his own sagacity,
Then from both form and formless,
Happiness and suffering,
He is free."
 
Saadu !   Saadu !!   Saadu !!!

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