Samyukta Agama Sutra (347), Part 1

(1) Original Text: At that time, Susīma silently accepted the invitation. He went to the Bamboo Grove at Kalandakanivāpa in Rājagaha. At that time, many bhikkhus had come out of their dwellings and were walking on meditation paths in the open air. Then Susīma approached the many bhikkhus and said: "Venerable sirs, may I now go forth into the well-proclaimed Dhamma and Discipline, receive full ordination, and lead the holy life?" Then the many bhikkhus took Susīma to the Blessed One. Having paid homage to the Blessed One, they stood to one side and said: "Venerable sir, this wanderer Susīma wishes to go forth into the well-proclaimed Dhamma and Discipline, receive full ordination, and lead the holy life." Then the Blessed One, knowing the thoughts in the wanderer Susīma's mind, addressed the bhikkhus: "You should give the going forth to this wanderer Susīma." The bhikkhus agreed to give Susīma the going forth.

Explanation: The non-Buddhist ascetic Susīma, accepting the request of other non-Buddhists, went to the Bamboo Grove at Kalandakanivāpa in Rājagaha intending to renounce. At that time, many bhikkhus had come out of their dwellings and were walking on meditation paths in the open area. Susīma approached the bhikkhus and said: "Venerable sirs, may I now go forth into the true Dhamma, receive the full precepts, and cultivate the holy life?" Then the many bhikkhus led Susīma to the dwelling place of the Blessed One. Having paid homage by touching the Blessed One's feet with their heads, they stepped back and stood to one side, saying to the Buddha: "Venerable sir, there is now a non-Buddhist ascetic named Susīma who wishes to go forth into the true Dhamma free from ignorance, receive the full precepts, and cultivate the holy life." At that time, the Blessed One already knew the thoughts in the non-Buddhist ascetic Susīma's mind and addressed the bhikkhus: "You should give the going forth to this non-Buddhist ascetic Susīma." The bhikkhus then consented.

Original Text: Half a month after his going forth, a certain bhikkhu said to Susīma: "Susīma, you should know this: for us, birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, we know for ourselves that there is no more coming back to any state of being." Then Susīma said to the bhikkhu: "Venerable sir, how is it that by learning, one becomes secluded from sensual desires, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of seclusion, fully possesses it, gives rise to no taints, and has the mind well liberated?" The bhikkhu replied: "No, Susīma."

Explanation: Half a month after his going forth, a certain bhikkhu said to Susīma: "Susīma, you should know that for us bhikkhus, birth and death have been completely ended, the pure holy life has been established, the tasks to be done have all been completed, and we know for ourselves that there will be no further rebirth." Susīma said to the bhikkhus: "Venerable sir, how does one practice to become separated from sensual desires and unwholesome states, attain the state with initial and sustained application (vitakka-vicāra), generate the joy and bliss born of seclusion, fully possess the first jhāna, then give rise to no defilements whatsoever, and have the mind well liberated?" The bhikkhus replied: "Liberation is not attained that way, Susīma."

Original Text: He asked further: "How is it that, with the subsiding of applied and sustained thought, one enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which has internal confidence and unification of mind, is without applied and sustained thought, has rapture and pleasure born of concentration, fully possesses it, gives rise to no taints, and has the mind well liberated?" The bhikkhu replied: "No, Susīma." He asked again: "How is it, Venerable sir, that by abandoning rapture, one dwells in equanimity, mindful and fully aware, experiencing pleasure with the body, of which the noble ones declare: 'He dwells pleasantly, mindful, and equanimous,' enters and dwells in the third jhāna, fully possesses it, gives rise to no taints, and has the mind well liberated?" The bhikkhu replied: "No, Susīma."

Explanation: Susīma asked further: "How does one transcend the state with initial and sustained application, attain inner purity and one-pointedness of mind, reach the state without initial and sustained application, generate joy and bliss born of concentration, fully possess the second jhāna of the form realm, then give rise to no defilements whatsoever, and have the mind well liberated?" The bhikkhu replied: "Liberation is not attained that way, Susīma." Susīma asked again: "Venerable sir, how does one abandon the joyful mind, relinquish the joy in the mind, abide in right mindfulness and right wisdom, experience pleasure with body and mind, relinquish joy to attain bliss, fully possess the third jhāna, give rise to no defilements whatsoever, and have the mind well liberated?" The bhikkhu replied: "Liberation is not attained that way."