Snp 5.6 — The Questions of Dhotaka

English translation by Bhikkhu Candana.

Translation

Text

Snp. 5.6

Dhotakamāṇavapucchā Sutta

“Questions of the Brahmin

Dhotaka”

1061. Then, the brahmin Dhotaka said:

“O! Blessed One, I would like to ask you a question, please; I long to hear your words of instruction, O! Great Sage. Once having received your guidance, I wish to dedicate myself fully, training as I do, to reach the state of internal quiet appeasement, Nibbāna.”

1062. And The Blessed One said:

“Then, Dhotaka, exert yourself without holding back! Always ‘being on your toes’ with full alertness, driven with zeal and mindful, starting from right this very minute! And as you hear my words of instruction even now, then begin training as we speak; dedicating yourself fully to the training, to reach the state of internal quiet appeasement, Nibbāna.”

1063. Then, the brahmin Dhotaka said:

“Among this existence of gods and men, I see the Brahmin who walks alone, with nothing to hold on to! For this, O! Omniscient One, I humbly and worshipfully bow at your feet. Please, release me O! Sākyan from my perplexing doubts!”

1064. And The Blessed One replied:

“Dhotaka, I am not able to release anyone in the world who has perplexing doubts plaguing one’s heart! But, when you understand by learning this Noble Dhamma and apply it yourself, then you will release yourself and cross over the great flood.”

1065. And the brahmin Dhotaka said:

“Then, please help me learn, O! Brahmin, the value of seclusion, out of the compassion in Your heart, so that I may gain genuine understanding through practice, whereby I can, right here, personally experience that peaceful state as I wander this world, fully detached, unobstructed and unscathed, just like the boundless space itself.”

1066. The Blessed One then said:

“I will instruct and teach you that peaceful state, Dhotaka, which is attained right here and now, and not through following some oral tradition or hearsay. And as you come to know and understand this yourself and live according to it, mindfully wandering the world, by not seizing and grabbing, you shall indeed, cross over and go beyond this conditioned world.”

1067. The brahmin Dhotaka then said:

“My heart is now overjoyed, in seeing that I too, will experience that peaceful state, by following the Wise Sage’s Noble Dhamma, and living according to it, I mindfully shall go about in the world, not seizing or grabbing, thereby I will cross over and go beyond this conditioned world.”

1068. The Blessed One then said:

“Dhotaka, one must come to understand directly and as it truly is that whatever you know and experience in life, whether above, below, across, all around, and everything in between, are simply snares meant to trap you. Therefore, do not crave for either this or any other world, and thus, release yourself from further rebecoming.”