FW: [Buddha-l] Laughing at enlightenment

[Bruce Burrill]

At 10:18 PM 5/5/2005, you wrote:
>Anyone who still thinks in terms of trumping has not even made it to
>first base as a non-dualist. But don't feel bad. Non-dualism is such a
>ludicrous parody of Buddhism that you're much better off not going
>there. It's easier to stick with Madhyamaka (not Madhyamika) and to let
>people imagine they have trumped you.


Nondualism is merde, something one would rather not step in, but then there 
those that swing that concept around like a battle axe.

I think the story of the Buddha's cousin Nanda just about says it all:


Udana III.2


Nanda Sutta

Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland.
For free distribution only.


----------
Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi in the 
Jeta Wood at Anathapindika's monastery. On that occasion the Venerable 
Nanda, the Lord's (half-) brother, the son of his maternal aunt, informed a 
number of bhikkhus thus: "I am discontented with leading the holy life, 
friends. I am unable to endure the holy life. I will give up the training 
and return to the low life."

Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Lord, prostrated himself, sat down to 
one side, and said: "The Venerable Nanda, revered sir, the Lord's (half-) 
brother, the son of his maternal aunt, informed a number of bhikkhus thus: 
'I am discontented with leading the holy life... I will give up the 
training and return to the low life.'"

Then the Lord addressed a certain bhikkhu: "Come, bhikkhu, in my name tell 
the bhikkhu Nanda, 'The Teacher calls you, friend Nanda.'"

"Very well, revered sir," that bhikkhu replied, and approaching the 
Venerable Nanda, he said, "The Teacher calls you, friend Nanda."

"Very well friend," the Venerable Nanda replied, and approaching the Lord 
he prostrated himself and sat down to one side. The Lord then said to him: 
"Is it true, Nanda, that you informed a number of bhikkhus thus: 'I am 
discontented with leading the holy life... I will return to the low life'?"

"Yes, revered sir."

"But why, Nanda, are you discontented with leading the holy life?"

"On departing from home, revered sir, a Sakyan girl, the loveliest in the 
land, with her hair half-combed, looked up at me and said, 'May you return 
soon, master.' Recollecting that, revered sir, I am discontented with 
leading the holy life... I am unable to endure the holy life. I will give 
up the training and return to the low life."

Then the Lord took the Venerable Nanda by the arm, and just as a strong man 
might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm, even so did they 
vanish from the Jeta Wood and appear among the devas of the Tavatimsa 
heaven. Now on that occasion about five hundred pink-footed nymphs had come 
to minister to Sakka, ruler of the devas. And the Lord said to the 
Venerable Nanda, "Do you see those five hundred pink-footed nymphs?"

"Yes, revered sir."

"What do you think, Nanda, who is more beautiful, more fair to behold, and 
more alluring -- that Sakyan girl, the loveliest in the land, or these five 
hundred pink-footed nymphs?"

"Revered sir, compared to these five hundred pink-footed nymphs, that 
Sakyan girl, the loveliest in the land, is like a mutilated she-monkey that 
has had its ears and nose chopped off. She does not count; she is not worth 
a fraction compared to them; there is no comparison. These five hundred 
nymphs are far more beautiful, more fair to behold, and more alluring."

"Rejoice, Nanda, rejoice, Nanda! I guarantee that you will obtain five 
hundred pink-footed nymphs."

"If, revered sir, the Lord guarantees that I will obtain five hundred 
pink-footed nymphs, I shall be content in living the holy life under the 
Lord."

Then the Lord took the Venerable Nanda by the arm... even so did they 
vanish from among the devas of the Tavatimsa heaven and appear in the Jeta 
Wood.

The bhikkhus heard: "It is said that the Venerable Nanda, the Lord's 
(half-) brother, the son of his maternal aunt, is living the holy life for 
the sake of nymphs. It is said that the Lord has guaranteed that he will 
obtain five hundred pink-footed nymphs."

Then the bhikkhu-friends of the Venerable Nanda went about calling him 
"hireling" and "menial," saying: "The Venerable Nanda is a hireling! The 
Venerable Nanda is a menial! He is living the holy life for the sake of 
nymphs! It is said that the Lord has guaranteed that he will obtain five 
hundred pink-footed nymphs!"

Then the Venerable Nanda was humiliated, ashamed, and dismayed by his 
friends calling him "hireling" and "menial." Living alone, secluded, 
diligent, ardent, and resolute, he soon realized even here and now through 
his own direct knowledge that unequalled goal of the holy life for the sake 
of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home to the homeless 
state, and entering into it he abode in it. And he knew: "Finished is 
birth, lived is the holy life, done is what had to be done, there is no 
more of this state." And the Venerable Nanda became one of the arahats.

Then, when the night was far advanced, a certain devata of surpassing 
beauty, illuminating the whole Jeta Wood, approached the Lord, prostrated 
himself and stood to one side. Standing there that devata said to the Lord: 
"The Venerable Nanda, revered sir, the Lord's (half-) brother, the son of 
his maternal aunt, by the ending of the taints has realized here and now 
through his own direct knowledge the taintless mind-deliverance and 
wisdom-deliverance, and entering into it, he abides in it."

The knowledge also arose in the Lord: "Nanda, by the ending of the taints, 
has realized here and now the taintless mind-deliverance and 
wisdom-deliverance, and entering into it, he abides in it."

When that night had ended the Venerable Nanda approached the Lord, 
prostrated himself, sat down to one side, and said to the Lord: "Revered 
sir, as to the Lord's guarantee that I will obtain five hundred pink-footed 
nymphs, I release the Lord from that promise."

"But, Nanda, comprehending your mind with my mind, I knew: 'Nanda has 
realized here and now the taintless mind-deliverance and 
wisdom-deliverance.' Also, a devata told me: 'The Venerable Nanda, revered 
sir, has realized here and now the taintless mind-deliverance and 
wisdom-deliverance.' When, Nanda, your mind was released from the taints 
without grasping, I was then released from that promise."

Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion this 
inspired utterance:

That bhikkhu who has crossed the mire,
Crushed the thorn of sensual desire,
And reached the destruction of delusion
Is not perturbed by pleasures and pains.