[Buddha-l] Recreational swimming?

[Dan Lusthaus]

Joy,

Like you, I find those preamble details interesting. The Samyutta Nikaya 
preamble that is virtually idenitcal from the point Buddha, at Jeta Grove in 
Anathatpindika's Park, rises early, goes to town, eats, and then decides to 
go with Ananda to "Migara's mother's terraced house" in East Park to "spend 
the noontide."

"Then in the evening the Exalted One, risen from solitude, said to him: 
'Come, Ananda, we will go to the bathing place and bathe our limbs.'
"'Yes, lord,' replied the venerable Ananda, and they went there together. 
And when he had bathed and come out, the Exalted One stood in a single 
garment, drying himself."
(PTS tr. by R.M. Hare, Gradual Sayings, v. III, p. 243)

Then enters a different cast of characters from the Ariyapariyesanā Sutta. 
Hare, in a footnote points out that "all this recurs at M. i, 161" (that's 
the Ariyapariyesanā), and then points out "cf. also S. i, 8; below, sec. 
62."

Sec. 62 has Ananda leave Buddha's company and join other monks in the water 
who are "bathing their limbs."

In the Ariyapariyesanā Buddha is, in my reading, seeking solitude (Ananda 
excepted), and, as you point out, seeking some comfort, leisure, peace and 
quiet. "Risen from solitude" has overtones of quiet meditation somewhere, 
but it could just be enjoying the scenery for all we know; or a nap. 
"Emerging from seclusion," the other translation, does likewise. Implies he 
wants quite, private time. Ananda talks Buddha into going to Rammaka's 
hermitage because it is "pleasant" (Thanissaro's rendering), or "agreeable 
and delightful" (Nanamoli & Bhikkhu Bodhi; Middle Length Discourses, p. 
253). They are taking a vacation day. And from what grueling workaday world 
are they vacationing? Dealing with eager and/or stupid monks. Ergo the 
ambush arranged by Ananda. Not only has Ananda maneuvered Buddha to a spot 
he has prearranged for the monks to be, he has let Buddha use the day to 
relax, refresh himself, so he will be up for the talk when he arrives. He's 
so relaxed that he shares some autobiographical details he presumably had 
neglected to spell out in precisely that way before (though we have 
alternate templates of most of the elements he recounts in other suttas). 
Ananda is the genius arranger and organizer of this part of the story, and 
I'm not sure why Lance wants to deny him his due.

I can see how Lance chooses to read the story, but that seems a forced 
denial of what is clearly, if tacitly going on.

I like this Buddha. This is the one who occasionally finds monks and noise 
annoying, who has backaches, who disavowed being omniscient, who gets sick, 
who dies because he didn't keep a kosher diet, and who was sharp as a whip, 
oratorically gifted, logically clearheaded, and very human, or the sort of 
human one is supposed to aspire to be. Tradition has buried him in gold-dust 
and fairy-dust, which, ever so often, it is nice to sweep away and glimpse 
the wise peripatetic who didn't suffer a cranial obtrusion.

Dan

> "Swimming is movement through water using one's limbs, and usually
> without artificial apparatus. Swimming is an activity that can be both
> useful and recreational. Its primary uses are bathing, cooling, fishing,
> recreation, exercise, and sport."