40c: The Last Days 3, In Malla – 1571 

 

Pukkusa of the Mallas approached him, made obeisance to him, and sat in a 
suitable place. 

Then he addressed the Buddha: “Wonderful it is, venerable sir, marvellous it is, 
venerable sir, how the recluses remain in their tranquil state! Venerable sir, as it 
happened in the past, Āḷāra Kālāma, while on a journey, left the road and sat 
down at the foot of a tree by the roadside to spend the day. At that time, 500 
carts passed by, very close to him. 

Venerable sir, a man who was following behind the 500 carts went towards 
Āḷāra Kālāma and asked: ‘Sir, did you see 500 carts pass by?’ 

Āḷāra said: ‘Friend, I did not see them.’ 

‘Sir, how is it then? Did you hear the noise of those carts?’ 

‘Friend, I did not hear the noise either.’ 

‘Sir, how is it then? Were you asleep then?’ 

‘Friend, I was not asleep either.’ 

‘Sir, how is it then? Were you quite conscious then?’ 

‘Yes, friend, I was quite conscious.’ 

‘Sir, you say you did not see nor hear the 500 carts that passed very close by you 
even though you were conscious and awake. Yet your double robe 

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 is 

covered all over with dust, isn’t it?’ 

‘It is so, friend.’ 

Venerable sir, after having that dialogue with Āḷāra Kālāma that man thought 
thus: ‘Wonderful it is, marvellous it is, that the recluses remain in their tranquil 
state! This recluse Āḷāra, although conscious and awake, did not see nor hear the 
500 carts that passed close by him!’ And saying how deeply he revered Āḷāra 
Kālāma, he went away.” 

Thereupon the Buddha said to Pukkusa of the Mallas: “Pukkusa, what do you 
think of this? Someone, though conscious and awake, does not see nor hear the 
500 carts that pass close by him. Another person, though conscious and awake, 
does not see nor hear a downpour of rain with rumbling thunder, lightning and 
crashing thunderbolts close by him. Now, of these two cases, which is the more 
difficult to achieve? Which is the more unlikely to happen?”