40c: The Last Days 3, In Malla – 1608
And the Buddha gave this discourse: “Subhadda, in whatever righteous teaching,
the noble Eightfold Path is not found, therein there is not found an ascetic
(
samaṇa
) of the first stage, a Stream-enterer (
Sotāpanna
) monastic, nor an
ascetic of the second stage, a Once-Returner (
Sakadāgāmī
) monastic, nor an
ascetic of the third stage, a Non-returner (
Anāgāmī
) monastic, nor an ascetic of
the fourth stage, an Arahat.
Subhadda, in whatever righteous teaching the noble Eightfold Path is found,
therein is found an ascetic of the first stage, a Stream-enterer, an ascetic of the
second stage, a Once-Returner, an ascetic of the third stage, a Non-returner, and
an ascetic of the fourth stage, an Arahat.
Subhadda, in this righteous teaching of mine, there is the noble Eightfold Path.
In this teaching alone is found an ascetic of the first stage, an ascetic of the
second stage, an ascetic of the third stage, and an ascetic of the fourth stage, an
Arahat.
All other creeds are devoid of the twelve categories of monastics who
comprehend the truth: The four noble ones (
ariya
) who have attained the paths;
the four noble ones (
ariya
) who have attained the fruitions; and the four trainees
who are cultivating insight to attain the four stages of path-knowledge.
Subhadda, if these twelve monastics practise and pass on the teaching rightly,
the world will not be void of Arahats.
Subhadda, at the age of 29, I renounced the world and became an ascetic to seek
the all-knowing truth, the Awakening as a Buddha. It is over 50 years now, since
I became an ascetic. Outside of this teaching of mine, there is no one who
cultivates insight which is the prelude to the noble path, there is also no ascetic
of the first stage; there is also no ascetic of the second stage; there is also no
ascetic of the third stage; there is also no ascetic of the fourth stage, an Arahat.
All other creeds are devoid of the twelve categories of monastics mentioned
above who comprehend the truth. Subhadda, if these twelve monastics practise
and pass on the teaching rightly, the world will not be void of Arahats.”
Subhadda Ordains and Becomes an Arahat
When this was said by the Buddha, Subhadda, the wandering ascetic, said:
“Venerable sir! Excellent is the Dhamma! Venerable sir! Excellent is the
Dhamma! It is, venerable sir, as if that which had been turned over has been
turned up, or as if that which has been hidden is revealed, or as if a lost traveller