The Life Stories of the Monks – 2084
Piṅgiya, there have been monastics who became Arahats through sheer
force of confidence in the Three Treasures such as Vakkali, Bhadrāvudha,
who was one of the sixteen close pupils of Bāvarī, and Gotama of Āḷavī.
Evam-eva tvam-pi pamuñcassu saddhaṁ,
gamissasi tvaṁ Piṅgiya Maccu-dheyyassa pāraṁ.
Likewise, you should place your confidence in the Three Treasures and by
directing that confidence towards Nibbāna, cross over from the other
shore of Saṁsāra, which is the domain of Death.
At the end of the discourse, Ven. Piṅgiya became an Arahat. Bāvarī became a
Non-returner (
Anāgāmi-phala
) and his 500 pupils attained Stream-entry
(
Sotāpatti-phala
). Ven. Piṅgiya responded to the above admonition of the
Buddha thus (Snp 1153-5):
Esa bhiyyo pasīdāmi, sutvāna munino vaco,
vivaṭṭacchado Sambuddho, akhilo paṭibhanavā.
Venerable sir, the words of the Great Recluse (
Mahā-muni
), the Buddha,
makes me deeply satisfied. My confidence in the Three Treasures is
strengthened. The Buddha has removed the roof of Saṁsāra. He is free
from the darts of the defilements. He is endowed with elaborate and
analytical knowledge.
Adhideve abhiññāya, sabbaṁ vedi varo-varaṁ.
pañhānantakaro Satthā, kaṅkhīnaṁ paṭijānataṁ.
The Perfectly Awakened One, who resolves all problems and who is the
teacher of those that falsely claim to be free from doubt, knows the pure
ones who are superior to the greatest of Devas and humans, having
understood through his extraordinary wisdom all factors that lead to
purity.
Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ,
yassa natthi upamā kvaci,
[1376]
addhā gamissāmi na mettha kaṅkhā,
evaṁ maṁ dhārehi adhimutta-cittaṁ.
Great Recluse, imperturbable, immutable, and beyond any standards of
comparison is Nibbāna with no trace of existence remaining. And I have
no doubt that I am bound for that Nibbāna. May the Fortunate One