5: Praticing Meditation – 317 

 

personally following their courses, just to know whether they were of true 
value or not. From his personal experiences, he knew thoroughly that they 
were not. Therefore, he did not go to these heretical teachers; he 
approached the well-known teacher Āḷāra, who was leading a religious life 
surrounded by numerous followers. 

When he reached the place of Āḷāra, the sect-leader, the Bodhisatta made a 
request saying: “Friend, you of the Kālāma clan, I wish to lead a holy life in this 
system of yours.” Then Āḷāra gave his permission and words of encouragement 
sincerely: “Noble friend, do practice in this system of ours! Ours is one that 
enables an intelligent practising person, in no long time, to realize the teacher’s 
view and to abide blissfully.” 

As permitted by Āḷāra the sect-leader, the Bodhisatta soon underwent studies in 
the newly found system. Being a man of superb intelligence, the Bodhisatta 
could easily learn Āḷāra’s doctrine and practice. Just by repeating what the 
teacher uttered with slight lip movements, the Bodhisatta reached the stage of 
learning at which he could say: “I have understood!” In fact, he did declare: “I 
have understood! I have seen the course!” and the sect-leader and his other 
disciples also agreed to his declaration. 

On considering the way the sect-leader Āḷāra had spoken with authority on the 
course of practice, which resulted in the realization of the absorption on the 
sphere of nothingness (

ākiñcaññāyatana-jhāna

), he came to 

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 know thus: “It 

does not appear that the sect-leader Āḷāra has just learnt by heart only through 
faith and without personal wisdom the course of practice leading to this 
absorption on the sphere of nothingness. Verily, this teacher must be one who 
has himself gained and realized the seven mundane attainments.” And so he 
approached the teacher again and asked him thus: “Friend belonging to the 
Kālāma clan, to what extent do you say that you yourself dwelt realizing this 
doctrine of yours?” As he had himself realized it, Āḷāra replied in the manner of 
those who had practical knowledge, not simply theoretical knowledge, by giving 
a full account of the seven attainments up to the absorption on the sphere of 
nothingness. 

Thereupon, it occurred to the Bodhisatta thus: “Not only does the sect-leader 
Āḷāra possess faith, firm enough to attain the absorptions, I, too, have faith firm 
enough to attain the absorptions

.

 Not only does he possess energy, mindfulness, 

concentration and wisdom strong enough to reach absorption (

appanā-jhāna

), I,