Samaññaphala Sutta

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The Samaññaphala Sutta is the second sutta of all 34 Digha Nikaya suttas. The Sutta's title means: The Fruit of Contemplative Life.

In this sutta, the setting told the story of King Ajasattu, son and successor of King Bimbisara of Magadha, who asked a question to many famous guru and leading spiritual teachers in India: What is the benefit of living a contemplative life?

In this sutta, it is interesting to note that it mentions and describes the essence of teachings and beliefs from several leading spiritual teachers and ascetics in Buddha's time, who have large followers and influence such as: Purana Kassapa, Makkhali Gossala, Ajitakesakambali, Pukudha Kaccayana, Sanjaya Belathiputta (who is the former teacher of Sariputta and Moggalana), and Nigantha Nathaputta. On which, after hearing their answers on the benefit of contemplative life, the Buddha answered to the King Ajasatta with his own way which gladden and satisfied the King.

[edit] The Beginning

King Ajasattu, Monarch of Magadha Kingdom, has visited all of the leading ascetics and teachers. Every time he visits one of them, he asked the question: What is the benefit of having a contemplative life?

Yet, he didn't get any satisfactory answers nor direct explanation on the benefit of contemplative life from the ascetics, according to the sutta.

So, upon a bright uposatha night, the King, who is in mood to hear a Dhamma discourse, asked his ministers if there is any worthy teacher who can enlighten the night with noble teachings. The ministers in turn suggest the monarch to visit the listed teachers above, all of which the King rejects by being silent. But when the King's physician, Jivaka, who is being silent all the time, is asked if he can suggest for a Teacher to visit, the physician quickly replies that the Buddha is currently staying in the physician's Mango Groves.

The King immediately agrees to go there. After preparing the elephants and his followers, the King rides for the Mango Groves. Yet, upon arriving on the Groves, the King is suddenly overcome with worry and doubt. The hairs on his body even stands up as he feels the agonizing fear. He asks his physician nervously and suspectingly, "Are you not deceiving me, Jivaka? Do you not betray me and hand my life to the enemies? How come it happens that there is not a single sound heard at all, not even coughs or sneezes in the huge group of 1,250 Sangha monks?"

To answer his majesty's paranoia, the physician calmly reassures the monarch, "Do not worry, your Majesty. I am not lying, or deceiving, or betraying you to your enemies. Proceed on, your Majesty! There, in the Hall, where the lights are lit."

The King proceeds and when he enters the Hall, he has difficulty in spotting where the Buddha is. To his king's aid, Jivaka answers that the Buddha is sitting on the back of a pillar, surrounded by his disciples.

The King then approach the Buddha and gave his salute. Then, while standing, he sees how the Monks sit in silence, calm like a still, waveless lake. He exclaims:"Can my beloved son, Udayi Bhadda, possess such calmness and composure as the Monks show me now?"

The Buddha asks him, "If so, Your Majesty, how do you direct your mind towards compassion and love?"

"Bhante, I love my son very dearly, and I wish for him to possess the calmness as like the monks have now." The Monarch then prostrates himself towards the Buddha, clasps his palms in salute for the monks, then proceed to sit on the Buddha's side. The monarch then asks, "If my teacher doesn't mind, may I ask you a question?"

"Ask what you want to ask, King."

[edit] The Question and the Answers

The Views of Six Samana in the Pali Canon
Question: "Is it possible to point out the fruit of the contemplative life, visible in the here and now?" – from the Samaññaphala Sutta1
samaṇa	view (ditthi)
Pūraṇa Kassapa	Amoralism: denies any reward or punishment for either good or bad deeds.
Makkhali Gosāla	Fatalism: we are powerless; suffering is pre-destined.
Ajita Kesakambalī	Materialism: with death, all is annihilated.
Pakudha Kaccāyana	Non-relatedness: Material substances are unrelated to pleasure, pain and the soul.
Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta	Restraint: be endowed with, cleansed by and suffused with the avoidance of all evil.2
Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta	Agnosticism: "I don't think so. I don't think in that way or otherwise. I don't think not or not not."
Notes:	1. Thanissaro (1997); Walshe (1995), pp. 91-109. 2. Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (1995), pp. 1258-59, n. 585.

The King asks, "Bhante (Teacher), there is a number of skills and talents; such as: Elephant-drivers, chariot-drivers, horse riders, archers, palanquin bearers, army commander,s adjutants, royal officers, soldiers, warriors with elephant's courage, heroes, fighters, troops in deer-skin uniform, slaves, cooks and chefs, barbers, bathers, bakers, florists, launderers, weavers, crafters, potters, mathematicians, accountants, and many other skills. In their current life, they enjoy the real fruits of their skills. They support their life, their family, parents, and friends with their skills in happiness and welfare. They donate high-valued gifts and offerings to the Brahmins and the ascetics, giving them rewards of hoyful next life in heaven, and other joys. Can Bhante instruct me what is the real benefit of a contemplative life in this current life?"

The Buddha then asks back, "Your Majesty, have you ever asked this question to any other teachers, brahmins, or ascetics?"

[edit] Bibliography

• Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu (trans.) and Bodhi, Bhikkhu (ed.) (2001). The Middle-Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-072-X.

• Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997). Samaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Contemplative Life (DN 2). Available on-line at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html.

• Walshe, Maurice O'Connell (trans.) (1995). The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Dīgha Nikāya. Somerville: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-103-3.