The Mahākaccānabhaddekarattasutta on the Venerated Mahākaccāna (vegan), Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with the Mahākaccānabhaddekarattasutta, a Theravada Sutta in which some mendicants, after listening to Lord Buddha’s summary recital of “One Fine Night,” go to the Venerated Mahākaccāna for a more detailed explanation.

Mahākaccānabhaddekarattasutta Mahākaccāna and One Fine Night

“‘[…] And how do you falter amid presently arisen phenomena? Both the eye and sights are presently arisen. If consciousness gets tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you falter amid presently arisen phenomena. Both the ear and sounds … nose and smells … tongue and tastes … body and touches … mind and ideas are presently arisen. If consciousness gets tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you take pleasure in that, and that’s when you falter amid presently arisen phenomena. That’s how you falter amid presently arisen phenomena. And how do you not falter amid presently arisen phenomena? Both the eye and sights are presently arisen. If consciousness doesn’t get tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer falter amid presently arisen phenomena. Both the ear and sounds … nose and smells … tongue and tastes … body and touches … mind and ideas are presently arisen. If consciousness doesn’t get tied up there in the present with desire and lust, you don’t take pleasure in that, and that’s when you no longer falter amid presently arisen phenomena. That’s how you don’t falter amid presently arisen phenomena. This is how I understand the detailed meaning of that brief summary recital given by the Buddha. If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask Him about this. You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.’

Then those mendicants, approving and agreeing with what Mahākaccāna said, rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told Him what had happened, adding: ‘Mahākaccāna clearly explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.’ ‘Mahākaccāna is astute, mendicants, he has great wisdom. If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Mahākaccāna. That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.’ That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.”