With Subhūti Subhūtisutta

And then Venerable Subhūti together with the mendicant Saddha went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, Atha kho āyasmā subhūti saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ subhūtiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “Subhūti, what is the name of this mendicant?” “ko nāmāyaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhū”ti?

“Sir, the name of this mendicant is Saddha. He is the son of the layman Sudatta, and has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness.” “Saddho nāmāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu, sudattassa upāsakassa putto, saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito”ti.

“Well, I hope this mendicant Saddha exhibits the various evidences of faith.” “Kacci panāyaṁ, subhūti, saddho bhikkhu sudattassa upāsakassa putto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito sandissati saddhāpadānesū”ti?

“Now is the time, Blessed One! Now is the time, Holy One! “Etassa, bhagavā, kālo; etassa, sugata, kālo, Let the Buddha to speak on the evidence of faith. yaṁ bhagavā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāseyya. Now I will find out whether or not this mendicant Saddha exhibits the various evidences of faith.” Idānāhaṁ jānissāmi yadi vā ayaṁ bhikkhu sandissati saddhāpadānesu yadi vā no”ti.

“Well then, Subhūti, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Tena hi, subhūti, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” Subhūti replied. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā subhūti bhagavato paccassosi. The Buddha said this: Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Firstly, a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. “Idha, subhūti, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. When a mendicant is ethical, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo; ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā. When a mendicant is learned, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. When a mendicant has good friends, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They’re patient, and take instruction respectfully. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ. When a mendicant is easy to admonish, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tatra dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ. When a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tatra dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant loves the teachings and is a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo. When a mendicant loves the teachings, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. When a mendicant is energetic, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant gets the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. When a mendicant gets the four absorptions, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant recollects many kinds of past lives. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. They remember: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so they recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details. seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattārīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. When a mendicant recollects many kinds of past lives, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. Idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, a mendicant sees sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti. Iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti. When a mendicant has clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, this is evidence of faith. Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and lives having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. Puna caparaṁ, subhūti, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. When a mendicant has ended the defilements, this is evidence of faith.” Yampi, subhūti, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati, idampi, subhūti, saddhassa saddhāpadānaṁ hotī”ti.

When he said this, Venerable Subhūti said to the Buddha: Evaṁ vutte āyasmā subhūti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, the various evidences of faith for a faithful person that the Buddha speaks of are found in this mendicant; he does exhibit them. “yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāsitāni, saṁvijjanti tāni imassa bhikkhuno, ayañca bhikkhu etesu sandissati.

This mendicant is ethical … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

This mendicant is learned … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo; ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

This mendicant has good friends … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

This mendicant is easy to admonish … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu suvaco hoti …pe… anusāsaniṁ.

This mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tattha dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.

This mendicant loves the teachings … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo.

This mendicant is energetic … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati …pe… thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

This mendicant gets the four absorptions … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

This mendicant recollects their many kinds of past lives … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.

This mendicant has clairvoyance that is purified and surpasses the human … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.

This mendicant has ended the defilements … Ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

The various evidences of faith for a faithful person that the Buddha speaks of are found in this mendicant; he does exhibit them.” Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā saddhassa saddhāpadānāni bhāsitāni, saṁvijjanti tāni imassa bhikkhuno, ayañca bhikkhu etesu sandissatī”ti.

“Good, good, Subhūti! “Sādhu sādhu, subhūti. So, Subhūti, you should live together with this mendicant Saddha. Tena hi tvaṁ, subhūti, iminā ca saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ vihareyyāsi. And when you want to see the Realized One, you should come together with him.” Yadā ca tvaṁ, subhūti, ākaṅkheyyāsi tathāgataṁ dassanāya, iminā saddhena bhikkhunā saddhiṁ upasaṅkameyyāsi tathāgataṁ dassanāyā”ti.