Wood Blocks Kaliṅgarasutta

So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!” “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied. “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this: Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mendicants, these days the Licchavis live using wood blocks as pillows, and they exercise diligently and keenly. “Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi licchavī viharanti appamattā ātāpino upāsanasmiṁ. King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, finds no vulnerability, he’s got no opportunity. Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ. But in the future the Licchavis will become delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet. Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ licchavī sukhumālā mudutalunahatthapādā They’ll sleep on soft beds with down pillows until the sun comes up. te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti. King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, will find a vulnerability and get an opportunity. Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.

These days the mendicants live using wood blocks as pillows, and they meditate diligently and keenly. Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi bhikkhū viharanti appamattā ātāpino padhānasmiṁ. Māra the Wicked finds no vulnerability, he’s got no opportunity. Tesaṁ māro pāpimā na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ. But in the future the mendicants will become delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet. Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ bhikkhū sukhumā mudutalunahatthapādā. They’ll sleep on soft beds with down pillows until the sun comes up. Te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti. Māra the Wicked will find a vulnerability and get an opportunity. Tesaṁ māro pāpimā lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.

So you should train like this: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘We will live using wood blocks as pillows, and we will meditate diligently and keenly.’ ‘kaliṅgarūpadhānā viharissāma appamattā ātāpino padhānasmin’ti. That’s how you should train.” Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.