So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Vajjis near Ukkacelā on the bank of the Ganges river. There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhus, “Bhikkhus!”
“Bhante,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
“Once upon a time, bhikkhus, there was an unwise Magadhan cowherd. In the last month of the rainy season, without inspecting the near shore or the far shore, he drove his cattle across a place with no ford on the Ganges river to the the northern shore among the Suvidehans.
But the cattle bunched up in mid-stream and came to ruin right there. Why is that? Because that unwise cowherd failed to inspect the shores before driving the cattle across at a place with no ford. In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who are unskilled in this world and the other world, unskilled in Māra’s domain and its opposite, and unskilled in Death’s domain and its opposite. If anyone thinks they are worth listening to and trusting, it will be for their lasting harm and suffering.
Once upon a time, bhikkhus, there was a wise Magadhan cowherd. In the last month of the rainy season, after inspecting the near shore and the far shore, he drove his cattle across a ford on the Ganges river to the northern shore among the Suvidehans.
First he drove across the bulls, the fathers and leaders of the herd. They breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore. Then he drove across the strong and tractable cattle. They too breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore. Then he drove across the bullocks and heifers. They too breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore. Then he drove across the calves and weak cattle. They too breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore. Once it happened that a baby calf had just been born. Urged on by its mother’s lowing, even it managed to breast the stream of the Ganges and safely reach the far shore. Why is that? Because the wise cowherd inspected both shores before driving the cattle across at a ford.
In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who are skilled in this world and the other world, skilled in Māra’s domain and its opposite, and skilled in Death’s domain and its opposite. If anyone thinks they are worth listening to and trusting, it will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.
Just like the bulls, fathers and leaders of the herd, who crossed the Ganges to safety are the bhikkhus who are Arahants, who have destroyed the influxes, fulfilled [the training], done what had to be done, laid down the burden, arrived at the highest goal, utterly destroyed the fetter of being, and are liberated through the right, ultimate knowledge. Having breasted Māra’s stream, they have safely crossed over to the far shore.
Just like the strong and tractable cattle who crossed the Ganges to safety are the bhikkhus who, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, reappear spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore.
Just like the bullocks and heifers who crossed the Ganges to safety are the bhikkhus who, with the complete destruction of three fetters, and the weakening of passion, aversion, and muddledness, are once-returners. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore.
Just like the calves and weak cattle who crossed the Ganges to safety are the bhikkhus who, with the complete destruction of three fetters are stream-enterers, not liable to reappear in the underworld, bound for awakening. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore.
Just like the baby calf who had just been born, but, urged on by its mother’s lowing, still managed to cross the Ganges to safety are the bhikkhus who are Dhamma-followers and faith-followers. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore. *See the SN 25.1-10. The _dhammānusāri_ and _saddhānusāri_ are already noble individuals, said to have “arrived at the fixed course of rightness” and “transcended the plane of ordinary people”. Possessing the five faculties of a noble one (SN 48.12), they are destined for enlightenment in the same way as a stream-enterer, because they are guaranteed to become one before they die. This does not at all refer to the average practitioner, no matter how committed they are, and it would be a grave mistake for anyone to assume themselves to be at this stage. The caveat is although the statements summarizing the Buddha's teaching found throughout SN 25 are things that every faithful Buddhist would “agree” with, an ordinary person necessarily misconceives those statements in one way or another, and thus, technically, the teaching that they're avidly devoted to is *not* the Buddha's teaching even though they take it as such. Hence, they do not qualify as a faith-follower.
Bhikkhus, I am skilled in this world and the other world, skilled in Māra’s domain and its opposite, and skilled in Death’s domain and its opposite. If anyone thinks I am worth listening to and trusting, it will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.”
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“This world and the other world have been clearly explained by the one who knows; as well as Māra’s reach, and what’s out of Death’s reach.
Having comprehended the whole world, the Buddha who understands has opened the door to the Deathless, for finding the safety, Nibbāna.
The Wicked One’s stream has been cut, it’s blown away and mown down. Be very glad, bhikkhus, and set your heart where safety lies.”
Origin URL: https://suttas.hillsidehermitage.org/?q=mn34