Reading guide
Physical distance made irrelevant to the conversation described
The discourse doesn't describe Moggallāna traveling to the Buddha or the Buddha traveling to him; the conversation happens through mutually cleared clairvoyance and clairaudience alone, removing ordinary physical distance from the account entirely.
Energy defined through a vivid, uncompromising formula
The Buddha's answer to Moggallāna's question about being energetic isn't abstract; it's a specific, startling declaration — let only skin, sinews, and bones remain, let flesh and blood waste away, I won't stop until I've achieved what's humanly possible — giving the term concrete, almost visceral content.
Two similes of self-effacement, each precisely calibrated
Sāriputta compares himself to gravel next to the Himalayas when praising Moggallāna, and Moggallāna compares himself to a few grains of salt next to a mound of salt when praising Sāriputta — two distinct images of vast disproportion, each chosen rather than a single interchangeable comparison.
Praise supported by citing the Buddha's own words, not personal opinion
Moggallāna doesn't simply state that Sāriputta is wise; he backs the claim by quoting a verse in which the Buddha himself has already commended Sāriputta, grounding the compliment in external authority rather than personal assessment alone.
This discourse's own title drawn from the closing simile, not the main narrative
Despite the psychic conversation about energy occupying most of the discourse's content, the title Ghaṭa, “a mound of salt,” is drawn from the closing exchange of similes rather than from the central narrative event.
Key terms
The text
§1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. At that time Venerables Sāriputta and Moggallāna were staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Sāriputta came out of retreat, went to Venerable Moggallāna, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, Sāriputta sat down to one side, and said to Mahāmoggallāna:
§2“Reverend Moggallāna, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright. Have you spent the day in a peaceful meditation?” “Reverend, I’ve spent the day in a coarse meditation. But I have had some Dhamma talk.” “Who did you have a Dhamma talk with?” “With the Buddha.” “But Reverend, the Buddha is far away. He’s staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Did you go to him with your psychic power, or did he come to you?” “No reverend, I didn’t go to him with my psychic power, nor did he come to me. Rather, the Buddha cleared his clairvoyance and clairaudience towards me, and I cleared my clairvoyance and clairaudience towards him.” “But what manner of Dhamma talk did you have together?”
§3“Well, reverend, I said to the Buddha, ‘Sir, they speak of one who is energetic. How is an energetic person defined?’ When I said this, the Buddha said, ‘Moggallāna, it’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up: “Gladly, let only skin, sinews, and bones remain! Let the flesh and blood waste away in my body! I will not stop trying until I have achieved what is possible by human strength, energy, and vigor.” That’s how an individual is energetic.’ That’s the Dhamma talk I had together with the Buddha.”
§4“Reverend, next to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna I’m like a few pieces of gravel next to the Himalayas, the king of mountains. Venerable Mahāmoggallāna is so mighty and powerful he could, if he wished, live on for the proper lifespan.”
§5“Reverend, next to Venerable Sāriputta I’m like a few grains of salt next to a mound of salt. Venerable Sāriputta has been commended, complimented, and praised by the Buddha:
§6‘Sāriputta is full of wisdom, ethics, and peace. Even a mendicant who has crossed over might at best equal him.’”
§7And so these two spiritual giants agreed with each others’ fine words.
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