Reading guide
A brief teaching, requested
Migajāla asks for the Dhamma “in brief” so that he can go practice alone — the same word, eka vihāra, SN 35.63 has just finished redefining, now used by Migajāla himself with that redefinition already in view.
The same six senses, a new closing verb
Where SN 35.63 closed each sweep with “living with a partner” or “living alone,” this discourse closes instead on samudaya and its cessation — relishing declared the origin of suffering, its absence declared suffering's cessation.
A named epilogue
Unlike most discourses in this saṃyutta, which end on the teaching itself, this one continues: Migajāla approves, bows, departs, and — living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute — soon realizes the goal for himself, reported by name.
Achieving what gentlemen go forth for
The epilogue uses this project's own full standard liberation formula — “rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed” — closing with Migajāla explicitly “becoming one of the perfected,” an arahant.
Key terms
The text
§1Then Venerable Migajāla went up to the Buddha … and said to him: “Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”
§2“Migajāla, there are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keep clinging to them, this gives rise to relishing. Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say. There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches … ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them, this gives rise to relishing. Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say.
§3There are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases. When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say. There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches … ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases. When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say.”
§4And then Venerable Migajāla approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. Then Migajāla, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.” And Migajāla became one of the perfected.
Self-check quiz
5 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.