Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Samyutta Nikaya >> Sattiya Sutta
Adapted from Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna
I heard thus. Once Lord Buddha stayed in Savatthi [city], [in Jeta's grove in the monastery offered by Anathapindika]. When the night was waning, a certain devata[angel] illuminating the whole of Jeta's grove approached Lord Buddha, worshipped, stood on a side and said:
- "As though tormented,
- touching the top with a sword;
- To dispel sensual greed[or sexual desire],
- The bhikkhu does the recluseship mindfully[or meditating]"
[Lord Buddha:]
- "As though tormented,
- touching the top with a sword;
- To dispel the [deluded] embodied view of the self,
- The bhikkhu does the recluseship mindfully[or meditating]"
Hidden Meaning :
What Devata means : By doing meditation [with alertness as if a sword is dangling above] , one can be free from sensual/sexual longings & so one may attain the realm of heaven & become a devata(angel) like him.
What Buddha means : By doing meditation [with alertness as if a sword is dangling above], one can achieve trance state i.e. disembodied state or out of body state of experiencing the infinite or the nibbana/nirvana. It also means that the general view of self as body [I=body] is false once the trance states are experienced.
Word Meanings:
- Eka : Once
- Devata : Holy angel or holy god
- Bhagavato : Lord,God, Almighty, Here Lord Buddha
- Gatha : Statement, verse, uttering
- Kama : Sensual[or sexual]
- Raga : Liking , attraction, longing, causing want/greed
- Pahanaya : To dispel, eliminate, remove
- Sato : Meditates, mindful/focussed within self
- Bhikkhu : Monk
- Paribbaje : Ordained
- Sakkaya : Embodied, bodily
- Ditthi : View, sight, belief, philosophy