Sirivaddha Sutta
Discourse Concerning the Householder Sirivaddha

Silatthiti Vagga, Magga Samyutta
Mahavagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

        395. At one time the Venerable Ananda was residing in Rajagaha at the Veluvana Grove, the feeding place of black squirrels. At that time a certain householder by the name of Sirivadda was sick, in pain and gravely ill. Then the householder Sirivaddha sent for an attendant and said to him, "Come, O man, go to the Venerable Ananda and pay homage with your head at his feet, carrying my words, say to him, Venerable Sir, the householder Sirivaddha is sick, in pain and gravely ill, And also say thus: Venerable Sir! May the Venerable Ananda, come to the house of householder Sirivaddha out of compassion."

        "Very well, Sir." replied the attendant to the householder Sirivaddha and went to the Venerable Ananda. Paying homage to the Venerable Ananda and sitting in a suitable place, that attendant said to the Venerable Ananda: "Venerable Sir, the householder Sirivaddha is sick, in pain and gravely ill. He pays homage with his head at the feet of the Venerable Ananda. He also asked me to say 'May the Venerable Ananda out of compassion come to the house of the householder Sirivaddha'." The Venerable Ananda signified his acceptance by remaining silent.

        Then, Venerable Ananda rearranged his robe in the morning and carrying alms-bowl and great robe, went to the house of the householder Sirivaddha. And there he sat down on the prepared seat. Thus seated, the Venerable Ananda asked the householder Sirivaddha: "Householder, how do you feel? Are you at ease? Is your pain decreasing and not increasing? Does it appear to you that your pain is increasing and not decreasing?" "Venerable Sir! I am not feeling well and I am not at ease. In me, severe pain is increasing and not decreasing?" "Venerable Sir! I am not feeling well and I am not at ease. In me, severe pain is increasing; it is not decreasing. It appears to me that my pain is increasing and not decreasing." "In that case, house holder, you should trained yourself in this manner: I shall keep my mind steadfastly on the body, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas .....p..... on sensation ..... p..... on Mind ..... on Mind-Objects, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas. Householder, you should trained yourself in this manner."

        "Venerable Sir, these Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness which the Bhagava has expounded can be found in me; I am fully cognized of those doctrines. Indeed, Venerable Sir, I keep my mind steadfastly on the body, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas ..... p ..... on Sensation ..... p ..... on Mind .....p ..... on Mind-Objects, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas. Venerable Sir, of the five lower fetters which the Bhagava has expounded as giving rise to rebirth in the sensuous planes. I cannot detect any in me which I have not abandoned"." Householder, you have been very fortunate; you have gained much. Householder, what you have stated is the attainment of Anagamiphala."

End of the Sirivaddha Sutta,

the ninth in this Vagga.