Those days, the Buddha was living in the city of Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Park, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a certain monk who had completed the rainy season retreat in Sāvatthī arrived at Kapilavatthu on some business. The Sakyans of Kapilavatthu heard about the monk’s arrival.
They went to that monk, bowed respectfully, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Bhante, we hope that the Blessed One is healthy and well.”
“Dear Sakyans, yes, the Blessed One is healthy and well.”
“And we hope that Venerable Sāriputta and Venerable Moggallāna are healthy and well.”
“They are.”
“And we hope that all the monks are healthy and well.”
“They are.”
“Bhante, during this rainy season retreat did you hear and learn anything from the Buddha?”
“Dear Sakyans, I heard and learned this from the Buddha, ‘There are fewer monks who realize the undefiled liberation of the mind and liberation by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements 1. There are more monks who, having abandoned the five lower fetters, will be reborn spontaneously in the Suddhāvasa Brahma world, and will attain final Nibbāna there, not liable to return from that world 2.’
“In addition, I heard and learned this from the Buddha, ‘There are fewer monks who, having abandoned the five lower fetters, will be reborn spontaneously in the Suddhāvasa Brahma world, and will attain final Nibbāna there, not liable to return from that world. There are more monks who, with the abandoning of the three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, are once-returners, who will come back to this sensory world only once, then make an end of suffering.’
“In addition, I heard and learned this from the Buddha, ‘There are fewer monks who, with the abandoning of the three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, are once-returners, who will come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. There are more monks who, with the abandoning of the three fetters are stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the lower worlds and is headed towards Nibbāna.’”
