Homage to the Way to the Far Shore (SNP5.18)

Anthology of Discourses 5.18

Homage to the Way to the Far Shore

This was said by the Buddha while staying in the land of the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇaka Shrine.

When requested by the sixteen brahmin devotees, he answered their questions one by one.

If you understand the meaning and the teaching of each of these questions, and practice in line with the teaching, you may go right to the far shore of old age and death.

These teachings are said to lead to the far shore, which is why the name of this exposition of the teaching is “The Way to the Far Shore”.

Ajita, Tissametteyya,

Puṇṇaka and Mettagū,

Dhotaka and Upasiva,

Nanda and then Hemaka,

both Todeyya and Kappa,

and Jatukaṇṇī the astute,

Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,

and the brahmin Posāla,

Mogharāja the intelligent,

and Piṅgiya the great seer:

they approached the Buddha,

the seer of consummate conduct.

Asking their subtle questions,

they came to the most excellent Buddha.

The Buddha answered their questions

in accordance with truth.

The sage satisfied the brahmins

with his answers to their questions.

Those who were satisfied by the Clear-eyed One,

the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,

led the spiritual life in his presence,

the one of such outstanding wisdom.

If you practice in accordance

with each of these questions

as taught by the Buddha,

you’ll go from the near shore to the far.

Developing the supreme path,

you’ll go from the near shore to the far.

This path is for going to the far shore;

that’s why it’s called “The Way to the Far Shore”.