The Questions of Jatukaṇṇī

“Hearing of the hero <j>with no desire for sensual pleasures,”

said Venerable Jatukaṇṇī,

“who has passed over the flood, I’ve come <j>with a question for that desireless one.

Tell me the state of peace, O natural visionary. ^[1]

Tell me this, Blessed One, as it really is.

For, having mastered sensual desires, <j>the Blessed One proceeds, ^[2]

as the blazing sun shines on the earth.

May you of vast wisdom explain the teaching

to me of little wisdom so that I may understand

the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”

“With desire for sensual pleasures dispelled,” ^[3]

replied the Buddha,

“seeing renunciation as sanctuary,

don’t be taking up or putting down ^[4]

anything at all.

What came before, let wither away,

and after, let there be nothing.

If you don’t grasp at the middle,

you will live at peace.

One rid of greed, brahmin,

for the whole realm of name and form,

has no defilements by which

they might fall under the sway of Death.”