[I: The First Teachings]



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3: The Story about the Mucalinda (Tree) This section is parallel to Mucalindasuttaṁ Udāna 2.1.

Then with the passing of seven days, the Fortunate One, The opening to this discourse is dissimilar to the Udāna, but similar to the opening passages in the first three discourses of the Udāna. after arising from that concentration, approached the Mucalinda (tree) from the root of the Goatherd’s Banyan (tree), and after approaching the root of the Mucalinda (tree) Scientific name: Barringtonia acutangula; according to the commentary the Mucalinda tree was east of the Bodhi tree. he sat in one cross-legged posture for seven days experiencing the happiness of liberation. According to Jā Nid it is now the beginning of the 6th week.

Then at that time a great cloud arose out of season, (bringing) seven days of rainy weather, cold winds, and overcast days. Then the Dragon-King Mucalinda, Comm: a powerful Dragon-King who had been born in a lake near to that Mucalinda tree. after leaving his domicile, and surrounding the Fortunate One’s body seven times with his coils, stood having placed his great hood above his head, (thinking):

“May the Fortunate One not be cold, may the Fortunate One not be hot, may the Fortunate One not be affected by gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, the heat (of the sun), and serpents.”

Then the Dragon-King Mucalinda, with the passing of those seven days, Udāna reads: Then with the passing of those seven days, the Fortunate One arose from that concentration. Then the Dragon-King Mucalinda having understood... etc. having understood that the sky was now clear, without a cloud, after unravelling his coils from the Fortunate One’s body, withdrawing his own form, and creating the appearance of a young brāhmaṇa, stood in front of the Fortunate One, revering the Fortunate One with raised hands.

Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance: None of the Udānas mentioned in the first 3 sections here are referred to in Jā Nid.

“There is happiness and detachment for the one who is satisfied, who has heard the Dhamma, and who sees,
There is happiness for him who is free from ill-will in the world, who is restrained towards breathing beings. According to the Comm. the first half of this line refers to friendliness (mettā), and the second half to kindness (karunā).
The state of dispassion in the world is happiness, the complete transcending of sense desires, Comm: with this he speaks about the Non-returner path.
(But) for he who has removed the conceit ‘I am’ Comm: with this he speaks about being Worthy. - this is indeed the highest happiness.”

The Story about Mucalinda is Finished