Nandana Sutta

Delight

For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma

Translator's note: In this discourse, Mara and Buddha are speaking different languages. By "acquisitions" Mara means one's family and physical possessions. The Buddha uses the same word to mean a sense of possession for anything -- physical or mental -- at all.

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then Mara the Evil One went to the Blessed One and recited this verse in his presence:

Those with children
    delight
because of their children.
Those with cattle
    delight
because of their cows.
A person's delight
comes from acquisitions,
since a person with no acquisitions
    doesn't delight.

[The Buddha:]

Those with children
    grieve
because of their children.
Those with cattle
    grieve
because of their cows.
A person's grief
comes from acquisitions,
since a person with no acquisitions
    doesn't grieve.

Then Mara the Evil One -- sad & dejected at realizing, "The Blessed One knows me; the One Well-Gone knows me" -- vanished right there.

Revised: 10 November 1999

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/sn4-8.html