Assaji's Beautiful Brief Restatement

Dear Dhamma Friends

Sergei asked the following.

"Does anyone know of a story that runs like this: The master is
teaching in a grove of trees somewhere. A visitor approaches and
asks, "What does this master teach?" and the reply from someone
departing is "He teaches that everything that happens is caused.
    I saw this in a book one time and then couldn't find it again.
Could anyone cite a sutra or some Buddhist commentary that contains
this?"

Sergei's question has reminded me of Assaji's beautiful brief
restatement of the essence of the Buddha's teachings. Therefore, I
wrote the following reply to him.

I hope you also find it useful!

Suan

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Dear Sergei90245

How are you?

I am not sure about your story. However, there is an episode of how
Saariputta became the disciple of the Buddha after having met with
Assaji, one of the First Five Disciples of the Buddha, and having
listened to Assaji's brief restatement.

The brief restatement, which is very beautiful, is as follows.

"Ye  dhammaa hetuppabhavaa, tesam hetum tathaagato aaha;
tesañca yo nirodho, evamvaadii mahaasama.no"ti.

"The Buddha Tathaagato told us the cause of those phenomena which
have causes as their beginnings, and the cessation of those phenomena
and their causes as well. The Great Ascetic is such a teacher."

The above episode and that beautiful brief restatement can be found
in Section 60, Mahaakhandhako, Mahaavaggo, Vinaya Pi.taka. (Roman
Edition, Volume One, page. 39)

"Tesañca yo nirodhoti tesam ubhinnampi saccaanam yo appavattinirodho;
tañca tathaagato aahaati attho."

"Tesañca yo nirodho" means that the Buddha Tathaagato also taught the
cessation, the no-longer-arising, of both those truths, namely the
Noble Truth of Misery and the Noble Truth of Attachment (i.e, both
phenomena and their causes)."

The above quote comes from the commentary on Mahaavaggo, Vinaya
Pi.tako.

I hope that the above information satisfied your curiosity somewhat
before someone else could locate the exact story you are after.


With kind regards,

Suan Lu Zaw

http://www.bodhiology.org