The Related Suttas Collection 55.52

6. A Wise Person

One Who Completed the Rains

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a certain bhikkhu who had completed the rainy season residence in Sāvatthī arrived at Kapilavatthu on some business. The Sakyans of Kapilavatthu heard about this.

They went to that bhikkhu, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, we hope that the Buddha is healthy and well.”

“He is, good sirs.”

“And we hope that Sāriputta and Moggallāna are healthy and well.”

“They are.”

“And we hope that the bhikkhu Saṅgha is healthy and well.”

“It is.”

“But sir, during this rains residence did you hear and learn anything in the presence of the Buddha?”

“Good sirs, I heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘There are fewer bhikkhus who realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. There are more bhikkhus who, having ended the five lower fetters, are reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.’

In addition, I heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘There are fewer bhikkhus who, having ended the five lower fetters, are reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world. There are more bhikkhus who, with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, are once-returners, who come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.’

In addition, I heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘There are fewer bhikkhus who, with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, are once-returners, who come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. There are more bhikkhus who, with the ending of three fetters are stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, bound for awakening.’”