“I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this,” said Venerable Dhotaka, “I long for your voice, great seer. After hearing your message, I shall train myself for extinguishment.”
“Well then, be keen, alert,” replied the Buddha, “and mindful right here. After hearing this message, go on and train yourself for extinguishment.”
“I see in the world of gods and humans a brahmin traveling with nothing. I bow especially to you, All-seer: release me, Sakyan, from my indecisions.”
“I am not able to release anyone in the world who is indecisive, Dhotaka. But when you understand the best of teachings, you shall cross this flood.”
“Teach me, brahmin, out of compassion, the principle of seclusion so that I may understand. I wish to practice right here, peaceful, independent, unobstructed as space itself.”
“I shall extol that peace for you,” replied the Buddha, “that is apparent in the present, not relying on legends. Having understood it, one who lives mindfully may cross over clinging in the world.”
“And I rejoice, great seer, in that supreme peace, having understood which, one who lives mindfully may cross over clinging in the world.”
“Once you have understood that everything,” replied the Buddha, “you are aware of in the world—above, below, all round, between—is a chain, don’t crave for life after life.”
The Questions of Dhotaka
Snp 5.6 · Dhotakamāṇavapucchā
Connections
Collection & context
- Sutta NipātaThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- On The Way To The Far Shore: Q&A with The Buddha on the Way to AwakeningLeigh Brasington · Commentary
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.