ud7.9:0.1Heartfelt Sayings 7.9
ud7.9:0.2The Well
ud7.9:1.1So I have heard.
ud7.9:1.2At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Mallas together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a brahmin town of the Mallas named Thūṇa.
ud7.9:1.3The brahmins and householders of Thūṇa heard:
ud7.9:1.4“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—while wandering in the land of the Mallas has arrived at Thūṇa, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.”
ud7.9:1.5They filled the well with grass and hay right to the top, thinking,
ud7.9:1.6“Don’t let these shavelings, these fake ascetics drink the water.”
ud7.9:2.1And then the Buddha left the road, went to the root of a tree, and sat down on the seat spread out.
ud7.9:2.2When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda:
ud7.9:2.3“Go on then, Ānanda, fetch me some water from that well.”
ud7.9:3.1When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,
ud7.9:3.2“Just now, sir, the brahmins and householders of Thūṇa filled the well with grass and hay right to the top, thinking,
ud7.9:3.3‘Don’t let these shavelings, these fake ascetics drink the water.’”
ud7.9:4.1For a second time …
ud7.9:4.2For a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda:
ud7.9:4.3“Go on then, Ānanda, fetch me some water from that well.”
ud7.9:4.4“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his bowl he went to the well.
ud7.9:4.5As he approached the well, all the grass and hay erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow.
ud7.9:5.1Then Venerable Ānanda thought,
ud7.9:5.2“Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might!
ud7.9:5.3For when I approached this well, all the grass and hay erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow.”
ud7.9:5.4Gathering a bowl of drinking water he went back to the Buddha, and said to him,
ud7.9:5.5“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might!
ud7.9:5.6For when I approached that well, all the grass and hay erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow.
ud7.9:5.7Drink the water, Blessed One! Drink the water, Holy One!”
ud7.9:6.1Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
ud7.9:7.1“What difference would a well make
ud7.9:7.2if water is there all the time?
ud7.9:7.3Having cut off craving at the root,
ud7.9:7.4who would go out on a quest?”