2.36
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika‘s park.
At that time, the Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā’s mansion. There, the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Friends, bhikkhus.”
“Friend,” they responded to the Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said:
“I will explain to you, friends, the person who is |fettered internally::bound inwardly, bound in oneself [ajjhattasaṃyojana]| [1] and the person who is |fettered externally::bound outwardly [bahiddhāsaṃyojana]| [2]. Listen to it and pay close attention, I will speak.”
“Yes, friend,” the bhikkhus responded to Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said:
“And what, friends, is the person who is fettered internally? Here, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous, restrained by the restraint of the |Pātimokkha::precepts for Buddhist monastics [pātimokkha]|, accomplished in conduct and field of activity, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and having undertaken the training rules, trains in them. After breaking up of the body, beyond death, he arises in a certain heavenly realm. Passing away from there, he returns to this world. This is called, friends, the person who is fettered internally who returns to this world.
And what, friends, is the person who is fettered externally? Here, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous, restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and field of activity, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and having undertaken the training rules, trains in them. He arrives at and dwells in a certain peaceful |liberation of mind::emancipation by mind/heart, samādhi obtained from fruition [cetovimutti]|. After breaking up of the body, beyond death, he arises in a certain heavenly realm. Passing away from there, he becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world. This is called, friends, the person who is fettered externally who becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world.
Furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous, restrained by the restraint of the precepts, accomplished in conduct and field of activity, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and having undertaken the training rules, trains in them. He is engaged for the disenchantment, dispassion, and cessation of |sensual pleasures::sense desires, wishing, wanting, delighting in [kāma]|. He is engaged for the disenchantment, dispassion, and cessation of |existence::being, becoming [bhava]|. He is engaged for the |wearing away of craving::depletion of desire, extinction of longing [taṇhākkhaya]|. He is engaged for the |wearing away of greed::exhaustion of desire [lobhakkhaya]|. After breaking up the body, beyond death, he arises in a certain heavenly realm. Passing away from there, he becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world. This is called, friends, the person who is fettered externally who becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world.”
Then many even-minded deities approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, those deities said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the Venerable Sāriputta is teaching the bhikkhus in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā‘s mansion, about the person who is fettered internally and the person who is fettered externally. The assembly is joyful. Venerable sir, it would be good if the Blessed One, out of compassion, would approach the Venerable Sāriputta.” The Blessed One consented by silence.
Then the Blessed One — just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm — disappeared from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā‘s mansion, in front of the Venerable Sāriputta. The Blessed One sat down on the prepared seat. The Venerable Sāriputta also paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Blessed One said to the Venerable Sāriputta:
“Here, Sāriputta, many even-minded deities approached me; having approached, they paid homage to me and stood to one side. Standing to one side, those deities said to me: ’Venerable sir, the Venerable Sāriputta is teaching the bhikkhus in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā‘s mansion, about the person who is fettered internally and the person who is fettered externally. The assembly is joyful. Venerable sir, it would be good if the Blessed One, out of compassion, would approach the Venerable Sāriputta.’
However, Sāriputta, those deities, even when they become ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty, they stand in an area the size of the sharp end of a needle, yet do not obstruct upon one another.
It might be, however, Sāriputta, one might think thus: ‘Surely, the minds of those deities are so developed that even when they become ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty, they stand in an area the size of the sharp end of a needle, yet do not obstruct upon one another.’ However, Sāriputta, this should not be regarded in this way. Rather, it was right here that those deities developed their mind in such a way that even when they become ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty, they stand in an area the size of the sharp end of a needle, yet do not obstruct upon one another.”
Therefore, Sāriputta, you should train thus: ‘We will be calm in faculties, calm in mind.’ Thus, you should train, Sāriputta. For in those with calm faculties and calm minds, only calm bodily action, calm verbal action, and calm mental action will arise. We will offer only peaceful service to our fellow practitioners. Thus, you should train, Sāriputta.
Indeed, Sāriputta, the wanderers of other sects are lost who did not get to hear this exposition of the Dhamma.“