The householder Citta of Macchikāsaṇḍa teaches mendicants and visitors on seeing the sick, displaying the learning and direct knowledge of an exemplary lay disciple.

SN 41.10 Seeing the Sick

Tena kho pana samayena citto gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Atha kho sambahulā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā saṅgamma samāgamma cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, citto gahapati ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā etadavoca: “tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, cittassa gahapatino mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ: “satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, vippalapī”ti.

“Kiṁ tāhaṁ vadāmi yaṁ maṁ tumhe evaṁ vadetha: ‘satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, vippalapī’”ti?

“Evaṁ kho tvaṁ, ayyaputta, vadesi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“Tathā hi pana maṁ ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ …pe… tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“Kiṁ pana tā, ayyaputta, ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’”ti?

“Tāsaṁ kho ārāmadevatānaṁ vanadevatānaṁ rukkhadevatānaṁ osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthānaṁ devatānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘ayaṁ kho citto gahapati, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo. Sace paṇidahissati anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti, ‘tassa kho ayaṁ ijjhissati, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā dhammiko dhammikaṁ phalaṁ anupassatī’ti. Imaṁ kho ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti. Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

“Tena hi, ayyaputta, amhepi ovadāhī”ti.

“Tasmā hi vo evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ

buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

Dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

Saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

Yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ bhavissati sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehīti evañhi vo sikkhitabban”ti.

Atha kho citto gahapati mittāmacce ñātisālohite buddhe ca dhamme ca saṅghe ca cāge ca samādapetvā kālamakāsīti.

Dasamaṁ.

Cittavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Saṁyojanaṁ dve isidattā,
Mahako kāmabhūpi ca;
Godatto ca nigaṇṭho ca,
Acelena gilānadassananti.

Cittasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Tena kho pana samayena citto gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

Now at that time the householder Citta was sick, suffering, gravely ill.

Atha kho sambahulā ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā saṅgamma samāgamma cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then several deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees came together and said to Citta,

“paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī”ti.

“Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!”

Evaṁ vutte, citto gahapati ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā etadavoca:

When they said this, Citta said to them,

“tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan”ti.

“That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!”

Evaṁ vutte, cittassa gahapatino mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā cittaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavocuṁ:

When he said this, his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin said,

“satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, vippalapī”ti.

“Be mindful, master! Don’t babble.”

“Kiṁ tāhaṁ vadāmi yaṁ maṁ tumhe evaṁ vadetha:

“What have I said that makes you say that?”

‘satiṁ, ayyaputta, upaṭṭhapehi, vippalapī’”ti?

“Evaṁ kho tvaṁ, ayyaputta, vadesi:

“It’s because you said:

‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

“Tathā hi pana maṁ ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā evamāhaṁsu:

“Oh, well, that’s because the deities of the parks, forests, trees, and those who haunt the herbs, grass, and big trees said to me:

‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti.

‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’

Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi:

So I said to them:

‘tampi aniccaṁ …pe… tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

“Kiṁ pana tā, ayyaputta, ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu:

“But what reason do they see for saying that to you?”

‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’”ti?

“Tāsaṁ kho ārāmadevatānaṁ vanadevatānaṁ rukkhadevatānaṁ osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthānaṁ devatānaṁ evaṁ hoti:

“They think:

‘ayaṁ kho citto gahapati, sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo.

‘This householder Citta is ethical, of good character.

Sace paṇidahissati

If he makes a wish to

anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti, ‘tassa kho ayaṁ ijjhissati, sīlavato cetopaṇidhi visuddhattā dhammiko dhammikaṁ phalaṁ anupassatī’ti.

become a wheel-turning monarch in the future, his heart’s wish will succeed because of the purity of his ethics. And then as a proper, principled king he will provide proper spirit-offerings.’

Imaṁ kho ārāmadevatā vanadevatā rukkhadevatā osadhitiṇavanappatīsu adhivatthā devatā atthavasaṁ sampassamānā evamāhaṁsu:

That’s the reason they see for saying to me:

‘paṇidhehi, gahapati, anāgatamaddhānaṁ rājā assaṁ cakkavattī’ti.

‘Householder, make a wish to become a wheel-turning monarch in the future!’

Tāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi:

So I said to them:

‘tampi aniccaṁ, tampi addhuvaṁ, tampi pahāya gamanīyan’”ti.

‘That too is impermanent! That too will pass! That too will be left behind!’”

“Tena hi, ayyaputta, amhepi ovadāhī”ti.

“Then, master, advise us!”

“Tasmā hi vo evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ

“So you should train like this:

buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma:

We will have experiential confidence in the Buddha:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

Dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma:

We will have experiential confidence in the teaching:

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

Saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā bhavissāma:

We will have experiential confidence in the Saṅgha:

‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’

Yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ bhavissati sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehīti evañhi vo sikkhitabban”ti.

And we will share without reservation all the gifts available to give in our family with those who are ethical and of good character.”

Atha kho citto gahapati mittāmacce ñātisālohite buddhe ca dhamme ca saṅghe ca cāge ca samādapetvā kālamakāsīti.

Then, after Citta had encouraged his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin in the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and generosity, he passed away.

Dasamaṁ.

Cittavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Saṁyojanaṁ dve isidattā,

Mahako kāmabhūpi ca;

Godatto ca nigaṇṭho ca,

Acelena gilānadassananti.

Cittasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses on Citta the Householder are complete.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
View all discourses →
Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
View all discourses →
Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
View all discourses →
Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
View all discourses →
Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
View all discourses →
Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026