[28] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kajaṅgalā, in the Bamboo Grove (Veḷuvana). Then a number of lay followers of Kajaṅgalā approached the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā; having approached, they paid homage to the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the lay followers of Kajaṅgalā said this to the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā: "Noble lady, this was said by the Blessed One in the Great Questions: 'One question, one summary statement (uddesa), one exposition (veyyākaraṇa); two questions, two summary statements, two expositions; three questions, three summary statements, three expositions; four questions, four summary statements, four expositions; five questions, five summary statements, five expositions; six questions, six summary statements, six expositions; seven questions, seven summary statements, seven expositions; eight questions, eight summary statements, eight expositions; nine questions, nine summary statements, nine expositions; ten questions, ten summary statements, ten expositions.' How, noble lady, should the meaning of this, spoken in brief by the Blessed One, be understood in detail?"
"Friends, I have not heard this in the presence of the Blessed One and received it in his presence, nor have I heard it in the presence of bhikkhus worthy of esteem (manobhāvanīya) and received it in their presence; but listen to how it appears to me here, and attend carefully — I shall speak." "Yes, noble lady," the lay followers of Kajaṅgalā replied to the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā. The bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā said this:
"'One question, one summary statement, one exposition' — so this was said by the Blessed One. With reference to what was this said? Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with one thing, becoming rightly dispassionate toward it, becoming rightly liberated from it, seeing rightly its final end, having rightly comprehended its meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering (dukkha) in this very life. With which one thing? All beings are sustained by nutriment. Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with this one thing, becoming rightly dispassionate toward it, becoming rightly liberated from it, seeing rightly its final end, having rightly comprehended its meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. 'One question, one summary statement, one exposition' — when this was said by the Blessed One, it was said with reference to this.
"'Two questions, two summary statements, two expositions' — so this was said by the Blessed One. With reference to what was this said? Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with two things, becoming rightly dispassionate toward them, becoming rightly liberated from them, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. With which two? Name and form. Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with these two things, becoming rightly dispassionate toward them, becoming rightly liberated from them, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. 'Two questions, two summary statements, two expositions' — when this was said by the Blessed One, it was said with reference to this.
"'Three questions, three summary statements, three expositions' — so this was said by the Blessed One. With reference to what was this said? Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with three things, becoming rightly dispassionate toward them, becoming rightly liberated from them, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. With which three? The three feelings (vedanā). Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with these three things, becoming rightly dispassionate toward them, becoming rightly liberated from them, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. 'Three questions, three summary statements, three expositions' — when this was said by the Blessed One, it was said with reference to this.
"'Four questions, four summary statements, four expositions' — so this was said by the Blessed One. With reference to what was this said? Friends, a bhikkhu with mind (citta) rightly well developed regarding four things, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. With which four? The four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna). Friends, a bhikkhu with mind rightly well developed regarding these four things, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. 'Four questions, four summary statements, four expositions' — when this was said by the Blessed One, it was said with reference to this.
"'Five questions, five summary statements, five expositions' — so this was said by the Blessed One. With reference to what was this said? Friends, a bhikkhu with mind rightly well developed regarding five things, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. With which five? The five faculties (indriya) … With which six? The six elements (dhātu) of escape … With which seven? The seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga) … With which eight? The Noble Eightfold Path. Friends, a bhikkhu with mind rightly well developed regarding these eight things, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. 'Eight questions, eight summary statements, eight expositions' — when this was said by the Blessed One, it was said with reference to this.
"'Nine questions, nine summary statements, nine expositions' — so this was said by the Blessed One. With reference to what was this said? Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with nine things, becoming rightly dispassionate toward them, becoming rightly liberated from them, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. With which nine? The nine abodes of beings (sattāvāsa). Friends, a bhikkhu, becoming rightly disenchanted with these nine things, becoming rightly dispassionate toward them, becoming rightly liberated from them, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. 'Nine questions, nine summary statements, nine expositions' — when this was said by the Blessed One, it was said with reference to this.
"'Ten questions, ten summary statements, ten expositions' — so this was said by the Blessed One. With reference to what was this said? Friends, a bhikkhu with mind rightly well developed regarding ten things, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. With which ten? The ten wholesome courses of action (kusalakammapatha). Friends, [a bhikkhu] with mind rightly well developed regarding these ten things, seeing rightly their final end, having rightly comprehended their meaning, is a maker of an end of suffering in this very life. 'Ten questions, ten summary statements, ten expositions' — when this was said by the Blessed One, it was said with reference to this.
"Thus, friends, as to what was said by the Blessed One in the Great Questions: 'One question, one summary statement, one exposition … ten questions, ten summary statements, ten expositions' — it is in this way that I understand in detail the meaning of this, spoken in brief by the Blessed One. But if you wish, friends, you may approach the Blessed One himself and question him about this matter; as our Blessed One explains it, so should you bear it in mind."
"Yes, noble lady," said the lay followers of Kajaṅgalā; and having delighted in and rejoiced in what was spoken by the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā, they rose from their seats, paid homage to the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā, circumambulated her keeping her on their right, and approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the lay followers of Kajaṅgalā reported to the Blessed One the entire conversation they had had with the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā.
"Good, good, householders! The bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā is wise, householders; the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā is of great wisdom, householders. If you, householders, had approached me and asked about this matter, I too would have explained it in just the same way as it was explained by the bhikkhunī Kajaṅgalā. That indeed is its meaning, and so should you bear it in mind."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.