z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 05.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 319
RELIGION AND DHAMMA
319
“Or have you ever said to me: ‘Sir, I would fain dwell under the Exalted One (as my teacher) ?’
“ ‘No, sir, I have not.’
“Then I asked him ‘If I said not the one, and you said not the other, what are you and what am I that you talk of giving up? See, foolish one, in how far the fault here is your own.’
“ ‘Well, but, sir, the Exalted One works me no mystic wonders surpassing the power of ordinary men.’
“Why, now Sunakkhatta, have I ever said to you: ‘Come, take me as your teacher, Sunakkhatta, and I will work for you mystic wonders surpassing the power of ordinary men ?’
“ ‘You have not, sir.’
“Or have you ever said to me: ‘Sir, I would fain take the Exalted One as my teacher, for he will work for me mystic wonders beyond the powers of ordinary men ?’
“ ‘I have not, sir.’
“ ‘But if I said not the one, and you said not the other, what are you and what am I, foolish man, that you talk of giving up ? What think you, Sunakkhatta? Whether mystic wonders beyond the power of ordinary man are wrought, or whether they are not is the object for which I teach the Dhamma: that it leads to the thorough destruction of ill for the doer thereof ? ’
“ ‘ Whether, sir, they are so wrought or not, that is indeed the object for which the Dhamma is taught by the Exalted One.’
“ ‘If then, Sunakkhatta, it matters not to that object whether mystic wonders are wrought or not, of what use to you would be the working of them ? See, foolish one, in how far the fault here is your own.’
“ ‘But, sir, the Exalted One does not reveal to me the beginning of things.’
“Why now, Sunakkhatta, have I ever said to you: ‘Come, Sunakkhatta, be my disciple and I will reveal to you the beginning of things ?’
“ ‘Sir, you have not’
IV