z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 06.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 442
442 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
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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 men are wrought, or whether they are not, is not the object for which I teach the Dhamma this: that it leads to the thorough destruction of ill for the doer thereof ?’
“ ‘Whether, Sir, they are wrought or not, that is indeed the object for which the .Norm is taught by the Exalted One.’
“But Bhaggava, Sunakkhatta went on saying to me, ‘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.’
“Or have you ever said to me: ‘I will become the Exalted One’s pupil, for he will reveal to me the beginning of things ? ’
“ ‘Sir, I have not.’
“ ‘But if I have not said the one and you have not said the other, what are you and what am I, foolish man, that you talk of giving up on that account? What you, Sunakkhatta ? Whether the beginning of things be revealed, or whether it be not, is the object for which I teach the Dhamma this: that it leads to