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Māgaṇḍiya Sutta

1. Māgaṇḍiya Sutta.– The ninth sutta of the Aṭṭhakavagga of the Suttanipāta.

The conversation between Māgaṇḍiya and the Buddha after the former had offered the Buddha his daughter in marriage. Māgaṇḍiya expresses the view that purity comes from philosophy, from disputations and discussions, learning and. austerities. The Buddha denies this, and says that purity comes from inward peace. The sage (muṇi) is a confessor of peace and does not indulge in disputes. SN. vs. 835‑47.

2. Māgaṇḍiya Sutta.– Records the conversation between the Buddha and the paribbājaka Māgaṇḍiya. Māgaṇḍiya says the Buddha is a repressionist (bhunahu) and this the Buddha denies, saying that he teaches only the subjugation of the senses, knowing their origin and their cessation; he has discarded all craving after them and dwells with his heart at peace. He then relates how, in his youth, he had enjoyed the greatest and most luxurious kinds of sensuous pleasures and had renounced them. He could no more crave for them than a leper, cured of his disease, craves for his old sores. Both the Buddha and teachers of other persuasions are convinced that health is the greatest boon and nibbāna the highest bliss. However, the Buddha’s conception of health and nibbāna differs from that of other teachers. Their knowledge is as that of a blind man, taken on trust. Māgaṇḍiya listens and is convinced. He enters the Order and becomes an Arahant. M.i.501‑13; Thomas: op.cit., 115.