Anthology of Discourses 5.13

The Questions of Bhadrāvudha

“I beseech you, the bastion-leaver, the craving-cutter, the imperturbable,”

said Venerable Bhadrāvudha,

“the delight-leaver, the flood-crosser, the freed,

the formulation-leaver, the intelligent.

Different people have gathered from across the nations

wishing to hear your word, O hero.

After hearing the spiritual giant they will depart from here.

Please, sage, answer them clearly,

for truly you understand this matter.”

“Dispel all craving for attachments,”

replied the Buddha,

“above, below, all round, between.

For whatever a personage grasps in the world,

Māra pursues them right there.

So let a mindful mendicant who understands

not grasp anything in all the world,

observing that, in clinging to attachments,

these people cling to the domain of death.”