The All

Translated from the Pali by Michael Olds

[1][pts][than][bodh] I HEAR TELL:

Once upon a time, Lucky Man, Savatthi-town revisiting, Anathapindika's Jeta grove.

There to the Beggars gathered round, he said:

"Bhikkhus!"

And upon the bhikkhus responding "Bhante!" Bhagava said:

"I will teach you, beggars, the All.
Pay heed!

This, Beggars, is The All:

The Eye and Visible Objects

The Ear and Sounds

The Nose and Scents

The Tongue and Tastes

The Body and Touch

The Mind and Things

I have spoken, beggars, of The All.

Any Beggar, Beggars, who came along saying:

'I will Show You Another All
Beyond This All!'

Would be Unable to Do So,
And Furthermore
Would Find Himself
Over the Abyss!

THE

AGHA!

How Come?

Because to Point to Another All
Beyond This All
Would be Beyond His Scope,

That's How Come.